aftermarket harmonic balancer group buy.

[themadscientist]

Alright all. I have contacted ATI about making one of their super dampers for the CA18DET. They have replied, they are willing to make one. I have also contacted another company that appears to make one already even though it is not listed on their site. The CA18 could make use of a good harmonic balancer, the stock one is less than stellar and the half-counter weighted crank exacerbates the already lopey vibrations of a four cylinder. ATI has already produced a damper for the RB26, a smoother spinning but similarly weighted crank and they also make one for the SR20 so they are not new to this. I have seen an RB26 unit in person and it is very nice.

http://www.atiperformanceprodu...n.htm



I would like something like that for my engine and I think there are some people here who would as well. Our CA18 owners are, well, let's suspend the bull****, CHEAP! No shame in it, I am known for doing interesting and effective things on a shoestring budget. Something like this though is not cheap and there is no cutting corners; you either put the money on the wood or you get ta steppin. The only way to bring costs down is to make it profitable to produce this thing in respectable numbers. The CA18 is a footnote in history in Japan, nobody but me runs one here so whoever makes these things cannot count on any Japanese sales. Only the faithful in Europe, Australia, and to a much lesser extent America want these. The question is though will they pay for these. Looking at the other dampers ATI offers I would expect a CA18 unit to cost at least $500.00. If the other company does actually make one already they are coming in under $500.00. If possible I would like to organize a group buy to try to sweeten the pot and reduce the cost per unit for those involved.

If they need a guinea pig damper I have one I can send and will take care of all that. I am willing to coordinate collecting the funds and remitting to the vendor, acquiring the dampers and shipping them out to the group buy participants.

This thread serves to gauge interest in this item.

If you don't want one don't feel the need to post, I'll just delete it to keep the thread clean.

I will be pointing the vendor to this thread to demonstrate how serious our interest is so think about what they will think when they read what you write and be eloquent.

I will post updates as I have specific information to do so but for now the hypothetical is group buy of CA18 harmonic balancers with engraved timing marks at a ceiling of $500 a unit.

[ca18detgabby]

"dont post if you dont want"

"discuss"

bit contradictory......



should put it in your sig or something, Ive noticed lately there is a decent CA following in the 240 gen chat that never come here. as getting the word out is the only way this will ever happen.

I would love one, but 500 bucks is pretty big ticket. specially when I intend on signing on a 03 G35 tomorrow

what kind of gains would one see? if nothing else a Point of Reference of what a RB26 sees % wise........

look forward to the end product.

Ps feel free to delete the post, just wonder a few things on it.

[themadscientist]

Only those winding the motor up a lot and going for serious power will benefit. If cruising around and making BOV noises on saturday night is the some total of what a person does it would be money wasted. If you drift frequently or seriously compete with a CA18 with the resulting time spent at full roar something like this will be a good move.

Good idea on the sig entry. I hope the g purchase doesn't mean you will be leaving the fold

[float_6969]

I would be interested in the potential weight and what, if any underdrive it might have built into it.

I think for the most part, the purpose of the balancer is to dampen torsional vibrations in the crank that the stock dampener probably wasn't designed to handle or is no longer able to handle due to age.

If it offers a weight advantage and has a built in underdrive, I think $500 is fair and I would be willing to pay that for it.

[r34 gtr]

Question: what about those of us that use crank fire ignition setups? I would be quite reluctant to go taking a lathe to a $500 pulley to fit a $10 trigger wheel. Are we in the stand alone world just SOL on this thing if we feel uncomfortable tearing it up immediately upon receiving it in the mail?

[DALAZ_68]

so would this benefit in the whole CA theory of "make power on boost not RPM's"

my CA is currently DD but in the near future (Jan Feb of 09) it will be strictly track with a light rebuild bigger turbo

the max power im hoping to get out of it is around 250 - 300 but obviously shell be taking abigger beating since all its gonna be doing is getting sideways and AutoXHP zone/performance?

[bentvalves]

likely interested If we could get price under 500.

do you frequent sxoc.com?

Im sure you could get a few more that would be interested there.

p.s. CA's theory is make power with boost not revs....since when?

[themadscientist]

I was interested in having them machined as trigger wheels as well. I will be asking about that. I see none of their dampers so designed though. I don't know if they can do the work at the time of production if at all. I think it would be very attractive to all their customers if the dampers came cut with trigger teeth and will try to sell the idea.

