Surge Tank

[redmt]

Yes. $500.00 for a right hand tank when the left hand tanks are $150- $225.00 ? They seem to be inflated costs because it is 'Cobra' affiliated. $300.00 and even more for a "kit" when a completely assembled tank NIB full guarantee is about $200.00? Northern Radiator used to be the mfg. for the R/H tank. They quit making them 3 years ago when their dies wore out. There hasn't been much demand for them as it is hot rod , Cobra related. The wholesale price was less than $100. The retail was around $200.00 until they no longer made them. Vendors seem to think they have the public over a barrel. rant over.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by redmt

Vendors seem to think they have the public over a barrel.

Unfortunately for buyers, that's because often they do.

Just saying.

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by redmt

Yes. $500.00 for a right hand tank when the left hand tanks are $150- $225.00 ? They seem to be inflated costs because it is 'Cobra' affiliated. $300.00 and even more for a "kit" when a completely assembled tank NIB full guarantee is about $200.00? Northern Radiator used to be the mfg. for the R/H tank. They quit making them 3 years ago when their dies wore out. There hasn't been much demand for them as it is hot rod , Cobra related. The wholesale price was less than $100. The retail was around $200.00 until they no longer made them. Vendors seem to think they have the public over a barrel. rant over.

Nothing to do with the "right vs. left" thing, the right hand tank is stainless steel vs. the McCord/Ford brass tank. McCord built the tanks for the 427 Cobra for Ford using a mix of Galaxie and Thunderbird pieces. They did not make a lot of extras so NOS are very rare. And if you think "the vendors have you over a barrel" on the stainless tanks, price an NOS Cobra tank.

Every time I hear about how a vendor is raping the public, I bite my tongue hard. I came close to building an exact repro of the McCord 289 Cobra tank. Tooling was $15,000 plus......piece cost was about $60.00 per unit plus the assembly and $10.00 for the water neck and heater tube. How many of those do you think I could sell in five years? 100? 250? Even at 500 what is my cost vs. what I can sell them for?

Don't like what us greedy vendors are getting for parts? Put YOUR money in tooling and deal with the public and then post. Rant over.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by Mark IV

Nothing to do with the "right vs. left" thing, the right hand tank is stainless steel vs. the McCord/Ford brass tank. McCord built the tanks for the 427 Cobra for Ford using a mix of Galaxie and Thunderbird pieces. They did not make a lot of extras so NOS are very rare. And if you think "the vendors have you over a barrel" on the stainless tanks, price an NOS Cobra tank.

Every time I hear about how a vendor is raping the public, I bite my tongue hard. I came close to building an exact repro of the McCord 289 Cobra tank. Tooling was $15,000 plus......piece cost was about $60.00 per unit plus the assembly and $10.00 for the water neck and heater tube. How many of those do you think I could sell in five years? 100? 250? Even at 500 what is my cost vs. what I can sell them for?

Don't like what us greedy vendors are getting for parts? Put YOUR money in tooling and deal with the public and then post. Rant over.

With all due respect kind sir, but after you (or they) retire do you kindly give the IP and tooling away for free?

Ps. Middle man vendor "on selling" is also a little different to manufacturing. But hey since you took it there...

Just saying.

[Mark IV]

You are not following that the LH outlet tanks that are available for "Cobras" are stainless steel and not brass. The brass tanks available are for garden variety Ford products thus the price disparity.

I know one of the people making the brass tank (actually he owns the tooling that is in China) and asked about having some LH brass tanks made. Again to do it properly there are some tooling revisions needed but much of the tooling would be the existing stuff. 500 pieces minimum is the run at the factory in China. Without the tool costs my price landed here with fees, duty, insurance, shipping (and of course some profit for him as he owns the tools)etc. is over $125.00 per unit. So I will have $62,500 minimum tied up. If I sell them at $195.00 per like the standard tanks how long before I am close to even? Do I have any cost of money for the inventory I will sit on until I die? Profit is not a dirty word and I subscribe to the "pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered" school of thought. Anyone who thinks 99% of the people involved in this hobby/business are getting rich needs to look harder. I can count on one hand with fingers left over those who made a small fortune that didn't start with a large one!

Give away the IP and tooling? Ford issues a "destruction order" to vendors for most items when they discontinue it as a production or service part. Woe to the vendor that doesn't comply.....although I know one vendor who kept a loft of emblem and trim tools in his home garage as he couldn't bear to trash it.

[55312]

George Anderson at Gessford has a whole range of these fill tanks. Scroll down on this link. Ford FE 427 428 Parts Engine Valve Covers Water Pumps Alternator Brackets

I don't know anything about pricing but it's worth a look and he's a good guy to do business with.

Tim

[1985 CCX]

Nick Acton