Calgary Jeep Association

Author Topic: What products are Jeep guys into?  (Read 23210 times)

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Offline w squared

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Re: What products are Jeep guys into?
« Reply #60 on: December 30, 2010, 05:41:24 AM »

The when it's running, hire some welders to build those things for you and take the time to do the fancy stuff.

Once you get going,

Darcy, this is a Jeep site. Please take your common sens and clear thinking elsewhere. It is not wanted here!




































 ;D
I followed a rainbow out to a garage and found a leprichaun. The rainbow ended in a potted cactus on his porch, but there was no gold :(

Offline EVOLUTION

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Re: What products are Jeep guys into?
« Reply #61 on: December 30, 2010, 10:10:48 AM »
good points... Clay has been building his business for 8 years so he isn't just starting up.  Hiring welders sounds easy.... however, we don't just need welders.  We need people who have an artistic eye, can measure & bend tube, know the insides & outsides of design & how things work... it's hard.  Also in Alberta, people are demanding rediculous amounts of money.  $30/hr+ with no experience, full benefits, paid time off etc etc.   That's why we can't afford to hire people.  Hell, we dont even pay ourselves or have benefits or get time off.... but it's what you have to do to run a business sometimes.  Of course, if an employee makes you enough money to cover these things, that wouldn't be  a problem.

Evolution heims are amazing... they are sold worldwide & are literally THE strongest on the market.  He has made a huge name for himself based on the heims alone and is very respected in all the different communities such as Baja, Monster Trucks, regular trucks, mud boggers etc etc.

Anyhow, I shouldn't be speaking on behalf of Clay... I've been trying to get him to come on & post but he gets all flustered & doesn't know what to say.  lol.

As for my sides of things... we can order a lot of aftermarket parts & were wanting to offer good pricing deals to the CJA because it has been a long standing organization in Calgary/Alberta and you guys are the ones who go out there & do cleanups and donate your time to making the trails better for all of us.  To reward you for your efforts, we think the least we can do is offer special pricing on things you might want to order.  So if you want anything NOT made by us... please dont hesitate to ask.

Now the thread has taken a different turn & opened my eyes as to what WE can make that would help YOU guys out even more.  If it's DIY stuff you guys want... I'm all over it.  Plate bumpers, tube bumpers, cages, brackets etc... ok I can start getting to work.  M101 trailer DIY kits... hell yeah, I'm on it.  I would like to do my share for this company and let Clay concentrate on taking over the world with his heims & steering components.  lol

Thank you again for every word that has been said in here  I will take everything into consideration & start getting you what you want.
onward-ho!





Evolution Machining & Fabrication  403.935.3540
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Offline AstraX

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Re: What products are Jeep guys into?
« Reply #62 on: December 30, 2010, 10:49:52 AM »
Well I for one will keep an eye on what's coming out of your shop...Like I said, I'm just new to this but I am pretty sure I'm going to enjoy it and I've already got a wishlist of things I would like to do.

Maybe I will volunteer some welding at some point for a discount  ;)  Been a while since I've welded though...might need some practice   :-\

Offline vantagetes

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Re: What products are Jeep guys into?
« Reply #63 on: January 01, 2011, 06:13:38 PM »
If you're looking to pick up some extra revenue without backlogging your shop into the next millenium pick a few simple products you can easily mass produce, and try to keep them in stock. Look at what people are ordering every day, pick one or two items and make your own version. It doesn't have to be complicated, just cheap and bolt on, that's what 85% of the market is looking for. Oh and in stock. I know trying to keep 50+ items when everything fits differently is not reasonable but that's why I said keep it simple. Make a list of 5-10 and start off with 1 or 2.

I'm lazy and when I go to buy crap I just look around until I find somewhere I can just go pick it up. I don't wanna go and put a down payment on it, then have to wait x amount of weeks to have it show up THEN install it. I just wanna go get it and bolt it on as soon as I'm home. I think the majority of the market will agree with me. Also while I am fairly mechanically inclined stuff that just fits the first time with a couple bolts will sell in much higher volumes then DIY stuff. Don't get me wrong being able to get quality DIY stuff is awesome but I think you're already well into that and it's time consuming to make.

-Tow points! There is someone on here almost daily looking for them. TJ, XJ and JK would be a good start, then go for the niche markets, ZJ, KJ etc. Make them simple to install and easily availible and every soccer dad wannabe wheeler is going to be buying them. Hell take the 5 minutes to write up a little install guide and include a cheap drill bit if you have to drill anything. An all included kit for the bozos. One. Stop. Shopping. You see what I'm getting at?

-Windshield light brackets. Hella cheap, easy to make (bend one plate and then weld a little bracket on at an angle, drill some holes and bob's your uncle) and a lot of people buy them. I had to wait two weeks to get mine ordered in which seemed odd as they are a popular item.

-Rock sliders/rocker armour wont be as easy to make a simple bolt on as all the kits I've seen require screws through the body but these are an easy seller, especially if availible locally.

Kick some ideas around and pick one item you can make easy and will sell a bunch of to get revenue for your other projects. Once  you get the ball rolling then bring someone in just to make that one thing for you so you can focus your talents on what you're known for: quality custom work.

Offline w squared

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Re: What products are Jeep guys into?
« Reply #64 on: January 02, 2011, 11:03:26 AM »
I for one will take the time to buy local and support a small business when it makes sense to do so.

