composite intake here...mine

Bump....what's going on?

any updates?

I didn't want to post again until something changed. I stopped work on all the custom parts I was developing (including the Fiero intakes) because I just didn't trust the suppliers I was working with. I had been searching for, and testing, new suppliers the whole time but never found what I was looking for. What I decided to do was shut the business down for a while, sell my house/shop, and move. I am now located in Columbus, Ohio. I am in the process of getting myself settled in here, and restarting my business. As soon as I find the suppliers I need, I want to get back to work on these intakes. I have been itching to do them, and hoping there is still a market for them when I do.

As before, there will be no financial risk to anyone except myself. When I get everything ready I will start producing them and offer them for sale.

Happy Holidays!

Hey, thats pretty close to me!

quote Originally posted by toddshotrods: I didn't want to post again until something changed. I stopped work on all the custom parts I was developing (including the Fiero intakes) because I just didn't trust the suppliers I was working with. I had been searching for, and testing, new suppliers the whole time but never found what I was looking for. What I decided to do was shut the business down for a while, sell my house/shop, and move. I am now located in Columbus, Ohio. I am in the process of getting myself settled in here, and restarting my business. As soon as I find the suppliers I need, I want to get back to work on these intakes. I have been itching to do them, and hoping there is still a market for them when I do. As before, there will be no financial risk to anyone except myself. When I get everything ready I will start producing them and offer them for sale. Happy Holidays!

Still onboard, keep at it! -Jason

Thanks Jason

quote Originally posted by mattwa: Hey, thats pretty close to me!

We'll have to hang out neighbor!

I hung out with Roger Garrison for a while at his favorite spot, yesterday evening, and he gave me a lead on a shop near his that may be everything I need under one roof. I did some research on them today and I am hopeful... I will be paying them a visit soon. Just being in a real city, and seeing the capabilities of the first lead I look into, gives me complete confidence that I will be able to finally start producing some things.

I know this has probably been frustrating for you guys, because a lot has been promised to the Fiero comunity and little is often delivered, so I hope you understand that it has been an hundred-times as much so for me because this is my occupation. I am a perfectionist and I would rather starve (almost did - literally) than put out inferior, inconsistent, undependable, products. I am willing to make minor compromises to see tangible results but I have to be able to sleep at night knowing my name is out there, somewhere, on something. Unfortunately, there are already too many compromises out there with my name on them that I can't take back, so I am determined to do things right from here on out - or die trying.

Stay tuned...

[This message has been edited by toddshotrods (edited 12-18-2008).]

If you ever wander up to Delaware stop in and say hi. I don't see too many Fiero guys around here.

quote Originally posted by Taijiguy: If you ever wander up to Delaware stop in and say hi. I don't see too many Fiero guys around here.

Yup, likewise if your in C-bus.


I've been tinkering around with a couple projects in the meantime to keep my skills sharpened. This is the shifter for the Vega project I have been working on for the last three (?!?) years. The shifter itself is a B&M(?). The console and "shifter boot" are fiberglass. The boot will eventually be covered with red leather - the paint was just to get an idea how it will look. The gate plate was hand cut, hammerformed, and machined from a flat piece of 2.5x12x1" 6061 billet. I can live with it but the polisher was kind of careless on the edges. The knob was turned from 6061 bar stock.


This one shows more of the dash - which is one of those things my name is on that I am not happy about. I just did the initial sketches and built the foam buck. Somehow it has been shape-shifting in ways that are not pleasing to my eyes during the fiberglass and bodywork phases Oh well... The raw fiberglass panel with the paper circles is the gauge panel. It will have eight Autometer SportComp gauges in custom buckets (set back) and five long handle toggle switches, where the paper mock-ups are. It will have a special "top Secret" final covering...

The blurry pics are from my bottom of the line RAZR V3 - my real camera is broke.

Just wanted to let you guys know I still "got it"!

[This message has been edited by toddshotrods (edited 12-18-2008).]

Best wishes to you for success with your V6 Fiero dual-plenum intake manifold project that you initially sketched out for us at the outset of this thread over a year ago:

quote Originally posted by toddshotrods:

Much more recently, you stated:

quote Originally posted by toddshotrods: I stopped work on all the custom parts I was developing (including the Fiero intakes) because I just didn't trust the suppliers I was working with.

IMHO, that was a very wise move on your part.

I learned a valuable lesson along those lines from a guy I once worked for several years ago.

Much to the consternation of certain of our customers who insisted some custom, one-of-a-kind work be completed on a "super-rush" basis, he'd always warn them, "Calm down, because if you don't, and you want it bad, you'll get it bad."

