up to date info
Here is an update on where we are. We have all of the tooling cost quotes back from the plastic manufacturers we talked to. Currently we are still waiting on the actual piece part quote from one vendor (the vendor that will more than likely be making this part).
The cost for the tool that is required to mold the three-piece part is almost three times as much as the tool that would make the one-piece designed part. We are going to have to amortize the tooling cost into the selling price of this air dam. We are trying to make this thing fall into the price range you all suggested. Considering the tooling cost of the three-piece design this would be difficult. The increased cost of the part would be more than the money a person would save by having a 3-piece air dam shipped to them.
Patrick and I have always leaned toward the one-piece design for a few reasons, but never shared that opinion because we were so concerned about the shipping cost. In our opinion the one-piece part will be more cosmetically appealing than three-piece air dam. Also it will be stronger and fit better than the three-piece. One thing we are trying to do is design a part that will not fold under the car at high speeds. How ever it must bend and absorb curbs on impact. The one piece design will be harder to crack, because once it impacts a curb the energy will be transferred through out the entire front of the air dam. Our cars have the aero dynamics of a brick, and we want this air dam to with stand high speeds and not allow air to enter under the car. We are concerned that the middle section of the three-piece design would fold under the car.
I have redesigned the part. It is shown below. The lowest most forward edge of the air dam is swooped forward a little further than the rest of the air dam. This swooped out area will do two things. First it will help direct air from funneling under the car, and second it will act as a strengthening rib in the front face of the air dam and help keep it from folding back at high speeds.
Should everything go correctly this is the time frame lay out I perceive happening. We should get the piece part quotes by the middle of the first week of May (end of next week). At that point we will meet with the vendor (probably Friday May 5th) and essentially pull the trigger on this project. Once we pull the trigger, the vendor will put us into their tooling schedule. Currently they are 3 to 4 weeks out. Next the prototype tooling will be created and a prototype will be made out of some type of plastic they have in stock. This will all happen in the 3 to 4 week time period mentioned above. Patrick and I will review the prototype. After reviewing the prototype and everything looks good, it will take another 3 to 4 weeks to get the hard tooling ready to make the parts. Once hard tooling is ready, parts will start being produced. At this point everyone will be able to start getting them.
I appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm; we will keep posting our progress as we proceed with this project. Once we have the prototype and it fits the car very well, we will be contacting some Buick vendors to help us get this thing into the market. Hopefully with a few vendors help in buying some volume. We can get meat the price goal that everyone wanted.
Please don’t hold back on giving us your opinions. Patrick and I really want one of these on our cars and it sound like many others do too.
