Hey, any updates Maverike? I just found this, and am really excited that someone even thought of the idea!
I have been procrastinating on this for months... actually over a year now.... but, the only update I now have is - I have everything I need to make them except actual building materials. The problem now is time. I just got the furnace running in the garage and the LP tank is hooked up. The welder is here. I have my misc tools, helmet, grinder and my supplies... all boxed up in the corner just calling my name... I also have everything to make fiberglass louvers. I have a set of plastic louvers and a metal set to use as templates... and here's the best part - I also have the side window louvers to mold/weld from as well.
So, although this project has not officialy kicked off... the good news is that I now have most of what I need to make them AND I will attempt to make them in both metal and fiberglass. I hope to eventually be able to offer both of them to nesters with an estimated wait time of two weeks for shipment when I start out.
And FYI - the very first prototype set(s *one of each*) will be put up for auction here on the nest where I will start a thread with an end date... and Nester's will be able to bid. I have a fluid method of executing this that I will explain when the time draws closer to product completion. I will have every set engraved on the underside with a production number (yeah, I even bought an engraving tool for this) and I will also have the unofficial Eagle Nest logo on it as well. (The logo you see in my avatar without the cars in it). Hopefully, this adds a bit of collectability to the louvers and makes the buyer feel like they got "more" out of their purchase.
Now, cost will not be cheap... not because I want to make a million on here, but simply because materials aren't cheap. Besides the fact that I have already invested near $800 in tools for this project and countless hours of research and design.... but the materials aren't cheap. For a lightweight, high-grade, non-corrosive - yet durable metal (which I cannot recall the name of)... you're talking like $100 in the metal alone and that just comes in a large sheet and/or roll... no telling how much waste there will be and if the $100 will totally cover it, plus the flux wiring for the welder, the support rods, and all the mounting gear. The fiberglass louvers will be a bit cheaper... the fiberglass and resin will run around 70$ per set. And then there's paint... I can just treat and prime them pretty cheap, but I intend on offering painted louvers as well to match your specific car (if you so desire). I'm guessing that will add about a $25 kick depending on the paint color and availability.
Of course, these are rough estimates only - and that's only materials... not sure how long they will take me to make.... now I don't like to charge labor for something I enjoy - but I highly doubt I will enjoy making them after the first few, LOL and you gotta remember that I don't have a 250 thousand dollar machine to stamp up a dozen of these for me real quick. These will be hand crafted individually out of premium materials... if it takes me a whole Saturday to make the metal ones... or an hour a day for 4 or 5 days for the fiberglass louvers... ya, someone's gonna pay because I could be out working on one of my other cars to fix and sell, LMAO! Hey, don't hate me man... the whole point of making these was to give guys like you and I an alternative to buying something that isn't used, abused, and WAY over priced like on the popular bidding sites. It costs money and time and I have to factor that into the price, but I promise you that I will price them as reasonable as possible.
I'm guessing around $200-250 for a rear window metal set. Maybe $150-200 for fiberglass... thats without paint.
Side louvers probably around about the same... maybe about $25-50 cheaper in either material.
That's where it stands as of right now... for the Wagon guys, sorry, but the SX4 louvers come first. I don't have a template for the Wagon because they have never been made - but rest assured, I will start them shortly after completion of the first SX4 prototypes. I just need to follow a template the first couple times so that I really know what I'm doing so that when it comes time to make the Wagon louvers - I'll have a good idea on how/where to start. I don't think they will be hard at all though.
With all of that being said, if anyone wants to donate to the cause and send me some sheets of durable metal to work with or otherwise help fund the project monetarily - I won't say no, lol! I think if everyone can be patient a bit longer - I'll be fine on gathering materials on my own without any donations - but certainly, if you want to speed up the process, send me an IM and we'll talk. Maybe we can work out a deal for your purchase and if you fund the first prototype then you get a set for free? Heck, I don't know. Someone mentioned it to me before and I turned them down. Depending on the circumstances, we may be able to work something out. I want to get to it soon, but if you can't tell - I'm not really in any hurry, lol!
But anyways, that's the deelio! The scoop! The 411!
Topic: Side & Rear Window Louvers (Read 112527 times)