Custom Wagon Parts - Need opinions and ideas!
stampern
Senior Wagonist
Guys, I'm really getting into welding and I'm looking at starting to build/manufacture some of my own parts. I'm looking at doing some wagon specific parts and other 4th and 5th gen civic stuff as well. Here are some of the things I'm looking at designing and making:
Quick release strut bar (for rear cargo area) (still in design stages):
-Quick release so you can actually use your cargo area when needed
-Will still be as stiff as other strut bars and hold pressure like it should
Tow Package:
-(see my tow hitch build - I want to build replicas)
-Some welding and cutting required for install
Hood Shock Mounts or Kits:
-Dual shocks for hoods or trunk lids(sedan)
-Will hopefully lift hood higher than the stock mount
-Has shocks on both sides for even lift and less stress on hood
Bullbars:
-Simple like OEM design
(need input on what you guys would like to have on or be able to put on your bullbars)
Aluminum Rear LCA’s (shortened):
-Aluminum LCA’s like Skunk2 and Blox, but with one advantage – shortened to help with camber issues
-I’m also doing some research into some adjustable ones
Cast iron front LCA’s (shortened to equal rear LCA’s):
-replacement front lca’s – would love to do aluminum, but don’t think it would hold up
I’m wanting to do some serious research into the front and rear LCA’s cause I’m tired of going through tires. lol
I'm looking for opinions, ideas and even other things that would be fairly simple to build that we don't have available to us right now.
Quick release strut bar (for rear cargo area) (still in design stages):
-Quick release so you can actually use your cargo area when needed
-Will still be as stiff as other strut bars and hold pressure like it should
Tow Package:
-(see my tow hitch build - I want to build replicas)
-Some welding and cutting required for install
Hood Shock Mounts or Kits:
-Dual shocks for hoods or trunk lids(sedan)
-Will hopefully lift hood higher than the stock mount
-Has shocks on both sides for even lift and less stress on hood
Bullbars:
-Simple like OEM design
(need input on what you guys would like to have on or be able to put on your bullbars)
Aluminum Rear LCA’s (shortened):
-Aluminum LCA’s like Skunk2 and Blox, but with one advantage – shortened to help with camber issues
-I’m also doing some research into some adjustable ones
Cast iron front LCA’s (shortened to equal rear LCA’s):
-replacement front lca’s – would love to do aluminum, but don’t think it would hold up
I’m wanting to do some serious research into the front and rear LCA’s cause I’m tired of going through tires. lol
I'm looking for opinions, ideas and even other things that would be fairly simple to build that we don't have available to us right now.
Comments
I'm also will to make custom parts as well.
BULLBARRRR!
yes please!
wagon...................4ever.............
With the exception of the tow frame, everything has been done, and done quite well. Everything is readily available to the wagon community already.
With that being said, you need to actually have something to present for sale. No one is going to be pre-ordering, so you need to actually produce something to show us. Personally, I know I could make tie bars or whatever. Quality? Meh.... Not gonna be on par with most, but I could do it.
Basically, if it's good- it'll sell. If it sucks- you'll be out of business with the likes of GReddy and Comptech (and their stuff was even good!).
Make a couple sets of whatever you can, let me know and we'll get you set up in the vendors section of the marketplace.
Just don't be fishing for people to commit to buy, without having seen anything.
For example, the hitch I built has been tested and I would trust selling them cause I know they work. Until I build a couple of each of these other parts I wouldn't sell them unless I knew the quality was good.
I feel stupid for asking this, but are they different than normal EF hats?
For extended top-hats, just go to a junkyard and scrounge up a few sets. Modify these and sell them with an exchange of stock ones from the buyer. Then modify the exchanged ones to keep your inventory constant. I'm pretty sure these have been done as well, though.
For the rear disc brakes, wouldn't a stock front disc be big enough? Most people going through that amount of trouble will already have upgraded their fronts to 11" and should have their old 9.5" discs and calipers sitting around....
The Bull-bar and hitch would be very nice, and I'd be interested in both. Add a tubular roof-rack and maybe a rear swing-out spare-tire carrier as well.
If you really wanted to help the wagon community you would find someone to make fiberglass replacement fenders and hoods for our cars. Over half the members here could use new fenders!
That looks about right.
1) seat rails! I don't even care if they slide. If there was a simple way to mount eg/dc (most popular) to EE I think they would sell. Most of us aren't gonna be buying recaro/bride seats but still want to upgrade from oem seats. Mainly I just want to sit lower to the ground. A lot of us aren't fabricators, so theyd be willing to pay for this. I know a lot of people can make their own.
this could be done for any car really, there are lot of tall guys that would just like to sit lower in their hondas.
2) rear "miracle x" replica bar for wagons.The bar that connects the rear struts to the c pillar
3) wagon specific license plate relocaters. these would have to be really sick because most people will just do a cheap DIY.
I also have some other really good news. My buddy that I'm partnering up with on the shop has a really good friend with a multi-million dollar machine shop. I'm talking CNC machines, everything. So I'm going to start working with him and seeing what kind of parts I can get manufactured.
I'm wanting to design some rear LCA's - but I want them shorter to help with the negative camber issue. I'm also thinking about looking into designing some front LCA's. And making them like 1/2-1" shorter to help correct camber problems. I'm probably going to have to make the front ones out of cast iron, not sure if CNC'd aluminum would hold up very well.