J Replace Rep Metal S13 Fenders

[AKADriver]

Originally Posted by Thursday7

What, are Silvia ones too magical or something? Sure, finding a mint base to replicate is a bit harder, but if they just came out with these for 180sx, the process for Silvia is hardly different.

Because as mentioned above "J Replace" didn't just start making this fender, it's been something that a contract manufacturer in Taiwan had the tooling for already ages ago. If you go to the King Auto Parts link Alex posted towards the top of the thread they have tons of replacement body parts for tons of cars including fenders, bumpers, and hoods for the 240SX. But they don't have anything for the S13 Silvia. They weirdly do have a front bumper for the kouki S12, that's the only thing they have listed as a Silvia part.

Taking an OEM panel and making molds for a plastic part is relatively easy/something a low volume manufacturer can do, making stampings for a metal panel is way more expensive and they'd have to be able to sell them at scale (1000s) to be worth it.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by Thursday7

What, are Silvia ones too magical or something? Sure, finding a mint base to replicate is a bit harder, but if they just came out with these for 180sx, the process for Silvia is hardly different.

I've already tried using the new production ones I had from 2020 to get estimates on reproduction.

the tooling charge or MOQ was way too high.

[Thursday7]

Originally Posted by AKADriver

Because as mentioned above "J Replace" didn't just start making this fender, it's been something that a contract manufacturer in Taiwan had the tooling for already ages ago.

How are we sure of this? Is Alex's sigma grindset galaxy brain parts knowledge gospel?

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by Thursday7

How are we sure of this? Is Alex's sigma grindset galaxy brain parts knowledge gospel?

go find out how much stamped sheet metal tooling costs.

then let me know if they're easily done.

you should read my reply right above your last reply. I've tried having this made before, if the tooling is not already done then its cost prohibitive to sell at any reasonable quantity to make back your investment.

there isn't 1000-2000+ S13 Silvia front end owners out there left to justify the money spent. Enjuku probably was able to order them at sub-$150 each single fender landed in the US, and was able to order them with MOQ in the hundreds, not thousands. If they already imported ISR from the same place where the fenders are made, they probably consolidated it with existing product, or J Replace offered a landed cost solution.

[Enjuku Racing]

We have received this customers original J Replace fender back for inspection. They were slightly damaged in shipping, which sucks. Customer has been taken care of and will continue to be taken care of.

We are working on better shipping/packing. Our issue is the shipping cost goes from about $95 how we are shipping now up to $300 shipping in a larger box.

But we did put them on our same test car and it lines up pretty good for being damaged. We are still unsure what was causing them to fit so poorly on the customers vehicle besides the damage. See pictures below.





On another note. These were made with a brand new stamped steel mold. The tooling was extremely expensive but they wanted these to be top notch! As good as can be. We have seen the molds ourselves, its pretty impressive. These cars are becoming classics with more and more people restoring them.

Shipping seems to be the biggest issue so far. We will get it sorted!!

[slider2828]

Originally Posted by Enjuku Racing

We have received this customers original J Replace fender back for inspection. They were slightly damaged in shipping, which sucks. Customer has been taken care of and will continue to be taken care of.

We are working on better shipping/packing. Our issue is the shipping cost goes from about $95 how we are shipping now up to $300 shipping in a larger box.

But we did put them on our same test car and it lines up pretty good for being damaged. We are still unsure what was causing them to fit so poorly on the customers vehicle besides the damage. See pictures below.

On another note. These were made with a brand new stamped steel mold. The tooling was extremely expensive but they wanted these to be top notch! As good as can be. We have seen the molds ourselves, its pretty impressive. These cars are becoming classics with more and more people restoring them.

Shipping seems to be the biggest issue so far. We will get it sorted!!

You guys have the best customer service!!! Ordered my LinkECU and Feal 442 Suspension.... Always great service and communication.

[Thursday7]

Originally Posted by AKADriver

Because as mentioned above "J Replace" didn't just start making this fender, it's been something that a contract manufacturer in Taiwan had the tooling for already ages ago.

Originally Posted by Enjuku Racing

On another note. These were made with a brand new stamped steel mold.

Lol who'd of thunk

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by Thursday7

Lol who'd of thunk

the initial R&D is the expensive part, so once that is done then everything becomes easier.

so my statement still stands. very few companies can come out and reverse engineer this with precision, and given the (cheap) customer base of the owners of this car the investment does not justify the return.

the new stampings can cost $1M for all we care, but if the cost of that is already accounted for or not passed to the customer, that is a moot point. at this price point, it is definitely not passed to the customer.

[Corbic]

Originally Posted by mav1178

the initial R&D is the expensive part, so once that is done then everything becomes easier.

so my statement still stands. very few companies can come out and reverse engineer this with precision, and given the (cheap) customer base of the owners of this car the investment does not justify the return.

the new stampings can cost $1M for all we care, but if the cost of that is already accounted for or not passed to the customer, that is a moot point. at this price point, it is definitely not passed to the customer.

I'd have to see the die but I'm sure you could do something using a zinc based tool for $40-90k setup on nitros. Internet a vendor in Detroit was doing the whole read skin of a CRV off a $200K tool.

You don't need production rate steel dies since you will never churn out +30k a year.

Hopefully these cars can build a restoration culture like vintage muscle did. I'm skeptical however as millennials and zoomers are way to "throw away". Hot rod restoration began almost immediately in the early 80's (barely 15 years removed) and took off in the 90's. We're now 30 years out and it's still not taking off.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by Corbic

I'd have to see the die but I'm sure you could do something using a zinc based tool for $40-90k setup on nitros. Internet a vendor in Detroit was doing the whole read skin of a CRV off a $200K tool.

You don't need production rate steel dies since you will never churn out +30k a year.

Hopefully these cars can build a restoration culture like vintage muscle did. I'm skeptical however as millennials and zoomers are way to "throw away". Hot rod restoration began almost immediately in the early 80's (barely 15 years removed) and took off in the 90's. We're now 30 years out and it's still not taking off.

Even if the tooling was $20k each, that still has to be spread out to the cost of the product, and very few companies actually have access to new or mint product in the first place to do this.

As for the availability of parts, that's all dependent on the market. People are still in a 2010/"too cheap for new parts" mentality...

[tuzzio]

In the end, lets all just be happy this exists. Metal > fiberglass.

[AKADriver]

Well look what got posted yesterday... ��

https://tpautoparts.com/products/nis...-set-pre-order

Alex they're using one of your pictures from your 2020 thread...

https://zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=672838