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Index > Body Exterior > Thread: Stainless Battery Box
Thread: Stainless Battery Box [' This thread is 2 pages long: 1 (2) ']
mother1ship


1st Gear
Posts: 13
posted September 17, 2004 07:24 AM

Did you get the battery boxes made up?

Just wondering. I'm getting started on my '74 REPU, would love a battery box if you ever got some made up.... ?

Pat

____________
Fling Pu rotary racing team
79 RX7, #229
74 RX3, #452
74 RePu, #498
the Fling Pu REPU

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klaus42


Rotorhead
Posts: 1877
posted September 19, 2004 12:54 PM

Nope. (Not 'yet')...

Another 'back burner' project at this point, my guess... The valances were/are sweet, though...

       
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mwpayne


Hauling
Posts: 195
posted May 06, 2005 03:56 PM

Has this battery box idea actually happened? Need one!

       
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WPGREXX


1st Gear
Posts: 20
posted October 09, 2005 09:03 AM

did these ever get made, I am in for one if they did. Was it rob at pineapple that was making them?
____________
75 REPU, 13b streetport Dellorto 48mm, 2.5 exhaust, custom extended cab
86 RX7 -in restoration process, T70 Turbo

We build amazing Engines

       
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mr-Repu


1st Gear
Posts: 17
posted December 30, 2005 12:42 PM

ive made one myself but ive now got access to a spot welder so im going to re design it i will post a pic of the first attempt and of the new design.

cheers.
____________
"Bow 2 the mighty M"

       
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EricS


1st Gear
Posts: 48
posted February 09, 2008 07:30 PM

battery box

I see there sure was a lot of chatter here about people wanting a new battery box. I offered to have some made, even got through the prototype, and nada. Too expensive, or what? Had I got a few commitments, they could have been considerably less expensive, but any less than 6 ain't worth the trouble! The stainless ALONE is $60, not including hinge and some sort of door clasp, or any rubber! Then they must be cut out, about $25 each, then bent and welded. This is where the quantity comes in. 1 only, $75, 6, $130ish for all! Want the slide out try, figure another $20 for material, and another $20 for a couple of bends. Shipping is at least $15, not including a box and packing. Add it up. Anyone thinking $50 is a fair price has their head in the sand. Not my opinion, just a fact. I have been in the manufacturing world for 24 years, so I have a fair idea what it takes to make an acceptable product. Sure, most of us can hack something out on a band saw, and weld together some stuff to keep a battery from falling out on the road, but as for myself, I want something that will rival the factory effort. The down side to a stainless box is, it will still be there after the rest of the truck rusts completely away!

       
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Brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted February 09, 2008 08:50 PM
Edited By: Brad on 9 Feb 2008 20:51

Eric, I think there are enough interested people here

who want one. But owners of old Mazdas tend to be cheap and when a beater truck sells for $300 people don't want to spend much on a battery box. I think that's the point of view.

All that said, I know there are a few people who would shell out the dough for the real deal stainless box off the bat. Remember how many people bought the fiberglass valance here and still people want more.

I'd say do up six and start selling. You can always put them on eBay, people are always searching there for REPU stuff.

I'd be in for one as I appreciate that Stainless + cutting + welding + assembly + hardware ain't cheap.
____________
-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge

       
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Rotary_Pickup


Hauling
Posts: 117
posted February 10, 2008 08:26 AM

Would the cost decrease significantly if they where made from steal? This way the buyer could finish them the way they want. Either paint or in my case, I powder coat my own stuff. Could we reuse the factory door and latch. I already have a Mazda NOS, never used, door and latch.
____________
KansasCityREPU on RX-7Club.com
85 GSL
77 REPU (1/1/2004)
75 REPU (7/10/2004)

       
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EricS


1st Gear
Posts: 48
posted February 10, 2008 09:39 PM

Brad, I am sure there are people that want one, but when I asked for commitments, I got 1 response. That person now owns the prototype. I offered to make them in steel, stainless, and aluminum. Making them from steel will be cheaper, but I personally would spend the extra bucks for stainless. I envision those of us with nicer trucks would upgrade to stainless, then "pass on" the original boxes to those of us just trying to keep their beater on the road. It is one of my objectives to replicate the original box as best I can, though there are limitations on sourcing original hardware. I don't think it would be any problem to bend and weld the basic box, leaving off the door and top "clamp" for those of us that have pieces that could be re-used. I even offered selling the "flat parts", letting you bend and weld your own. Maybe what I should do is make up a price/option list, give it a month for commitments to come in, then fill the orders?

       
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Brad


Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
posted February 11, 2008 10:54 AM
Edited By: Brad on 11 Feb 2008 10:57

Yeah, I think that would be better.

When I tried to put together a big brake upgrade kit there were MANY different ideas and some specific needs. 6 lug, 5 lug, 15" rims required for clearance? front only or rear too, new hub and bearings or stock, etc.... Shop won't even start R&D unless at least 5 people agree to buy; time is money. People won't commit w/o a price and if final price is > initial estimate then some people fume.