He didn't make any friends among our customers for saying that sort of thing, but he was right IMHO.

Good luck with the Fiero dual-plenum intake, and take care (literally).

Best of luck in your new place, Todd.
We're still here.

quote Originally posted by Raydar: Best of luck in your new place, Todd. We're still here.

quote Originally posted by project34: Good luck with the Fiero dual-plenum intake, and take care (literally).

Thanks guys! One of the first things I plan to do, as soon as I get settled in here, is finish the models so that the parts can be cut in a minute's notice. When the models are finalized, a pair of intakes could actually be ready to install in a matter of hours.

I didn't give dates when I said I just moved. I got here (Columbus) Monday, the 8th, so I am literally in the process of getting all my stuff moved here and getting me settled here. Half of my stuff is here and half is in storage in my old hometown. As soon as the pressure of surviving in the middle of economic death subsided, and I could start focusing on what I want to do I thought about the intakes...

[This message has been edited by toddshotrods (edited 12-21-2008).]

quote Originally posted by toddshotrods: Yup, likewise if your in C-bus. I've been tinkering around with a couple projects in the meantime to keep my skills sharpened. This is the shifter for the Vega project I have been working on for the last three (?!?) years. The shifter itself is a B&M(?). The console and "shifter boot" are fiberglass. The boot will eventually be covered with red leather - the paint was just to get an idea how it will look. The gate plate was hand cut, hammerformed, and machined from a flat piece of 2.5x12x1" 6061 billet. I can live with it but the polisher was kind of careless on the edges. The knob was turned from 6061 bar stock. This one shows more of the dash - which is one of those things my name is on that I am not happy about. I just did the initial sketches and built the foam buck. Somehow it has been shape-shifting in ways that are not pleasing to my eyes during the fiberglass and bodywork phases Oh well... The raw fiberglass panel with the paper circles is the gauge panel. It will have eight Autometer SportComp gauges in custom buckets (set back) and five long handle toggle switches, where the paper mock-ups are. It will have a special "top Secret" final covering... The blurry pics are from my bottom of the line RAZR V3 - my real camera is broke. Just wanted to let you guys know I still "got it"!

Matt likes.

good enough for me lol,

I think you made a good choice- too wait until you had good/reliable suppliers.

I loaded some pics of the complete intakes, parts, and a blown-apart view, on my cell. Today, or at least one day this week, I am going to the shop I mentioned and see if I have really found a one-stop supplier. I used the Fiero intake because it represents two of the main services I need - multi-axis CNC milling and expert TIG welding. I am just using the cell pics because this is just a "feel them out" visit. I'll let you know how it goes...

Edit: I went today, and am very pleased with what I saw and heard. Barring some unforseen obstacle, I think this shop is exactly what I have been searching for. Full service, and quite capable, without being so big that a small guy like me doesn't find a "welcome mat". The shop supervisor took the time to give me a nice little tour, and I was impressed with what I saw (both capability and quality). No prices were discussed as I didn't mention any specific projects. This visit was more about business-to-business compatibility.

The thing I liked as much as anything I saw was that he listened to me, and very quickly. I gave a brief description of what I do, why I was there, and what my needs were, and the very first thing he did was show me a whole bunch of customer projects that were in various stages of completion that were exactly the type of services I need. It was like he had taken a tour of my business and understood what I needed, because he answered almost every question I would have asked before I had a chance to open my mouth. Then we walked through the shop and he showed me the equipment, and capabilities of the shop. I left with a smile on my face, and a "sigh of relief" in my mind.

The next step is to run a couple smaller projects through to establish a working relationship, and begin paving the way for the intakes. Keep your fingers crossed...

[This message has been edited by toddshotrods (edited 12-22-2008).]

This stuff looks pretty good Todd. I think you will have some serious consideration and interest with the ideas you have.

quote Originally posted by blkpearl: This stuff looks pretty good Todd. I think you will have some serious consideration and interest with the ideas you have.

Thank you

The new fabricator *does* sound promising.
I hope he works out for you.

I'm glad it worked out, it sounds very promising. -Jason

Looks very interesting, will follow this thread closely..

------------------
Swedish Fiero



Dedicated owner of an 88 Fiero GT

Rather than wait for me to get my life in order, you may be able to get them here. I told Chris I would support him with this product, because my goal was just to give something back to the community in doing it. So, let him know how many of you are still interested in them...

[This message has been edited by toddshotrods (edited 02-05-2009).]

The thread is down Can a new thread be built? Keep us posted...

