It so funny that you say that, someone had to invent it and I guess there was no one else that did but us. You like to say well I could have thought of that but the truth is you didnt and we did. We spent the time to design the kit only for someone to come out and say I could have done that. It went on for about 20years with no one thinking about it till I did so dont tell me its just a bar and a couple of spacers..

Ernie
www.BreathlessPerformance.com
954-925-7725

 

Do you have a link to that? I did a google and couldn't find it. Do they have a website?

 

i did the same thing when i had my `90 for right at 50 bucks. i went to the scrap metal yard and bought a piece of aluminium stock, then to home depot for the brace ( adjustable ) from the alternator to the main bracket ( the piece i bought from the scrap medal yard ). then i went to orailys and bought the pulley. i think it was a 4 or 5 rib ford pully. as far as the smog pump bracket i cut around the area i was working in. cause i think that bracket bolts to like all most everything on the front of the motor. i didnt take it all apart to do it. good luck.

 

 

The reason that nobody probably did it for 20 years is because it took about that long for them to all start failing before people realized they didn't even need it and could eliminate it with a simple bracket and pulley setup. Most people don't know this and just replace the AIR pump when it dies.

-------------

On a side note, since you are here...

If your company sold things for a reasonable price, you would sell, im guessing, twice as many products. If you all spend any time reading forums, you would see, that even on Corvette Forum alone, the MAIN reason nobody buys your products is because they cost too much. I had 2-3 items that I have been wanting for YEARS that I just can't afford. I ended up finding them all cheaper elsewhere made by other companies with the same look and quality as your products.

The second main reason is because you speak to your customers like we owe you something for coming up with unoriginal ideas just as you are speaking to everone in this thread now now.

High price aside, your pulleys don't as they should. I felt pretty ripped off in that in a few years of ownership of a AIR Elim bracket, my pulley started going bad (constant bearing hiss). Since the pulley is the main focus and point of the product, I would have though that would have been a MUCH better quality pulley than the one mine came with. That aside. what is left besides a cheap pulley? A couple pieces of metal with some holes drilled in it. Is that really worth a $200 price tag? R&D couldn't have taken much as there are many people that have made them long before yours was produced for the general public. The rest of the cost would go to materials. And I doubt there is that much in materials there. That said, you know you are making truckloads of money off something that costs nothing to produce. So yeah... I feel ripped off and annoyed after seeing something I could have made myself for very little money.

BUT you live and learn.

I thank you guys for creating the pulley kit, as at the time I didn't know how to make my own brackets or that that was even possible. Years later, I now know how to do just about everything on my car by myself and have fabbed up a lot of my own parts on my own without the ideas of others.


I actually spoke to you in personal many years ago at a Bradenton track event and I was brushed off after you couldn't answer a few simple questions about a very popular product that I had cash in hand to buy that very day.

I was then quickly brushed off when I tried asking you a few more questions about another product, also with cash in hand to buy. (You guys had your trailer out there at the time loaded with products to buy and install on site).

I did not appreciate your attitude toward me then and the attitude that you still have even now in this topic does not make me want to buy anything from you guys ever again.

The attitude I received on both accounts was one of annoyance that I was asking you some questions about something I was about to spend a lot of money on right then and there.

I am not the only one that shared this face-to-face experience. Quite a few other C4 guys that I know that have talked to you in person at track events and shows have gotten the same bad customer service experience that I received.

I really wish things had gone better back when I had first talked to you years ago, as you all do have some nice products, but again.. because of price and attitude towards customers, I can't even recommend you to others.


-------


Mods, I hope you can leave this up, as it is a valid concern on customer service of a vendor of yours that happens to be taking interest in this very topic.

 

That would be mightly neighborly of you Redrose I've already had my lunch in the 'Rak

 

Wow... you really know how to make friends!

 

FWIW, I purchased one from Korvette4u, forum member.

I have not installed it but it appears to be a quality piece with a metal pulley.

 

Here is the one I designed and built. Korvette4u now makes it (as one of his versions).