I ended up just moving on to the next project.

The Torsen LSD kit ending up being a winner though :)))


____________
-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge

       
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Klaus44


Redlining
Posts: 365
posted February 11, 2008 11:14 AM

Timing, price, product, marketing...

Who all has money to spend right now... or, perhaps, even a month from now? I know I don't.

Lots of great ideas and good stuff... but, like a lot of folks, I have to focus on *making* money, not spending it -- first.

You might get a vastly different response this summer... provided, of course, that the economy doesn't continue to tank...

Then there's how closely the repro resembles the stock original, or not... (for the purists).

Who's got a 'beater' REPU for sale for $300 that has a running 13B in it that doesn't smoke 'too' much?!? Engines alone are worth that much --and more-- as unopened, potentially rebuildable cores, last I checked...

       
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bwaits


Hauling
Posts: 119
posted February 12, 2008 05:59 AM

The rotary crowd

is a hard bunch to sell to without product in hand. Most want to see what you have, know the price up front and purchase at the next earliest convenience.

It took us a while to be able to build group buys for products that were not on hand. Customers know our reputation and feel safe doing it.

I suggest you make some. Post them for sell and see how it goes. As Brad mentioned above.

Another note. Where are the pictures? You said you posted them somewhere but I could never find them.

Brad, BB kit could still be a go. I need to dig up all my research and take a look at it again. Maybe Spring.

-billy
____________
ACT . Accufab . AEM . APEXi . AutoMeter . B&B . B&M . BBK . BORLA . Bosai . Brembo. Center Force . Earl’s . Eibach . Energy Suspension . Fluidyne . Goodridge . Greddy . HKS . INJEN . Innovate Motorsports . INTRAX . K&N . KONI . KYB . Magnacore . MOMO . MSD . NGK . NOLOGY . NOS . NX . Pace Setter . Power Slot . Prothane . ReSpeed . Rotora . Sparco . Suspension Techniques . Tanabe . Tokico . TurboNetics . Unorthodox Racing

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MAZDAMARK


Hauling
Posts: 139
posted February 12, 2008 07:30 AM
Edited By: MAZDAMARK on 12 Feb 2008 07:33

FWIW I'm the guy that ended up with the prototype. Eric's work seems excellent. The hinges are high quality, the pieces are very precisly cut, welded and fit. He posted a pic of the prototype in his folder...

http://www.mazdarepu.com/Gallery/index.php3?album=New+Life&photo=uploads/new_box1.jpg

Also, I second what Brad said. I would try ebay as well.
____________
94 RX7
89 RX7 GTUs
85 GSLSE
88 323 GTX
1975 REPU

       
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bwaits


Hauling
Posts: 119
posted February 12, 2008 12:28 PM

That does look nice. I could be down for one.

Need to do something on the latch.

-billy
____________
ACT . Accufab . AEM . APEXi . AutoMeter . B&B . B&M . BBK . BORLA . Bosai . Brembo. Center Force . Earl’s . Eibach . Energy Suspension . Fluidyne . Goodridge . Greddy . HKS . INJEN . Innovate Motorsports . INTRAX . K&N . KONI . KYB . Magnacore . MOMO . MSD . NGK . NOLOGY . NOS . NX . Pace Setter . Power Slot . Prothane . ReSpeed . Rotora . Sparco . Suspension Techniques . Tanabe . Tokico . TurboNetics . Unorthodox Racing

ReSpeed Online Catalog

       
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EricS


1st Gear
Posts: 48
posted February 12, 2008 09:16 PM

battery box

I cut 2 more boxes from stainless today, one being mine. I priced cold rolled steel also. It is $12, versus $60 for stainless. Since the whole project seems to be driven by price, steel it is. The price list is coming. I put a diamond plate aluminum door on my stock box, since the original was missing. It is for trade. Also found a latch that will suffice. Not very original though. Pix can be found in my pic folder "New Life".

       
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Midnightriders


1st Gear
Posts: 16
posted August 01, 2009 01:14 PM

hey, if i could get a battery box with latch made that would be great.... let me know.
____________
'74 white RePu
rb26 awd 240sx (yea i know)

       
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top1usa


Redlining
Posts: 264
posted May 05, 2011 07:43 AM

quote:
A thread for all to respond to who would be interested in a reproduction B-box done in stainless... Price to be determined, depending also on numbers, of course...
Let us know how bad you want how many! Then we'll see if we can get 'em made at a low enough price...
Sure would be nice...


I know I'm a late comer...is this still going on? If so, what is the total cost for this?

Thanks....

Tim
____________
74' Mazda Repu-Flare
yellow
85' Toyota ae86-Red-SOLD
88' Toyota ae92-Gray
14' Toyota Prius

       
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eldudo


1st Gear
Posts: 25
posted March 05, 2013 10:28 AM

Is this still going on?

My BBox is missing the front hinged door and the top brace. If these are being made, please let me know. I am very interested.

       
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