Cordially,
Kevin

I did the link wrong it works now

So, no-one ever did this? I thought Chris would have been cranking them out by now, since I'm taking forever to get my business back up and running. I have the connections, and the money - just don't have the time right now. I am working a full-time job, working my business full-time, and going to school full-time. I never forgot about them though, just can't get to it...

quote Originally posted by toddshotrods: So, no-one ever did this? I thought Chris would have been cranking them out by now, since I'm taking forever to get my business back up and running. I have the connections, and the money - just don't have the time right now. I am working a full-time job, working my business full-time, and going to school full-time. I never forgot about them though, just can't get to it...

Holy crap! I totally stole your website address???

I've been on here for almost a decade. I was randomly typing in website addresses one day in GoDaddy that I thought was cool and I thought of "TODDSHOTRODS.COM" (since my name is also Todd). I put a back-order sale at Go-Daddy for the website and I snagged your website. I totally had no idea that it belonged to you or to anyone that owned a Fiero for that matter.

Sorry about that. It re-directs to PontiacPerformance.Net (my normal website).


EDIT: I noticed it on your signature at the beginning of this thread. (Sorry)

------------------
Todd,
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4x2
2002 Ford Explorer Sport 2dr 4x2
2002 Ford Crown Victoria LX
1987 Pontiac Fiero SE / V6
1973 Volkswagen Type-2 Transporter

[This message has been edited by 82-T/A [At Work] (edited 01-12-2010).]

quote Originally posted by F-I-E-R-O: Something about a square version appeals to me more than the tubed. In my mind it seems to fit the style of a Fiero, and looks more performance/agressive than round pipes sitting on top of the engine. The thing that sticks in my mind the most about the squared version is that I fell in love with this:

This is hot. I have wanted to make something to replace the top on my turbo car as an intercooler. I think I will build something like this and have them also work as intercoolers. I just have to check air volume and split it between them.

These would be really nice to have. But I already powdercoated a stock pleunim so I gotta use that for now. Looks awesome but flows like crap.

quote Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: Holy crap! I totally stole your website address??? I've been on here for almost a decade. I was randomly typing in website addresses one day in GoDaddy that I thought was cool and I thought of "TODDSHOTRODS.COM" (since my name is also Todd). I put a back-order sale at Go-Daddy for the website and I snagged your website. I totally had no idea that it belonged to you or to anyone that owned a Fiero for that matter. Sorry about that. It re-directs to PontiacPerformance.Net (my normal website). EDIT: I noticed it on your signature at the beginning of this thread. (Sorry)

Not a problem, I need to change my profile info here. I changed my business name, because I do a lot more than automotive now. My domain changed, accordlingly, to toddperkinsdesign.com. Have fun with toddshotrods.com - I did!

quote Originally posted by toddshotrods: Not a problem, I need to change my profile info here. I changed my business name, because I do a lot more than automotive now. My domain changed, accordlingly, to toddperkinsdesign.com. Have fun with toddshotrods.com - I did!

If you want it back, let me know. I'll sell it back to you for what I paid in GoDaddy fees ($50 bucks or something...)

------------------
Todd,
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4x2
2002 Ford Explorer Sport 2dr 4x2
2002 Ford Crown Victoria LX
1987 Pontiac Fiero SE / V6
1973 Volkswagen Type-2 Transporter

I'm veigly interested... I dont have much money, but if it looks REALLY cool, I would definitely consider.

quote Originally posted by toddshotrods: So, no-one ever did this? I thought Chris would have been cranking them out by now, since I'm taking forever to get my business back up and running.

If by "this," you're referring to the dual plenum intake manifold for the V6 Fiero, no, no one ever did this on anything more than a "one-off" basis.

In fact, I started a thread in December 2009 asking that very question, "Are There Any Dual-Plenum Intake Manifolds Being Manufactured for V6 Fieros?" ( https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/078871.html ).

I'd hoped that somebody would have been manufacturing these. However, the short answer was "No."

***In any event, welcome back!

As I stated in the MAP sensor thread - no promises, but I will look into an idea for this. One of my main biz associates now has a full-service race engine shop, complete with CNC mills. He also works a full-time job, runs his shop full-time, and was planning on a second doctorate, but when we can finally sit down and discuss it I will see about having some of these parts cut. By the way, this guy is also (like me) a former Fiero owner. The last time I was at his shop he had a V8 Archie plate bolted to an F40 trans, under the bench. It's a remnant of a former project, and it's for sale.

Again, no promises and it could still take a while. I just don't have time right now - I shouldn't be on here posting. Hope my clients aren't spying on me.