Porsche 914 fog light grill, aluminum grill Options

[princyfrog]

Hi, Just wanted to know how many people are interested in chrome fog light grill that are made out of aluminum? Not the plastic kind you get from Porsche which over years fade and cracked. Plus they run around $114 to $138 each, if they are in stock. After the chrome fades there not other choice but to trash it or paint it. Aluminum can be re chrome or polish and they don't break. I would like to hear members opinion. How much are you willing to pay for each aluminum grills? Any info would be great.

Thanks
Dary

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/drunk.gif)

[OmegaM1A1]

I'd be pretty interested in these, and it shouldn't cost too much for you to make a set, should it? $60-$80 maybe? That should cover the cost of materials and labor.

[princyfrog]

It's the cost of the die that's expensive and the more you make the bigger the discount. To get it chrome is the same thing.....1 -10 pieces is expensive and 50 or 100 pieces cost a lot less. From what I heard is that the first 100 914-6 come in aluminum. If anyone out there know the true fact please correct me.

[Mikey914]

I've looked into making these out of aluminum. It's actually tooling for left and right (casting). The aluminum can not be chromed directly. It needs to be plated with copper first, then it can be chromed. There is allot of labor associated it polishing the pieces prior to plating. When I did the math it wound up being about $65 per unit selling about 50 of each to make it viable. This was with a 15% margin. Would be nice to do, but unless you have a foundry, and allot of time on your hands, you have to sink allot of cash into this, and the demand may not be there.

[princyfrog]

Thanks Mikey, I have a foundry and a place to do my chrome. I've calculate everything and it's about what you said 60 to 70 dollars. It would be a lot cheaper If I were to produce more but is the demand there? Still a lot cheaper then Porsche, more durable and always can be re chrome. It's just an idea out there and want to see how many people are interested. I've notice most people just paint over their old one to the body color or just black. At what Porsche sell them for I would do the same thing.

[Mikey914]

If you're serious about it, get your foundry to quote the tooling for one side. I'm guessing about $600, and have a prototype made. Then ask your plater to do your prototype as a one off to quote quantity. Probably another $150. I'm afraid that you may find the cost of the chroming will be more than you would expect as the metal must be polished smooth to achieve the nice shinny chrome look (very labor intensive).

I wish you the best, it can be done, but as we both have stated, it's a mater of scale. I thought there would be more demand for the engine seals as a kit, but it's moving slow right now, eventually I'll break even, but I've tied up thousands of dollars. Your not going to get rich, but you might make a 10% return, and if it's something you enjoy doing, and it helps others, it's better than sitting it in a mutual fund (just more risky).
-Mark

[woobn8r]

I'd buy a set...

[boxstr]

I have a metal(alu) non fog lite grill. I have not seen a metal fog lite grill, anyone??
CCL

[rhodyguy]

i've looked into this too. as did gwn7. are you planing on have a pattern made? VERY expsensive. this cost did not include production or finish. it's is a pretty complex casting. if you can produce completed, marketable units for $60-70 give it a try. the quality will have to comparable to the new plastic ones currently available. if there is a minimun run #, you'll shoulder that burden upfront and the funds may or may not be tied up for some time. good luck on this venture. remember...if a match plate pattern is made from existing parts, there will be demensional shinking built into the pattern, more shrinking in the cast item, so the part will not be an acurate reproduction of the original.

besides all of the above, the cleanup, ie removal of the parting line, filling any imperfections from sand or pattern voids will be incredibly time and money consuming.

k

[jonferns]

I have a metal(alu) non fog lite grill. I have not seen a metal fog lite grill, anyone??

i have a plastic non-fog...I would buy a metal set, fog or no fog....-JON

[princyfrog]

I'm still working on my 914-6 restoration right now and almost done. Yeah!!!! When I'm done, I'll look into the fog light grill. As of right now my money is drained into the "6" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I want to go through with the grill right now but I don't want to start too many things where I'm going to have trouble finishing. I'm saving my extra cash for my 6 first. Thanks for all your input and it's been really helpful.

Thanks,
Dary

[GWN7]

METAL

[rhodyguy]

note the 'flaw' in the bottom fin in bruce's picture. the next fin up looks to have a few imperfections too, prob sand in the mold. incomplete flow in the circular portion that surrounds the light. irregular fin lines. how many hours did you put into cleaning up the parting lines, the gates and risers bruce? cool paper weight.

k

[princyfrog]

GWNZ, How did you get that? It look like it's was sand cast. Do you have the other side?

[GWN7]

yes I have the other side.....no it wasn't sand cast

There was someone (can't remember the nick) who was looking into making the non-fog style grills out of aluminum, but he hasn't posted anything in awhile.

[PeeGreen 914]

I would like a set if you end up doing this, but I wouldn't want them chromed.

[rhodyguy]

uncle bruce, you still haven't mentioned the casting method other than "no, it wasn't sand cast". how cast mon? and lastly, how much clean up time spent?

[Mikey914]

It's not sand cast, looks like plaster casting.