The reason that some of the shops in town are losing business to Northridge is that they are charging more, requiring payment up front, and end up delivering three months after you order.

If you make it yourself, and you have it in stock, I'll buy from you before I order from Northridge. Stan is great and his prices are solid...but I'd rather buy a made in Caglary product than one that is imported from the states...or made overseas.
I followed a rainbow out to a garage and found a leprichaun. The rainbow ended in a potted cactus on his porch, but there was no gold :(

Offline morerpmfred

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Re: What products are Jeep guys into?
« Reply #65 on: January 02, 2011, 04:07:48 PM »
The bushings are going west on my upper short arms on the axle housing . Do not need them right a way but with in a month or so . So how much for a high flex joint that is just remove and replace ? Factory style rubber joints in there now .

Offline EVOLUTION

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Re: What products are Jeep guys into?
« Reply #66 on: January 02, 2011, 04:14:09 PM »
The bushings are going west on my upper short arms on the axle housing . Do not need them right a way but with in a month or so . So how much for a high flex joint that is just remove and replace ? Factory style rubber joints in there now .
Do you know what shank size is in there right now? 
Evolution Machining & Fabrication  403.935.3540
Evo Forums:  http://www.evolutionmachining.com
Evo Joints website:  http://www.emfrodends.com
Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/EMFRodEnds

Offline morerpmfred

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Re: What products are Jeep guys into?
« Reply #67 on: January 03, 2011, 08:58:12 PM »
Do not know the size of the through bolt . It is the stock bolt with the torx head .

Offline 4PLAYZJ

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Re: What products are Jeep guys into?
« Reply #68 on: January 03, 2011, 10:58:11 PM »
If you dont want to carry alot of stock the DIY kits are perfect because you dont have to burn them until you have an order.  The same sheet of metal will make any bumper/bracket order.  Just have the designs ready to go and when you get an internet order, have the machine cut it out and voila it can be shipped within a couple days with no dead stock. The key is only offering what you already have designs for so people dont have to wait.

To be honest I can build most of what I need, if I have the time.  However I never have any time so I would be all over DIY kits.

I used to own my own 6 bay auto shop,  I HATED IT, so I closed it.  So I can appreciate where you are coming from.  Best of luck to you and Clay.

Offline JENSSEN

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Re: What products are Jeep guys into?
« Reply #69 on: January 03, 2011, 11:03:36 PM »


Evolution heims are amazing... they are sold worldwide & are literally THE strongest on the market.  He has made a huge name for himself based on the heims alone and is very respected in all the different communities such as Baja, Monster Trucks, regular trucks, mud boggers etc etc.


I have to say that the heims are amazing! I have had some in my Jeep for numerous HRC Challenges and no issues, I did bend a steering end but I think anything factory or even aftermarket would of snapped,.. props to a good product!

Thank's Erin for keeping us updated and asking for new products :)
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Offline vantagetes

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Re: What products are Jeep guys into?
« Reply #70 on: January 04, 2011, 09:50:13 AM »
Oh I meant to mention. Some sort of brake upgrade kit for the front end. I think someone already mentioned it but I'll willing to bet you wouldnt be able to keep up with the orders. I've looked around for a way to put larger rotors in the front and haven't found anything.

Offline Bnine

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« Last Edit: January 04, 2011, 11:37:55 AM by Bnine »
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Offline morerpmfred

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Re: What products are Jeep guys into?
« Reply #72 on: January 07, 2011, 02:36:43 PM »
http://www.acmejeepparts.com/products/image_zoom.php?img=%2FAssets%2FImages%2F37349%2F37349-lg.jpg
This is the bushing that I need on my xj cherokee but with a heim joint . I think the throughbolt is 7/16 It is on the axle end upper bushings , short control arm , one on each side. It presses in with a hammer. Pretty much all xj , tj , wj , etc use this style bushing . How much ?
« Last Edit: January 07, 2011, 02:42:07 PM by morerpmfred »

Offline vantagetes

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Re: What products are Jeep guys into?
« Reply #73 on: January 09, 2011, 05:38:02 PM »
For christ sakes

http://www.burnsvilleoffroad.com/Articles/01_02.aspx

http://www.4x4wire.com/jeep/tech/brakes/xj_wjbrakes03/knuckles/

http://www.quadratec.com/products/12700_4300.htm

http://www.vancopbs.com/category_s/121.htm

http://www.reidracing.biz/DANA30.php

http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=451197&highlight=hybrid+30%2F44+cj+knuckles

Thats WJ big brakes, AEV big brakes, Vanco big brakes, Chevy big brakes, and Ford big brakes. All on a TJ, XJ, MJ, ZJ, LJ d30.

Oops sorry I meant to mention for 15" rims, but it looks like the Vanco will cover that nicely thanks! After reading that second one it looks like the WJ conversion just barely fits too if you do some grinding (looks a bit tight though)...

For someone wanting to stay with 5x4.5 how hard is it to redrill the rotors to the proper pattern? I suppose it wouldnt cost much to have a machine/wheel shop do a couple sets and you'd be good for years.

Offline fug

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Re: What products are Jeep guys into?
« Reply #74 on: January 09, 2011, 11:21:24 PM »
Just use Ford Explorer SportTrac rotors.  They have the correct bolt pattern.
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