Well....where to start. No holds barred... The good the bad and everything in between. Letting everything out.
From the Start 06'
Well the first batch of LD9 pulley were sold the summer of 06'.
35 Set WOHOO. Thanks to all the people that purchased these, and thanks to everyone for understanding about the Alternator pulleys. Yes some of the alternator pulleys didn't fit, and yes I gladly fixed all. This was due to the alternator shaft on a few bands of alternators being exactly .001-.0015" bigger than the stock alternator shaft. All the pulleys were reamed and there was a few thousand interference on a few applications. I later found that most Mexican J-bodies also had the larger shaft diameters. The alternator pulley bore is now the EXACT same size as the AEM pulley. I found out from an AEM tech that they had two versions for a while, but ended up making all the bores the same. "Which mine now matches." "Hence redesign of alternator pulleys."
So they already made my mistake, and now with the redesign they are lighter than my first go around, and fit all J-body alternators.
Making LN2, LD9, LE5, and L61 pulleys. The first road block was the machine shop that made the first LD9 set of pulleys is no longer in business. "I had to find this out the hard way."
So then my search was on for a new machine shop. Mean while I was finishing up my bachlors degree in Mechanical Engineering. "w00t" December 06'
Then the long fight with Cleveland State University began, which ended in march 07'. "Way to long of a story to get into."
My goal still was to find a machine shop. I searched everywhere for a machine shop to work with me. No one wanted to deal with performance parts. Fidanza nicely screwed over 95% of the local machine shops around here, and well they wouldn't make any kind of automotive part......especially for some random guy making automotive pulleys.
This greatly slowed me down, and more upon more delays. About this time I noticed some of the red pulleys were kinda fading a little.
. No one was mad, but one year should not of faded the pulleys like they were. There were to many factors to figure out why they faded. I contacted a lot of hard coaters to help me understand what happened. Long story short, all pulleys will be hard coated grey. The red and blue colors just didn't last, and well I will no longer be offering them.
Sometime after this I read a nice post referring / implying that my LD9 crank pulley blew up someone's motor. We found this not to be the case, and if you search the boost archives you'll find the posts. Also thanks to all the fellow
for sicking up for me, and explaining everything.
THANKS GOES OUT TO ALL OF YOU!
Next I started talks with Aaron at Turbo Tech, Nathan Herbst, and Karo at Carcustoms. Nathan didn't have the machines to make the large pulleys, but was a damn good guy to talk to. Aaron had way to many things on his plate, and couldn't get to it. Karo came through, and got a WHOLE BUNCH of alternator pulley made. "w00t again" I currently sold about 60 some alternator pulleys of the second design.
I'm currently in contact with Karo about making the
L61 / LE5 cranks. I'm also in talks with a local guy that I went to college with about 4 years ago. I'm just trying to get the best deal for all of us at this current time. This has been side tracked may times since early summer.
Many my fault. I have had two major designs for the L61 /LE5 cranks. A two piece design and a one piece design. The two piece design was designed way back in September of 06'. Testing followed, and while it functioned well. It was just not cost effective to have a two piece design. Crank Steel, pulley 6061 aluminum. I originally had it a two piece design because of the oil pump cam ridding on the pulley snouts flats.
The second design was beefed up and became a one piece design consisting of 7075 aluminum. This aluminum is far better grade than 6061, and is stronger is all aspects. But now the cost factor came back into play. MANY discussions have went back and forth between MANY an org member on this subject. I also need a prototype to prove this new design to work. I'm 95% sure it would fit and function great, but 100% makes me feel so much better. Prototyping this pulley is just expensive, short and simple. It justed doesn't want to get made at this rate. There has been delay after delay, and all kinds of weirdness. IMPO. I am determined to get this
son-of-a-bitch made. I will probably make the prototype out of 6061 to test form, fit, and function, but would much rather have 7075 pieces for my next group purchase. If 6061 works 7075 will work much better.
Prototypes are in discussion. Thats where that stands as of today.
The
LD9 crank pulleys are designed, and well waiting to be made. The 35 that are out there and the one I have on my z24 are working great for the year and some that they have been on cars. No changes have been made to this design.
The
LN2 and maybe 2200 cranks are designed, and have been designed since well September 06...yes over a @!#$ year ago. I still want to make a prototype or two and get them on a few cars, before I run a Group Purchase.
Also been working on a M62 to L61 TB adapter plate. I'm still working on this P.O.S.
If anyone has any questions, concerns, or anything please voice them it will be greatly appreciated.
-Mike-
Edited 2 time(s). Last edited Monday, November 19, 2007 8:08 AM
PRND321 Till I DIE
Old Motor: 160whp & 152ft/lbs, 1/4 Mile 15.4 @88.2
M45 + LD9 + 4T40-E, GO GO GO
