What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

What would you say is reasonable?

 

Well what, a new OEM handle is like 90 bucks. So somewhere in that ball park Id say i fair give or take.

 

I'll likely shoot myself in the foot here but I hate replacing door handles, my hands don't like to fit inside there. If I never had to do it again I'd be happy. With that said probably around $150.

I wouldn't buy them until I needed them. Just something to consider if you were hoping to do a batch of X number, you might have to sit on them for awhile before they sell. Leaving a hole in your pocket from the manufacturing costs.

 

Pretty much my thoughts, but a lot of people bitch about paying that haha

 

If it's quality, it's worth it imo. You've got people who buy the cheapest parts possible knowing that they will need to replace it again in a short time and people with the buy once cry once mentality. I fall somewhere in between depending on how much of a PITA it is to replace or am I going to die if said part fails.

 

It’ll be interesting to see what it costs, my school also has a small cnc machine, I just don’t know what it takes to use, or how to use it.

 

That does appear to be the main part that breaks. I'm in

 

I’ll take 4 please! Double cab fronts and rears.

 

Those machines are still relatively new, so not many people have them... and those that do aren't likely to cut a deal on the cost of manufacturing.

You should start with pricing raw materials. Blocks of aluminum. That will give you the first idea of how much of a favor you'd be doing for everyone if you only sell for $100-150 per and didn't charge for the amount of time, labor, testing, and returns you'll have to deal with when it doesn't fit perfectly between all the model years of the 1st gen.

 

They Should work for all years, as far as I know.


Only one I don’t know about is the back door on DC’s

 

I agree. I ordered their ditch light bracket/CB mount and it didn’t come with the longer hinge bolts you needed or instructions.

 

Theres your only issue. Your school will likely help you make one or two, but they wont be your production facility. Youll have to find an actual shop to run the orders in bulk for the labor cost to be lowish. It may be CNC, but theyll likely have to make fixtures to mount in the vice for each part of the mechanism. Upfront cost could be pretty substansial based on that. I would refine your design, then take Tylers method of pre-payments of atleast 20 or so (more handles the merrier). Then you have to source raw aluminum, which is another high upfront, but cheap in bulk. Doable, but you need a lot of commited buyers.

 

That was my plan kinda, using Tyler’s system anyway.

This is still weeks away so we’ll just have to see

 

I'd be in for a set of 2. $90, $150, I'm in either way.

I forgot how much nicer it is welding with gas. And I weld better with it too, not great but better. 220v won't happen until I actually purchase my own house.

Finished welding up the main center section of the bumper, minus with fairlead plate. Also resolved the super tight fit issue and managed to get the winch plate in there and almost completely straight and level. Need to repaint the frame horns still but so far it's working out good.

 

I’ll start a thread, watch for that haha

 

I'd say he should sell them raw. Let the buyer figure out how to finish it. Personally, I'd go with cerakote. Won't fade, very corrosion resistant and comes in a multitude of colors. Not too expensive either.

 

I would sell them raw too. Its gonna be a fun/expensive/time consuming experience getting setup with a machine shop just to make them. Leave the finish work to the end user. Me personally, I know my powdercoater could do them for about the same cost it would take for me to cerakote them myself. And hes the one doing the dirty work.

 

I'd turn your heat up more and wire speed

 

Heat is as hot as it goes. I'll turn the wire speed up some more and see how it does. I tried at the same speed that I was using for flux core and was having a hard time getting the kernel going without tons of sputtering. When I turned it down, I was able to get a nice kernel going. Maybe it was me tho.

 

Decided to do the MarMount mod on the driver side motor mount. I'm glad I did. There wasn't much life left in the mount and it had began to separate.


20190228_165419 by Ryan Heintzelman - Flickr2BBcode

It's basically just cutting that stud off and drilling a hole the whole way though. I used a M12 x 90mm bolt an 80mm would be perfect, 90 is a little long. Now when the motor trys to rotate its trying to stretch the bolt instead of the worn out rubber.


20190228_164854 by Ryan Heintzelman - Flickr2BBcode

Added a neoprene washer on both sides as you will feel some more engine vibes. I haven't driven the truck yet but started it up and it's noticeable at idle. Anxious to see how @Squeaky Penguin HD mounts feel in comparison.


20190228_183052 by Ryan Heintzelman - Flickr2BBcode


Crappy pic but you get the idea. I don't think this would be possible to do with the differential in there. So something to think about if you ever have yours out.

20190228_183713 by Ryan Heintzelman - Flickr2BBcode