Make your own topfeed fuel rail - CHEAP

[95hondakillr]

I dont know the details on this but it looks to me like you get the lenth of fuel rail you need and do your own drilling and tapping (which is a breeze) Its 14.99 a ft. Scroll to almost the bottom of this page at http://www.ptrsds.com/manifolds%20.htm

[bruinbear714]

I dont know the details on this but it looks to me like you get the lenth of fuel rail you need and do your own drilling and tapping (which is a breeze) Its 14.99 a ft. Scroll to almost the bottom of this page at http://www.ptrsds.com/manifolds%20.htm

Some people already know about this.. in fact you can get rails by the foot at atpturbo.com for even cheaper at $10/ft. All you do is tap the injector holes and thread the ends...

But its not that easy since if you're off by a mm on the injector spacings, it will leak. If you don't thread the ends properly, it will leak. The last thing I would want is for fuel to leak into a hot engine bay on a hot summer day.

[95hondakillr]

This is true

[andrave]

mustang fuel rail is supposed to fit too. I'm just waiting for someone to start making KA rails and not charge 100 bucks for what is 10 dollars worth of material with 10 dollars worth of machining done to it.

[erich]

Holley also sells fuel rail stock. I paid 38 Canadian for 18", so the price is about the same.

[Jeff240sx]

mustang fuel rail is supposed to fit too. I'm just waiting for someone to start making KA rails and not charge 100 bucks for what is 10 dollars worth of material with 10 dollars worth of machining done to it.

And an hour worth of the professional's time. The wear and tear on the machinery, and the replacement of bits. I think $80 per rail covers that. If they were CNC milled, it'd be the same price, too, because now you're not just coving wear on a drill press, but a $10k+ CNC machine, and someone to write a fairly long program.Seriously. This mentallity is a huge problem. "I could go to Japan and buy a sr20det for $500. Why are they $3k here?" You go measure the injector spacing, the fuel pressure regulator size, get a drill, a bit, a tap-set, and if you're like me, a dye. Then spend 2 hours making your $20 fuel rail. Or buy a stick of fuel rail stock, measure out everything and take it to a shop for that "10 dollars worth of machining." If you're gonna whine about something and say you could do it for cheaper.. just do it already. Damn.-Jeff

[WDRacing]

Easy Jeff...

Check me out fella's, somone besides me, I'm to busy, look up all the parts required for the rail. To include new fuel lines, fittings and a new regulator, since machining for a stock one is pointless since we all want to upgrade to a nice adjustable anyway. I've found universal adjustable's for 50 bucks though. Anyway, back on topic, let me know, I have access to all the tools and such in my hobby shop on base as well as the machine shop and tool room at my work. I'd be willing to make fuel rails for the fee of 1 case of beer each...lol. Plus shipping of course. Seriously though, get me some numbers. Either post them here or email them to me. But a post would be better.

WD

[andrave]

they don't need CNC'd tho. And it wouldn't take an hour to drill em out and tap em. thats the whole thing. I'm just saying someone is making a pretty sweet profit selling them for the 120-200 dollars that they go for. chill outttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt

[bruinbear714]

they don't need CNC'd tho. And it wouldn't take an hour to drill em out and tap em. thats the whole thing. I'm just saying someone is making a pretty sweet profit selling them for the 120-200 dollars that they go for. chill outttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt

He does have a point though.. if it costs $10 for stock rails and $10 to machine, then why don't everyone do it themselves?

I agree, I wouldn't pay over $150 for a fuel rail. But, you have to think the majority of the costs of any goods comes from the labor put into it, and paying off the equipment involved in making it. There's a calculated line where a vendor can price out their goods, and where that line lies depends on the amount of suppliers and the demand, basic economics. If you want to go ahead and increase the supplies of fuel rails by doing your own and charging people $30 for it, then you're more than welcome to do it. It'll sure as hell force other ka24de fuel rail suppliers to drop their price.

It's like saying why do I have pay JWT $600 for an ecu modification when it only costs them at most $20 for parts and less than an hour's worth of labor?

[WDRacing]

Ahh...very true indeed. Thats simple, supply and demand my friends. They wouldn't charge alot if there wasn't a demand for said items. Why do you think Honda crap is so cheap, everyone and there brother makes parts for it.

