My journey in the production of a Charger part

[bull]

Back in 2012 when I was starting the interior of my 68 restoration I ran across a problem finding seat latch return springs, the simple little coil-type spring that mounts to the seat latch post beneath the latch. It may not be a must-have part to some people but I wanted the seats to be right and I became very frustrated trying to find these silly little things. It was the one part I had the most trouble finding and at that point I started making them by hand.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,90943.msg1030491.html#msg1030491

Later a few people started asking me to make them some so I made a few sets by hand and then attempted to automate the process which failed. Long story short, last June I began talking about it with a guy here in town who had helped with my restoration process in some other areas. He told me he knew a guy with a machine shop who deals in wire bending that could produce a run of seat latch springs. I had to commit to an order of 1,000 which was a little frightening so I made some phone calls to some vendors to see what kind of response I would get. The response was very good so I pulled the trigger and produced 500 lefts and 500 rights last July.

Then the selling began. Over the course of about six months between July 2015 and Jan. 2016 I managed to sell various quantities to Legendary Auto Interiors, R/T Specialties, Megaparts and Classic Industries. It's been quite fun and actually a lot less hassle than I imagined it would be. I did try selling to Year One but as they said (in not so many words) I'm too much of a small-timer for them to mess with.

Anyway, I encourage anyone who thinks they might have idea for a Charger part to look into producing it. Or if you have any suggestions for parts you'd like to see produced I'd like to hear them. At first the idea of finding or making parts was annoying to me but as my restoration progressed I found the word 'no' to become more of a challenge or a game to win. And I think the idea of someone being able to easily find this once-impossible-to-find part is pretty cool.

http://www.megapartsusa.com/proddetail.asp?prod=MP%2DSHS6869
http://www.classicindustries.com/product/mopar/parts/mp17110.html

APPLICATIONS: 1968 A, B & C-BODY WITH BUCKET SEATS 1969 B & C-BODY WITH BUCKET SEATS 1970 A-BODY WITH BUCKET SEATS 1970 B-BODY WITH BENCH SEATS MADE FROM 302 STAINLESS, STRESS RELIEVED STEEL ORIGINAL PART NUMBERS: 2888583 (L) 2888582 (R) - See more at: http://www.legendaryautointeriors.com/34585/6870-CHRYSLER-SEAT-LATCH-RETURN-SPRINGS/detail.html#sthash.w7rCqncw.dpuf

[polywideblock]

very cool   

[68X426]

Very impressive! Congrats.   

PS - you are not small time.  Way to go.





 

[Mopar Nut]

Nice job!

[VegasCharger]

Way cool Bull

F Year One and their noses to the ceiling.

I've always dreamed of doing something like this and guys like you keep the thrive alive.

What's next??? Bull's Mopar Parts 

[tan top]

 

[A34]

Congrats!!

[lukedukem]

way to go buddy...   

year one's shipping probably would have been more than the part itself...

Luke

[Lennard]

Congratulations Bull! That's great! 

[Homerr]

That's one small part for your Mopar, and one giant leap for Moparkind!   

[Troy]

Awesome!

Troy

[timmycharger]

Nice! just ordered my set! Thanks Bull 

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Way to go Curtis!

[69rtse4spd]

 .

[bull]

Thanks.

I wish I had done it earlier considering the wire machine pumped these springs out like machine gun brass and it took me about an hour to make a single one by hand.

[Charger4404spd]

Good job man! 
Year One sucks anyway.

[bull]

Good job man! 
Year One sucks anyway.

Y1 disappointed me but I can't say I was surprised. I was reluctant to bother with them anyway. Oh well, if they decide they want them they can buy them from one of those vendors I sold them to for twice the money.

[birdsandbees]

The only people that have never failed are those that never tried something new! Congrats for pushing forward and  helping out the hobby at the same time! 

[VegasCharger]

Good job man! 
Year One sucks anyway.

I'm done with them.

Their 30% deals they offer only to string you along with either discount exempt or over charged shipping. 

[E5 Charger]

That is so cool! Can't find a part, have it made and offer it to others in the hobby. That is so awesome! 

[TexasStroker]

That's one small part for your Mopar, and one giant leap for Moparkind!   

x2...nice work!

[TPR]

Good on you for taking matters into your own hands.
I admire this kind of ingenuity.

TPR