Motors vibrate at any RPM, the higher you go though the worse it gets. More power and boost puts more abuse on that situation. I honestly don't think the average street driven or mildly modified engine will be adversely affected by not having this. For those of us that intend to squeeze the crap out of the motor it becomes a must.

[float_6969]

I completely forgot about my standalone.

What are the effects of me drilling 3 very small holes and epoxying in 3 very small magnets going to be on the warranty?

[themadscientist]

I just them an inquiry about machining the missing tooth trigger pattern directly into the damper pulley.

[boost_boy]

I'm with float on this one in the fact that the standalone system I use require the magnets be drilled into the vibration dampener itself. The dollar cost is not the issue, but more of the functonality.

Dee

[themadscientist]

They are willing to cut missing teeth pulleys but they would be custom. They mentioned an existing "crank trigger" type, I have asked for clarification as to whether that is a flying magnet. Custom dampers come in at around $650. I have been told the magic number to fire up the CNC mill is 10 units. I think we should shoot for a confirmed 12 units before going foreward. There must be a fudge factor, someone will get cold feet and I don't want it to fall through at the last minute. If they cut them on the CNC mill they are effectively available to other CA18 owners because they will have the file, if the machinist hand cuts them they remain custom pieces. I have asked for confirmation about the 10 unit milestone, specifically if the price drops.

I have heard nothing from Ross yet. With the holidays and all I think it will be well into January before we know exactly what our options are.

[ca18detgabby]

Good idea on the sig entry. I hope the g purchase doesn't mean you will be leaving the fold

well I brought it home. the step dad was pretty pissed, but I financed it on my own and can make the proper payments, so he is pretty much going to have to live with the G. He now wants me to sell the S, but I dont think so just yet.

leather, power seats, sun roof, heated seats, VQ, 6spd, brembo breaks

will post pics tomorrow. If I live that long

[float_6969]

Nobody else wants one?

[bimeur]

I would,depend on the price,shipped for me(remember,i'm in france ^^ )

[XTCshri2222]

depends on the price, i dont have 500.

[zache803]

im down for one. just keep us updated

[themadscientist]

They can do the flying magnet triggers, either installed or as a bolt on ring of some kind.

To satisfy all I think the best thing would be to have the dampers produced ready to accept the trigger ring and sell the ring separately. The ring would be sold as a raw circle with no teeth or magnets from ATI. My thinking is those not in need of a crank trigger can get the base damper. Those running a trigger could pick up the unfinished ring and mount their magnets if the are using that system or send it out to have missing teeth trigger cut into it if that is what they are using. This way ATI only has to R&D two pieces which increases the chance we can get enough units ordered to make it a production item and they are interchangeable for any users specific needs.

I will pitch this idea to them.

[articzap]

I'm interested to get one eventually, but money is to tight right now.

[float_6969]

I like that idea Mike. If it's got a secondary ring that I can drill magnets into, I'd definitely be down for it. Just FYI the magnets that SDS uses are about an 1/8" in diameter, so the ring would need to be about a 1/4" thick at a minimum.

[Yugo_49]

I'm interested!!I'm french and i can make a group buy for french users!!mp me if ur interest.

sorry for my bad english

[tommey]

I`m interested

[themadscientist]

Ross just got back to me, they have them on the shelf. As soon as I have more information I will update.

[tommey]

I wonder why ATI did`nt answer me when i asked if they could make one for ca18 about a year ago.. verywell, does anybody know how much shipping to the cold part of europe (norway) will be?
Modified by tommey at 8:00 PM 1/4/2009

[float_6969]

There is supposed to be a company called Ross in Australia that already makes them. He emailed them and just now heard back from them that they have them on the shelf. If that's the case, then they would be a better route, as long as we can still work out the trigger wheel setup and shipping to the US and Europe.

[themadscientist]

The european customers present a problem. Let me see if Jason is willing to help.

[float_6969]

Will Ross not ship international?

[themadscientist]

I don't know. I would like to just have one big box sent to me and then foward it on to those involved. He is in Europe so if he is game I would feel a lot safer sending the european participant's stuff to him for distribution. I have had ZERO luck with international stuff.

[float_6969]

That I can understand. I haven't heard from him in a while. Is he still alive?

[themadscientist]

He's been busy, now a proud pappy.