Not trying to be hard on you, but what other products or parts have you previously engineered in the past? Do you have any photos of your prior work? What is your qualifications and/or history with creating something at this level?
You're going to file for a patent on a lambo hinge? You do realize that it's going to have to be extremely different from any existing kit on the market? (and there are many). Also, are you aware of the costs involved in getting a product patented? And even more the expense of trying to defend that patent?
I honestly do hope to see a sub-$1k (bolt-on) door kit for the Fiero...
BTW - The Fiero hinges are bolted to both the door & the frame... I pulled a set off a parts car last year (that was quite a project too).
[This message has been edited by MinnGreenGT (edited 11-28-2005).]
Not trying to be hard on you, but what other products or parts have you previously engineered in the past? Do you have any photos of your prior work? What is your qualifications and/or history with creating something at this level?
You're going to file for a patent on a lambo hinge? You do realize that it's going to have to be extremely different from any existing kit on the market? (and there are many). Also, are you aware of the costs involved in getting a product patented? And even more the expense of trying to defend that patent?
I honestly do hope to see a sub-$1k (bolt-on) door kit for the Fiero...
BTW - The Fiero hinges are bolted to both the door & the frame... I pulled a set off a parts car last year (that was quite a project too).
havent really done anything before like this, but i have people who have done things like this helping me and i'm doing ALOT of research,
the only reason i want to get a patent is so i'm not the one being sued.... i'm not sure about that part of it yet, i was told i could get one for free from someone who has done it before.. not sure how reliable that is though.(anyone who knows about this please tell me what you know)
it doesnt look like anything else on the market, it will work differently too. which are the 2 main things you get a patent for...
I haven't read this whole thread, but…well first off, good luck.
Here's my dumb question for this thread: why the hell do Lambo door hinges cost so much anyway? I mean, when $600 is a good price for a few chunks of metal, I gotta wonder why. I think they look neat and it's a cool mod, and I don't mean to downplay the idea/project…I'm just trying to figure out what makes this style of door hinge so damned expensive!!!
Not that it's not worth the $$; I'm just wondering why they cost so much. Is it just the novelty or R&D costs or what?
Again, hope you take no offense AJ7—best of luck on this project! I'll keep an eye on the thread. Looks pretty cool.
Edit: mixed up my exotics (Lambo, not Ferarri doors =P)!
[This message has been edited by timwdegner (edited 11-20-2005).]
Here's a pic of the universal ones I got from decah . I modified them to bolt on .
this is gonna get interesting... mine are about half the size of those (close to half the price too) but they should hold just as much weight as those..
errr... ferrari-style? lol ok now for an update....
i'm still trying to get a parts car to put these on, but i will have the prototype finished mon. or tues.... i guess if i dont get a parts car soon they are going on my camaro to test if i can sell it pretty soon i should have a fiero to put them on.. guess i'll have to see. jstricker had a parts car for me but he hasnt answered his pm's for a week..
so.. does anyone else live close to me? (northwest KS area..)
i will probly make 5-10 steel kits, then they will be urethane.. i'm going to have a guy that works with urethane all the time help me with it, should be MORE than strong enough.. and btw, it wont bend.
starting to look like i'll be selling them for $650-700 depends on the price of the struts.. anyone know where to get GOOD struts? not from a company that makes these kits either... and please, ask more questions keeps me motivated...
i should have pics of the finished product in a week or so, we'll see what you think.. they are a very different design, and they are ... i guess you could say compact? they are about 4"x16" each, you will have to drill new holes for them, 4 on the frame(each), as many as needed on the doors... havent got that far yet, still not sure on the struts, if i'm going to do 2 each side or one.. if i do 2 it will be one helping the door up, and one helping it down, one mounted close to the door, the other over the wheel well. they weigh about 7lbs each, they will have adjustments for how far vertical they go, and outward. they will have plates that go on the innerside of the door and the frame(if possible?) then it will all bolt together. the urethane kits will most likely have ball bearings.
well i cant think of anything else right now... so any questions?
[This message has been edited by AJ7 (edited 11-20-2005).]
I haven't read this whole thread, but…well first off, good luck.
