New parts and cool hand luke

[Nick ALFANO <71amx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sorry I haven't responded sooner but I didn't know
there was something to respond because the subject
line was changed and I don't read every post.  Someone
had asked me why I didn't respond so I had to search
the archives to see what he was talking about.

First I will address the issue of new.  These are new
as in the same way a new model car is new.  Yes, maybe
there are cars on the market today, but not this car. 
Are some of these parts out there, yes but maybe at a
high dollar price or so/so quality.  Some of the parts
I have made are not or I was the first and someone
else copied.

I am backing my own money in the shaft rocker set up
and the stud girdles as I do in a lot of other
projects so there is no investor for me or you to be
concerned about other than myself (I guess a fool and
his money).  Somethings I work on with a couple of
other vendors like ERW (Maddog Racing) or LAM and they
have all worked out fairly well so far.  If they
don't, oh well, lesson learned and move on.  At least
I am doing something to move the hobby forward and yes
it has cost me plenty of $.  I have lost a lot of
money and made some in this hobby but that is my
problem.  

As for the guide plates, three sets out there or three
people selling the same set?  I know of one set which
was being made and supplied to a couple of vendors.  I
don't buy from that person any more and they were
cheep enough so I worked with ERW and we had our own
made.  They are $39.95 a set.  Are the others less
than that? I don't think so.

The shaft rockers, yes Jessel makes a set for the Indy
race heads $1281.  Do you own a set at that price?
Probably not nor do I think the average AMC guy does.
Plus, I don't believe they have a set for a stock
configured head.  So I thought, I could make a set
worthy of up to 850lbs of spring pressure for much
less, made in America with the best available pieces. 
So I am.  How about $700-800 for a made in America
street to race piece that will get you an extra
15-20hp and not break a stud from valve deflection. 
Not sure on the price of the stud girdles yet but they
will be very nice and very reasonable.  Not like one
of the sets out there that gulls every time you try to
adjust them.

I am concerned when someone in the hobby is upset that
we are making quality parts at competitive prices so
that they are available to a wider population of our
hobby.  Most people out there can't afford Jessel or
some of the other big name brands who think they are
making parts of gold and most often doesn't care
whether they make another AMC part or not.  

I have been in the AMC hobby all my life.  I could
easily just concentrate on Harley stuff where people
will pay up for the parts as that is my other passion,
but I see more of a need here.  If Mike would like to
pony up some money for R&D, my ears are wide open to
suggestions.  Heck, if someone out there has a part in
mind, ask and I will look into it.  

As for the website, I am working on one.  I just
haven't had the time to pull it all together but I
will have one soon.  

Thanks and I hope the list doesn't take offense to
this.  It was not intended to jab anyone or put down
any other mfg out there.  I just wanted to respond so
people know where I am coming from.  I see parts that
I need for my cars and if I need them and can't find
one that I would use, then most likely others out
there are having the same problem.

Nick Alfano


WOW,,, New parts?
>
> The 401 4340 forged I-Beam rods with 7/16 ARP cap
>> screws should be available soon.
>
> these sound GREAT,,
>
>
> but why waste your time and the investers money in
> parts that are already avaiable as in all the other
NEW parts you
> mentioned.
>
> I am a  Jo-Mar dealer myself and they have a fine
product,
> and cheap IMHO too...
>
>
>
> <S>  Ok > post what you have for AMC specific.
>           Post a WebPage URL you have online.
>
>
>
> as far as Guidplates???
>
> Again Why bother???
>
> i
> can think of at least 3 different sources of those
now,,,
>
>
>
>
>
> <S>  Ok > post all three applications & mods needed
and suppliers for
> these  AMC specific, with prices, if for nothing
else, the Archives.
>
>
>
>
> Shaft
> rockers???
>
> again Why bother there is also 3 different
manufactors
> putting them out now.. <S>  Ok > post these AMC
specific manufacturers & prices.
>           Post a WebPage URL you have online. 
Harland Sharp
>           makes the Inline 6 Rocker Arms, the only
ones that
>           'fit' > as they are designed specificlly
for the engine.
> Nick, if these were chevy parts i could

> understand,, But we are speaking of AMC's