Club Cobra - David Kee Aluminum Toploaders

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David Kee Aluminum Toploaders

I just received my aluminum toploader from David today.
What a beautiful piece it is. If any body wants one, now is your chance! Thanks David.

Remind us again how much lighter it is than the old cast iron model?

25 lbs lighter if I remember correctly.
100 lbs cast
75 lbs aluminum

You are correct, 75lb on my scale.

How does the price compare to the iron version?

$2100 for aluminum, about $1700 for iron.

$400 for a weight savings of 25lbs, hmmm, kind of expensive, pound per dollar spent.

On the FE motor in general there is a LOT of weight you can save. Aloy water pump, heads and intake come to mind! And THAT weight is FORWARD weight. Much better pound per dollar spent return on your investment.

As part of a "total diet" plan the trans is a worthy investment. By itself I'm not so sure. It does have a certain "cool factor". But being as a trans is "hidden" I'm not sure I would pay $400 more just for that reason!

While on the subject of "weight" reduction consider this:
You have to save THREE pounds of "static weight" (your butt in the seat, lighter trans, heads, etc) to equal the benefit of ONE pound of rotating weight.

Saving ONE pound of wheel/tire weight (rotating weight), for instance, is like saving THREE pounds of "body" weight. Consider the impact of an alloy flywheel then, or a carbon fiber drive shaft, or how about an alloy flywheel? Rotating mass, THATS where you would maximize your dollar per pound of weight saved!

I would suspect that the NASCAR fraternity would consider spending $400.00 for a 25lb. weight reduction a truly, unbelievable bargain.

Ernie,
Most of the time you make sense. Not this time!

$400.00 would indeed be a lot of money to save 25 pounds. To suggest heads , water pump and intake could save weight is obvious.

My guess is anyone opting to buy a David Kee Aluminum Top Loader, has probably already done the obvious. They probably have aluminum heads, water pumps, and aluminum intakes.

This would be another 25 pounds over and above other savings.In that case this would a major weight reduction.

Let's not forget the cool factor. Having recently replaced a toploader of unknown origin I feel better knowing that my new tranny came from David. You'd be amazed at the detail and the care as well as the level of service you recieve from this Texan.

TURK

Let me clear up the pricing. The new cast iron toploaders are $1995. The new aluminum toploaders are $2100 right now.
These are brand new units built with all of the parts we have been reproducing for the past few years not remanufactured units.
The premium for aluminum and losing 25# is $105.
Our remanufactured units have been $1648.74 for a close ratio and $1748.74 for a wide. These are large spline 24" units.

Sorry for the confusion David, I was going off your rebuilt pricing.
Your right on Turk, it a drop dead cool piece. Let's not forget
aluminum blocks in the weight saving department.

Delighted with the quality of you alu toploader. This, plus the Shelby alu block, plus an alu flywheel now represent a good weight saving on my car.
[quote]Originally posted by David Kee