Here's my dumb question for this thread: why the hell do Lambo door hinges cost so much anyway? I mean, when $600 is a good price for a few chunks of metal, I gotta wonder why. I think they look neat and it's a cool mod, and I don't mean to downplay the idea/project…I'm just trying to figure out what makes this style of door hinge so damned expensive!!!
Not that it's not worth the $$; I'm just wondering why they cost so much. Is it just the novelty or R&D costs or what?
Again, hope you take no offense AJ7—best of luck on this project! I'll keep an eye on the thread. Looks pretty cool.
Edit: mixed up my exotics (Lambo, not Ferarri doors =P)!
I ask the same; total cost to make is at the most 20 to 40 bucks in material that is why I plan to make my own .The price gouging is the novelty of it I am happy that AJ7 is being more reasonable on the price but I have to add my 1.0324 cents make them universal so you can sell them outside of the Fiero community if they will work on other cars and trucks you will sell a ton at the others selling them for 900 up to 2500 bucks.
I ask the same; total cost to make is at the most 20 to 40 bucks in material that is why I plan to make my own .The price gouging is the novelty of it I am happy that AJ7 is being more reasonable on the price but I have to add my 1.0324 cents make them universal so you can sell them outside of the Fiero community if they will work on other cars and trucks you will sell a ton at the others selling them for 900 up to 2500 bucks.
exactly what i plan on doing, and btw it costs around 80-100 just for the steel, and then all the other stuff that goes along with making them, already made the prototype hinges and it took half a week to get them ALMOST done lol still have to weld a couple things and paint... and a few small modifications.... i will try lowering the price just for you guys and yes i plan on making them universal too.....
there is alot of designing and crap goes into these too, lol... its been a PITA, but all i need now is a fiero to make sure it fits/works good...
btw, i would make them out of Titanium if i could, but the price would atleast double because it would cost so much just for the material..
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08:22 PM
proff Member
Posts: 7393 From: The bottom of the world Registered: Oct 2004
I made a set for my fiero that bolted directly on. it cost me around $60 for the steel but I couldn't find struts that would lift the door (god those are heavy) so I took them off and put the old ones on. best of luck on your task though, it was a pain in the butt to make one set, couldnt imagine mass producing them.
if anyone knows of some small struts that will lift the doors it would be helpful ;-)
I made a set for my fiero that bolted directly on. it cost me around $60 for the steel but I couldn't find struts that would lift the door (god those are heavy) so I took them off and put the old ones on. best of luck on your task though, it was a pain in the butt to make one set, couldnt imagine mass producing them.
if anyone knows of some small struts that will lift the doors it would be helpful ;-)
yeah i'm still looking for struts too.... i think i'm going to have 2 on each side...
Do you have any pics of your progress ? Would be nice to see what they look like compared to the decah hinges . As specially since you say your going to need two struts to hold the door up .
Do you have any pics of your progress ? Would be nice to see what they look like compared to the decah hinges . As specially since you say your going to need two struts to hold the door up .
didnt say i "needed" 2 struts... and i would post pics of the progress, but we ran into a problem with them and have to make a modification now, more work... lol i dont know, people might think i'm crazy because of how small they are...
the frame mounting plat is 1/4" thick, and 5"x3" the arms are 3/8" thick x 1 1/2" wide, and are quite short... like i said, they are going to be kind of "compact" lol my friend has been doing this kind of stuff for about 20 years though, so he knows what he's doing... he says it will hold about 500lbs... should be enough? the modifications that we are doing will make them better than/different from any kit out there.. the peices include:lots of 3/8" thick plates, (1) 1/4" thick plate,and some (i think) 3/8" bolts...
btw i'm located in Northwest KS. gotta figure out how to put that over there<<<<< lol
EDIT: forgot, the plates that bolt onto the door are 3/8" thick
[This message has been edited by AJ7 (edited 11-21-2005).]
i, still not sure on the struts, if i'm going to do 2 each side or one.. if i do 2 it will be one helping the door up, and one helping it down, one mounted close to the door, the other over the wheel well.
should have the prototype finished within a week, just gotta do some modifications...as soon as i get a parts car... or any feiro.. i'll make a build thread jstricker, you still have a parts car for me? pm'd ya a few times...
