I am the owner of a machine shop in atlanta. We are in the process of getting involved in makiing automotive accesories and possibly some performance parts. I am looking for some input on the types of parts you are looking for and just can't find or when you can find them they are just too costly. All suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Carl Riley
Chief Engineer
RPMCO Inc.
Douglasville GA
i havent searched yet, but i was thinking of an aluminum intake manifold for a 2200. maybe one without that big collector thing in the bottom? (whats that for anyway?)
Anything you make for the LN2 in both FWD-car & S-truck apps will be greatly welcomed, as we don't have much in the way of aftermarket support. Half of what we do is adapted & fabricated. And many things... such as intake manifolds & quality Tri-Y headers... are non-exsistent. Heck... I'd like to see a good header & performance-style engine mounts made for the 4-cyl 2nd-gen S-trucks myself, being that I own one. And cams... When Crane folded many of us screwed outta getting our cams reground, which is the only option for LN2 builders cam-wise. Not to mention screwed outta getting the one's we sent-in to be reground back.
Perhaps the one area that LN2 builders could use help in... and the one area the LN2 needs the most5 help in... is with cylinder heads. Almost nobody makes aftermarket heads for it, which is a crying-shame since it's so-much like the big-block Chevy head in design. And the one that does is basically just a stock replacement head with the ports hogged-out, with no contouring of any sort to really guide the gasses... so they really suck in terms of flow.
One (or two) fairly popular bolt-ons are underdrive pulleys & cold-air kits. An aluminum pulley set... be it underdrive or not... would be very popular as it reduces rotating mass & helps improve performance overall (engine acceleration & fuel economy). A cold-air kit would be even more popular... Especially one that employs a collection-scoop to gather air from the headwind the vehicle sees as it moves down the road, and feeds it in the filter container.
One item I know a few around here would like is a rocker-cover spacer for the LN2. When we add higher ratio rockers to the LN2, the cover tends to interfere unless we grind it for clearance. A spacer would make it easier to add aftermarket rockers... which are ones intended for small-block Chevy apps adapted to our engines via aftermarket studs, BTW.
This is about all I can think of for now... I'll be back again when I can think of anything more relating to our needs & your shop's abilities. Thank-you!
Go beyond the "bolt-on".
Hmmmm.... well most everything is too costly I've seen so be careful how you word that.
Automotive acessories is kinda vauge..., performance parts.. an aftermarket aluminum intake manifold for the 2.2 ecotec would be nice, one that's not a full-out race one..ported and polished head, bored out throttle bodies
Don't buy from MANTAPART!!
Uh, I think I should put emphasis on a Tri-Y header... or any
good header... for the LN2 S-truck apps. There have only been a few good ones ever made, and most of them ceased production for one reason or another (Al's Headers went outta business... and Clear Image Automotive only made two, with only the second prototype (It has 22"-primaries, and it's a work of art@that!) still being available for sale) and the one remaining (
turbos10.com) not being set-up to be able to produce many. All have returned results that are quite desirable, but cost for the CIA header ($400)& Turbo S10's Tri-Y ($500-$600) has made them un-accessible to most of whom would be interested.
Obviously, if someone were able turn-out these well-designed pieces in large numbers... they'd be allot more affordable & more people would buy them. Not to mention the amount of customer satisfaction that would be had. Heck... One may be able to swing a deal with Clifford Performance (The four- & six-cylinder performance people) to sell their product through them, and make a fortune in having a even larger market to sell to by offering performance parts for an even wider number of applications of similar nature. That would best overall.
All I can really say is I'm just thinking aloud here... And that with the concern over fuel economy being what it is right now, someone that specialized in hot-parts for smaller automotive engines would make a killing. Just like others did back in the '70s in making parts for the Vega, Pinto & 6-cylinder vans. Just saying....
Go beyond the "bolt-on".
Oh, one thing I guarantee that would be well-needed here:
The most popular (And necessary) thing to do with the LN2 when building it to make serious power... or run high-revs... is to install the double-roller replacement chain-set from the '82-only OHV 1.8L I-4. It's extremely durable, but the problem is that the chain tensioner & guide assemblies are two separate pieces. And the LN2's is one-piece. And it's not a direct bolt-on... a minor amount of fabrication on the block itself is required install these said separate pieces, which is still a pain.
Basically, a one-piece tensioner/guide assembly meant for use with the double-roller chain-set is desired. If someone made one... there would be many buyers here, without a doubt! In fact, someone started a petition on this forum awhile back to gather names of those who'd definitely buy a bolt-on double-roller chain-set w/a one-piece tensioner/guide assembly for the LN2, if one was made. Said petitioner also had the same going on a few other J-car forums as well, in hopes enough names would be gathered to be able to present the total tally of said petition to various timing component manufacturers to convince one of them it'd be viable to produce even a limited run (oh say, 100 units@least) for those interested... with guaranteed sales of each. That was a few months back, and we haven't heard of any success upon it yet.
I'll bet the same parties that added their names to those lists are still interested, and would gladly buy such a part if you made it. Amongst them is mine, so...
Go beyond the "bolt-on".
I'd be down with purchasing a good intake manifold for the 2.2 ecotec as well.
I was lucky that i got the aem intake used for $125 (Canadian dollars) , but i fell sorry for anyone who had to shell out the $300+ for new one. If you can fabricate proper clones of the AEM cold air intake, I think there is a market for it.
Also, high quality ball joints would be nice. for less than $100 a pop!
Anti-roll bars that are spec'd to Eibach's.
But then again, maybe i'm just cheap, because i know alota guys who look at the price last when they see somehting they want. I on the other hand wait until i know i am getting my part for less than everyone else is paying. (or at least the same)
I want an intake for the pre 98 2.2 for sure..
adjustable cam gear for the ln2, there are already 50 people signed up to buy one of those
A good equal lenght header for the ld9 along with, cams, ported and sleeved tb's, a possible m62 intake mani for the ld9, adjustible cam gears for the ld9, a front cover for the ld9 with a access window. If I can think of anything else for the ld9 i'll post it.
^How about billet cam blanks for the LD9...that would be the best of all.
"Never argue with an idiot. They'll drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience!" -Anonymous
or black billet cams for each cav engine?...well, i bet the ecotech doesn't need em, lol...but the ln2 and ld9 guys would love it. although, like you guys said, ld9 needs it, haha
i dont remember if the group purchase ended up going through or not, but stock diameter lightweight crank pulleys for the 2.2 ecotec would be cool.
12.33 @ 111.67 mph [Oct 2009]
Dyno'd on 08/02/09 - Mustang Dyno:
327.6 WHP 333.6 WTQ [10.1 AFR]
Throttle body adapters for the cobalt SS supercharger to the Jbody L61 T/B?
isn't that like next to imposable to find?
just my $.02 here