Again, thats why I'm interested in making alot of the stuff myself and for others as well. Because there is another rule in bussiness, if you undersell your closest competition, you take all there bussiness. Plus I can have alot of free BEER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WD

[andrave]

I'll send you a gift certificate good for beer if you make me a fuel rail...I have these MSD 50's I'm running with JWT ecu but at the moment I have no rail for them.

[pilmpd]

Hello,First of let me start off by saying that you all seem to have a very delusional view of what goes into machining a part. I make and sell Ka24de and sr20 top feed fuel rails, and to get a good looking, high quality part and still be able to sell it at a reasonable price can be rather difficult. If you have ever been to a machine shop that knows what they are doing and just watched them set up a machine to do one part of the item they are working on, then you would know that this can take a while to do. As far as supply and demand goes, that plays a part for some, and I would be lying if I said that I don't do it for the money. I am trying to help this part of the import community and still make a dollar while other people get the parts they need at price that is REASONABLE. I think this might be where some of you are having a problem with paying $85.00 for a fuel rail, because you are not being reasonable. If you made a list of everything that you would need to do this type of work properly it would just about be more then $85.00 if not be more then that, and that is just for one fuel rail. The more you want to make, more materials you will have to buy, the more shipping you will pay to get it to you, the more tools you will need, and not to mention the time it will take you to do all this. And you think after all of this you will still be able to make any money what so ever. Just out of curiousity, do any of you know how much it costs to truck a large amout of fuel rail stock all the way across the U.S., I'm not thinking that you do. By the way this is not a plug for my company and I'm am sorry if I stepped on anyone's toes.

[WDRacing]

Hello,First of let me start off by saying that you all seem to have a very delusional view of what goes into machining a part. I make and sell Ka24de and sr20 top feed fuel rails, and to get a good looking, high quality part and still be able to sell it at a reasonable price can be rather difficult. If you have ever been to a machine shop that knows what they are doing and just watched them set up a machine to do one part of the item they are working on, then you would know that this can take a while to do. As far as supply and demand goes, that plays a part for some, and I would be lying if I said that I don't do it for the money. I am trying to help this part of the import community and still make a dollar while other people get the parts they need at price that is REASONABLE. I think this might be where some of you are having a problem with paying $85.00 for a fuel rail, because you are not being reasonable. If you made a list of everything that you would need to do this type of work properly it would just about be more then $85.00 if not be more then that, and that is just for one fuel rail. The more you want to make, more materials you will have to buy, the more shipping you will pay to get it to you, the more tools you will need, and not to mention the time it will take you to do all this. And you think after all of this you will still be able to make any money what so ever. Just out of curiousity, do any of you know how much it costs to truck a large amout of fuel rail stock all the way across the U.S., I'm not thinking that you do. By the way this is not a plug for my company and I'm am sorry if I stepped on anyone's toes.

Buying more materials at once lowers the price of items not increases them. Buying fuel rail stock pre drilled is very cheap. Buying a laser aligned drill press is $85. Buying the drill bits is done once, especially when only drilling aluminum. Buying a countersink is done once.

The drill press can be used for anything for the rest of your life. I fail to see what your talking about. I've been through several machine shops, I know making parts and molds for parts is difficult and expensive to start with. But for this particular item you are wrong. If it costs you $85 to build your own fuel rail, then you simply are a fool cause you can't navigate the internet. I don't think I'm so delusional...

WD

[Def]

I don't see why it would be so hard to do either with a good drill press or a CNC machine. Heck, I suck at CAD/solid modelers and I bet I could model a fuel rail in 10-15 minutes of poking around.

I believe it is your right to make money on a product you produce, just don't cry foul when the market finds a cheaper alternative. That's your cue to adjust your price to where it is NOT worth the consumer's time to find an alternative solution to your product.

My tarnished 2 pennies.

[pilmpd]

I'm not crying foul. I just think that some people don't understand what all goes into properly making parts of this sort. And I'm well aware of price breaks on shipping and materials. And I'm not saying you cant use a drill press, but, can you drill press hold a .005 inch tollerances. Granted anyone with have a mind could do it this way but do you want it done right were you know it will not leak and your injectors to seal properly. Also, it doesn't cost me $85.00 to make the fuel rails, that is just what I sell them for. Apearantly I did manage to step on WD's toes, and that was not my intention. I just wanted to throw my 2 cents on the table from the perspective of someone who makes the part you all are talking about.