I designed it to support the alternator in the same location as stock (and retain the stock rear bracket also), and properly support the alternator, due to reports of broken alternator tabs with other aftermarket versions. Hence, it requires a shorter belt.



Plasticman

 

I just had some experience with the elim bracket with pics as noted in this thread. Don't think the price is unreasonable, but hope the replacement billet pulley lasts longer than the plastic one. The folks were helpful on the phone today on the reorder.

 

That's YOUR design? NICE!!! I'd talked to "Korvette4U" and leaned toward this option. After getting a quote, the US dollar lost at lot of strength against the Canadian. The price went up before I (and you have to buy a shorter belt). This makes it's cost considerably higher. But, it is a much better solution!

I like it.

gp

 

Yep, my design. I gave it to Korvette4u so he could make / sell it. I was not interested in making more than the one for myself. From what I saw previously, he made some modifications, but frankly the original was way over designed to begin with (I tend to do that with prototypes, get it to work first, then find out where it can be cost reduced and simplified).

Plasticman

 

VERY well said!

 

I did forget to mention modification. The 2-plate design was switched to one. Certainly, the one-plate version is strong -- probably a lot stronger than the single-bar version also pictured in this thread. Korvette4U cited a major cost savings for the elimination of the dual-plate design. For some, it might be worth the extra cost though -- because of the improvement in appearance...

gp

 

I see my 2 plate design on his web site for $189.

http://members.shaw.ca/korvette4u/in...es/Page529.htm

Plasticman

 

Plasticman, and K, you guys did a nice design and job on the elim bracket,,,,, nice work...vinnie

 

Try contacting him and asking him to make it for that price! In a recent C4 for sale listing, the 1-plate version was advertised @ $279. As I stated before, he sited the strength of the Canadian vs. U.S. dollar. You might be able to get him to make the 2-plate design... but suspect it would be about twice his posted web price.

gp

 

Maybe I should start making it myself (since it is my design). Let me think about it, and come up with a plan. Sure I can get it lower in price than that!

The other option is for me to give you the cad files or drawings, and you shop around locally for someone to make it.

Note that I have a few different plate designs as well (don't have to be as originally shown, as long as the major support locations are in the correct locations).

Plasticman

 

Plasticman, this (2PLATE)design was one of very much interest. i made just one of these units and sold it for 189.95 about 1 1/2 years ago. i have not been able to get to my web page to remove it and the price.building it took twice as much time then the single plate.

The pulley is time consuming to build, however it worth it, becuz of the replaceable bearing and of course its shiny!

As always why is the price so high?, i try to explain. lets take a look at some of the tools necessary to build:
1) 14-40, metal lathe, with tooling, $10.000
2) Plasma cutter, (cuts Aluminum like cheese). $3800.00
3) four wheel square grinder, (shaping sanding) $900.00
4) Cabinet sandblster, Cleaning. $1800.00
5) WELDING equipment TIG, and OR MIG. $100,000
6) 40 X60 shop. with Concrete floors and the place for beer fridge, Current property value... Take a guess
7) 1987 Corvette project car, Needed for measurements and final fitting. $ 10,000
8) 2006 pick up truck to go to town and pick up parts beer and coffee for the guys when they come over to help..LOL ...included with welding equipment
9) time... What is your time worth?

of course i could hire someone to build them for me, but then, that person would need same tools and the price would not be any CHEAPER!..

Damm i like these hobbies

i would have to sell about 3500 more units just to break even!! the niche is too lean for that to happen..

Maybe this might clear up the costs issue?

 

ThanK you!, i appreciated it very much, as you mention the design was and is well thought out, however, very time consuming in building, each component/spacer must be precise or the final fit wil be off.

I use my own Custom built pulley with replaceable bearing, which was a spin-off of my first design, this pulley is sized differently with the mounting/spacer hole moved slightly to accomendate the size difference. Aluminum Plate is 1/2" , very supportive with the altenator, with no rear brace and is useable with headers.

reducing the cost? is to use a plastic pulley and farm out to a CNC machine shop? however the costs can be reduced if you make a home project and borrow the equipment from where ever..maybe???