[This message has been edited by AJ7 (edited 11-28-2005).]
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09:04 AM
Nov 28th, 2005
YoungFieroMan754 Member
Posts: 291 From: xenia, ohio, US Registered: Oct 2005
well... i have the prototypes made, still need a car to put them on.. have to do some modifications but havent been able to yet.. because of thanksgiving, and we're in a blizzard right now....(power outages, snow/ice.. etc) so i cant get to the shop to work on them lol they should be finished this week for sure. just have to change a couple things and it should only take a day or 2(as soon as i can get anywhere) thinking of maybe sending a kit to someone on here to make sure it will fit on a fiero.. but there is only a couple inches difference on the mounting points on camaro's , so i'll have to see.. i might just try them out on my camaro, then sell one kit and wait till i see if whoever buys it likes it... i should be able to start selling them in a couple weeks (steel) then the rest the first of the year... let me know what you think
Hey AJ7, i've been watching this thread, and i'm really interested in a pair, but with all due respect, the whole time you've just been saying"in a week i'll have this", or "i should be getting this in two weeks" etc. I'm really starting to lose faith in the whole thing. We need to see some pictures. its alright if its not done yet, or not painted, or something. You should really just take some pictures of what you've got and post them here, it will bring everyone's interest way up. I think there is probably a reason why nobody has ever made lambo hinges that work and are cheap. Also, if you want someone to try them, I have a parts car, but I live in northern michigan. I'm confident that I am skilled enough to bolt them on and make whatever modifications nessary for them to fit, or to weld them if need be. I could take pictures of how everything goes and post on here. Also, is the $650-$700 including the shocks, or without, because I'm not sure, but don't shocks cost like a couple hundred dollars for a good set? -mark
Hey AJ7, i've been watching this thread, and i'm really interested in a pair, but with all due respect, the whole time you've just been saying"in a week i'll have this", or "i should be getting this in two weeks" etc. I'm really starting to lose faith in the whole thing. We need to see some pictures. its alright if its not done yet, or not painted, or something. You should really just take some pictures of what you've got and post them here, it will bring everyone's interest way up. I think there is probably a reason why nobody has ever made lambo hinges that work and are cheap. Also, if you want someone to try them, I have a parts car, but I live in northern michigan. I'm confident that I am skilled enough to bolt them on and make whatever modifications nessary for them to fit, or to weld them if need be. I could take pictures of how everything goes and post on here. Also, is the $650-$700 including the shocks, or without, because I'm not sure, but don't shocks cost like a couple hundred dollars for a good set? -mark
sorry about the "next week" thing... my friend that is helping me keeps getting other things he has to do and i'm getting the help free. so i have to wait.. i'll get some pics ASAP but they arent going to look like what will be in the pics, they wont look very good in the pics either... chopped up and welded all over from changes.. lol working on one of the main hinge parts right now because i wanted more adjustment.. not sure when i'll have them finished, i know how to do it i just have to figure out how to do it with the equipment i have available(have the designe done and know it works).
the price includes Everything. after pricing everything its looking like more towards $650...(maybe lower) not going to make very many in steel because the designe that i came up with takes longer to make with steel... they will be painted black (or maybe other suggestions)
anyone have any ideas ? like something i could do to make them better? maybe someone who has had lambo doors before...
i'll get pics in a day or 2 just to show i'm working on them. remember.. they will look very bad lol, just prototypes...
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10:53 PM
Nov 30th, 2005
dguy Member
Posts: 2416 From: Beckwith Township, ON, Canada Registered: Jan 2003
i'll get pics in a day or 2 just to show i'm working on them. remember.. they will look very bad lol, just prototypes...
Worry about making them look pretty after you have a complete, working prototype.
I suspect that those who would like to see photos now are more interested in some indication of progress and proof-of-concept than they are in artistic merit.
[This message has been edited by dguy (edited 11-30-2005).]
Id be happy to try a pair .. Im down in San Antonio Texas and have a body man that would be able to put them on my car. I also do powder coating on anything that can fit into a standard oven and would be happy to do a few set for you if we can find a way to ship them reasonable. Give me a PM if your interested.