[Def]

I do agree it's more than $10 of machining if you were to pay the usual machine shop rate of $60-70+/hr for the good ones.

I never said your price was bad, in fact, I think it's pretty darn good for a CNC machined piece that can be guaranteed to have tight tolerances and not leak.

I had an old E21 320i have an engine fire right in front of me while it was rolling out to the hot pits at the track one weekend(leaky FPR), so I would personally not mind paying $85 to ensure the job got done correctly.

It kinda seems to me that most people are complaining about JWT's pricing of their rails. That's no news to me, as I haven't even actively followed the Nissan aftermarket in the past and I was well aware of JWT's borderline price gouging.

[WDRacing]

I'm not crying foul. I just think that some people don't understand what all goes into properly making parts of this sort. And I'm well aware of price breaks on shipping and materials. And I'm not saying you cant use a drill press, but, can you drill press hold a .005 inch tollerances. Granted anyone with have a mind could do it this way but do you want it done right were you know it will not leak and your injectors to seal properly. Also, it doesn't cost me $85.00 to make the fuel rails, that is just what I sell them for. Apearantly I did manage to step on WD's toes, and that was not my intention. I just wanted to throw my 2 cents on the table from the perspective of someone who makes the part you all are talking about.

No toes stepped on here my friend, I enjoy an educated debate just like the next guy. Anyone who makes knowledgeable statments is cool in my book. I was simplyu stating that in the case of fuel rails you were wrong. Ohter items require alot od attention, whether its a water bong or whatever. I looked through the internet and lined up some pretty good deals. I do however, ahev some good connections in the race field.

WD

[pilmpd]

no harm, no foul....

[andrave]

hey I just want everyone to know that I drove down to JWT to talk to the guys yesterday and they pointed out that aftermarket FPR's are known to wander all over, and their top feed fuel rail bolts up with the stock FPR.which could actually SAVE you money, cause if you buy a cheaper fuel rail plus the price of an FPR it could easily cost you the 130 they ask.So I was thinking about a JWT rail for my car.

[WDRacing]

Hmm...I've never had any problems with any after market FPR's. I don't know to many people who have any kind of mods and don't use one.

WD

[Projex240]

Um---palmer---can you email me so i can possibly buy one of these rails. I dont have the time or patience to manufactur one for myself, and the jgy one i bought is taking a really long time to get here. Price isnt really a concern, i just want one quick--however--i wont contribute to JWT's pocket any mroe than absolutely necessary, as theirs are like 225.00

[Jeff240sx]

Unstable Hybrids used to carry top feed rails for $130. It was threaded for hose barb fittings. It took some creativity to make a stock FPR work, so I cut off some of the fuel rail, threaded it, attached another barb fitting, and ran a fuel hose between the rail and the regulator. UH later said that they'd make a rail to bolt right up to the FPR... but I haven't seen it yet.-Jeff

[pilmpd]

I would honestly have to say that I have heard more people complaining about stock fprs, than a good quality aftermarket one. Umm.....Projex240, were you refering to me when you asked to be emailed about purchasing a fuel rail. Just let me know.

[andrave]

well my brother is into mustangs and he found me a nice adjutable one that bolts onto the mustang rail I'm using for 65 bucks. I'm just worried about what the JGY guys told me. Of course maybe they just want me to buy from them...

[pilmpd]

i think it is safe to say, as a general rule of thumb, that everyone wants you to buy from them.

[Nathan]

well my brother is into mustangs and he found me a nice adjutable one that bolts onto the mustang rail I'm using for 65 bucks. I'm just worried about what the JGY guys told me. Of course maybe they just want me to buy from them...

Who'd you talk to at JGY? Shaun's a good guy and I think it took about 2 or 3 weeks to get my top feed rail...definitely not too long at all.

[Redline240]

well my brother is into mustangs and he found me a nice adjutable one that bolts onto the mustang rail I'm using for 65 bucks.

So the mustang fuel rail does fit and work ok? What year mustang? 5.0L or 4.6L?

Redline

[andrave]

4.6 mustangs and thunderterds and such.

I have a couple coming in the mail on the 7th, I should know more about how close the fit is this weekend. I talked to this guy but that was a while ago and I don't remember who it was. Said he had no problems with the setup though.

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub.net/photo ... 998&page=1