Well something that I have been under the impression is that manufacturing tooling in general has a limited useful life. That's why auto manufactures change body styles every 4 to 5 years or at least that was what I believed. Something like the cost of maintaining old tooling is more than replacing with new along with more maintenance required as tooling gets used.

Just my unsubstantiated 2 cents here but it could be part of your issue with the manifold.

 

The tooling was created for a minimum of 1,000 castings, we are not there yet and in theory, it should still be OK, but who knows until we have a look. It looks like it won't be for at least two weeks, maybe more before we can get together and go to CA and have a look and go from there.

 

So, we ARE going to pull the tooling, but Jim is going out of town so we have to wait until he gets back so we can both go to CA to inspect everything and see what is going on. Hope to setup something with the foundry there before leaving if possible. Keep your fingers crossed that the tooling is not damaged and I can proceed with the project.

 

Quick question fast when they sent you your new intake have they corrected the blind hole issue for mounting top plate?

 

The holes as far as I know are still through hole and MUST be sealed.

 

this

 

Just to let all the C3 CF guys know...The tooling for the Renegade manifold is now back in my hands safe and sound. EMS is NO LONGER making them or selling them. There are some issues, but it doesn't look bad or unrepairable. All the core boxes look good for sure. Just the cope and drags are the issue so far. Even the top plate looks good and that is one piece that I was worried about. We are going to look it over a little more tomorrow and the next few days and also get with the pattern maker in Phoenix that originally did the tooling and see what he says.I have to get with our original machinist and tell him that he may be back in the manifold business again.

Also, we may have found another promising new foundry...AND ITS LOCAL! That would be HUGE if everything looks and goes as planned IMO. Need to contact Summit as well before we lose that connection because of EMS. There is a lot to do and since the holiday is coming, it will set things back a little, BUT at least all the tooling is back to us and I'm a happy camper right now.

Here are the core boxes, they are all in good shape...thank God! I talked with my machinist today and we discussed the manifold machining and kind of what I want to do if this all works out as planned and he is all for it including the "blue printed" version/plan and ready to go.

 

OK, here is the latest on the manifold. After a fair amount of negotiation with the pattern maker, I'm going to have the tooling repaired to as good as new. It won't be done for another three weeks or so. It was a tough decision to make and almost a leap of faith kind of thing to continue, but this is just the first hurdle. The plant manager from the local foundry just happened to be at the pattern makers and looked at the tooling. This is the same original foundry that poured the manifold in the beginning, so they are somewhat familiar with the tooling. I need to approach them gently and work out a good price per unit that is equatable for everyone before I can proceed any further, but it is a start. More on this as things go forward.

 

Great news

 

Thanks, it is appreciated. More manifold info... Since I'm a member of the Arizona State University Innovation center with lots of other engineers that also attend there, I was there today and talked with someone there about the manifold possible resurrection project and he is going to put me in touch with a contact at a company that may have a better solution to the manifold here in Phoenix or maybe at least at a cheaper cost, who knows. It all sounded like a great idea and was very hopeful and excited about it when I left the center. I hope that I can work something out with this other company, but if it doesn't work out, at least I tried. The biggest hurdle in this whole thing will be the foundry pouring and cost. The rest is not entirely a big deal right now. Again, more on this as it develops.

 

As has been mentioned Tom, that is good news....hope everything works out.
Chat soon....Tom

 

Thanks Tom.

I have received the contact information from a fellow ASU member and plan to contact them this week and hopefully set up a meeting to include a LIVE view of the manifold in person so they can have a good idea of exactly what I'm planning on doing. Hoping for the best and if it is feasible I have more plans to incorporate into the manifold as tweaks. I have heard they have a flowbench and high end 3D scanner.

 

I have talked with another company today and have a meeting setup for tomorrow with there sales and engineering for the possibility of another venue for manifold production. I'm excited to see if this is a viable option and maybe work out perfectly. Thanks again for all that are interested in yet another chapter of the Renegade.

 

More positive news for the current owners of these forgotten little gems.
Oh BTW I’m in the process of purchasing an 84 production sports car (race car). It’s doesn’t have anything electronic anymore. 355 with a eldelbrock Victor jr, 750 Holley, and vertex magneto. I’ll start a thread when I take ownership.

 

So the meeting yesterday went well IMO and a lot of things were covered. Engineering looked over the manifold that I brought and was impressed with some of the engineering/design which made me somewhat happy. They were NOT impressed with the machining quality which goes without saying actually. Then I proposed some of the tweaks I was wanting to make/thought of doing. That for the most part went OK and a lot of questions were asked, but there was a couple concerns pertaining to runners and that would require a bit more engineering/flow testing and of course costs. All and all they seemed that it would be doable, but they may have to reach out to another company on some issues and they will be getting back to me so we can discuss all this again. I'm also toying with the idea if this all works out on doing VERY custom units specifically geared towards someones specific engine build that they might be doing ie... Custom size ports to match your heads specifically. Have a great day all.

 

Sounds like more very good news Tom.....seem to be going in the right direction.....which is great!!!
Tom

 

Just a little update on the manifold tooling. I got a call today from the pattern maker that the tooling is done and ready for pick-up. They say it is as good as new now and ready to start pouring castings once again reliably. Now, I need to go to the foundry and see what I can work out with them if anything. More as this story as it develops. Now if I can only get this virus thing to stop. Ugh!

 

Your test subject is awaiting...up on the quick-jack! lol

Unkahal

 

Well, I won't get much testing done with it on stands Hal...jus sayin". Besides, this HEAT has got to go, much to early for triple digits already in April no less. Ugh!

 

Tom, by the time you get your shizzle together...it'll be off the Stand! Just a rear suspension rebuild. It's not like "my wife's car is in the way", or anything! LOL

Got the other one 'supposedly coming' Mem. day weekend. That's a runner too.

Unkahal