SilverHorse Racing taillight bezels
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Cobra Member
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From: Holland
I though I'd start this topic for all those waiting for some news on the SHR taillight bezels.
Personally, I don't want to buy any other kit before I see what SHR will offer.
So Marcello, any updates?
Personally, I don't want to buy any other kit before I see what SHR will offer.
So Marcello, any updates?
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Joined: January 9, 2005
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Ok guys, here's the scoop as it stands now:
You and your partners in crime (I am saying this with a big smile on my face) have buried us in orders for the billet fuel doors and honeycomb panels, much more so than we ever expected! This is great news, and I thank you all for it, but it has pushed a lot of our stuff back as we try and keep up with our existing products and customers first. For anyone who isn't aware, SilverHorse Racing was just my side business up until this year - it is now my full time occupation, meaning my boss is a real slave-driver and he makes me work some crazy hours! (look at this post's timestamp!) - we have at any given time 20+ people working on just the two products we have, and that is only going to grow as more parts enter the supply chain.
That said, we are getting the fuel door inventories under control now, and have just ordered a very expensive digitizing probe to insure that the dimensions we use on our taillight bezels and other future parts are 100% accurate.
The delay has been in mating a manufacturing process that could AFFORDABLY make the pieces for everyone. When I say this, what I mean is that it's easy to make a set of bezels from solid aluminum, and charge 300.00 a set for them. But you know I don't like to do that, so we are going forward at the moment with a setup that while on the front side is going to be very expensive to manufacture, on the backside will allow us to get the taillight bezels MUCH more reasonably priced in volume, something I would not feel embarrassed to ask for knowing that you are getting your money's worth. (No we don't have an exact number yet, but I do have a fair price in mind that I am targeting.) Of course, it would be easy to do what the competition does and just farm out the work to China and forget about it, but this isn't our style either. It will either be made here, and made right, or it won't get done.
As to if it will be worth the wait - quality-wise, without a doubt yes. Style wise, it of course is an individual taste thing, but if you like what I've done so far, you will probably like this as well. You know my M.O. - If I won't put it on my own car, I won't sell it for yours. Simple, easy to remember rule that is working pretty well for us as we continue to grow.
Anyway, the probe arrives Monday, and we should have the critical data hopefully by the end of the week so I can go back to the machine shop with dimensions after that. If you like, I will be happy to make this thread the place where we keep all the updates regarding the bezels from now on, similar to how I did with the honeycomb thread that got us going last year.
On a final note - the rear center emblems will be done before the bezels, that I can guarantee. They are much further along, and we're waiting for some machine time to get some prototpyes cut to see how the fit is. We're starting off with 3 designs and 5 variations of each, for a total of 15 options! They are going to really be nice, I already have a favorite picked out, but you know I'm always apt to change my mind when I see the finished parts! - Pictures will be available when physical finished parts are available, and depends on what the Patent attorney thinks too, as these are going to be a departure from what is currently available, just like the honeycomb panel was so much different than what else was out there.
You and your partners in crime (I am saying this with a big smile on my face) have buried us in orders for the billet fuel doors and honeycomb panels, much more so than we ever expected! This is great news, and I thank you all for it, but it has pushed a lot of our stuff back as we try and keep up with our existing products and customers first. For anyone who isn't aware, SilverHorse Racing was just my side business up until this year - it is now my full time occupation, meaning my boss is a real slave-driver and he makes me work some crazy hours! (look at this post's timestamp!) - we have at any given time 20+ people working on just the two products we have, and that is only going to grow as more parts enter the supply chain.
That said, we are getting the fuel door inventories under control now, and have just ordered a very expensive digitizing probe to insure that the dimensions we use on our taillight bezels and other future parts are 100% accurate.
The delay has been in mating a manufacturing process that could AFFORDABLY make the pieces for everyone. When I say this, what I mean is that it's easy to make a set of bezels from solid aluminum, and charge 300.00 a set for them. But you know I don't like to do that, so we are going forward at the moment with a setup that while on the front side is going to be very expensive to manufacture, on the backside will allow us to get the taillight bezels MUCH more reasonably priced in volume, something I would not feel embarrassed to ask for knowing that you are getting your money's worth. (No we don't have an exact number yet, but I do have a fair price in mind that I am targeting.) Of course, it would be easy to do what the competition does and just farm out the work to China and forget about it, but this isn't our style either. It will either be made here, and made right, or it won't get done.
As to if it will be worth the wait - quality-wise, without a doubt yes. Style wise, it of course is an individual taste thing, but if you like what I've done so far, you will probably like this as well. You know my M.O. - If I won't put it on my own car, I won't sell it for yours. Simple, easy to remember rule that is working pretty well for us as we continue to grow.
Anyway, the probe arrives Monday, and we should have the critical data hopefully by the end of the week so I can go back to the machine shop with dimensions after that. If you like, I will be happy to make this thread the place where we keep all the updates regarding the bezels from now on, similar to how I did with the honeycomb thread that got us going last year.
On a final note - the rear center emblems will be done before the bezels, that I can guarantee. They are much further along, and we're waiting for some machine time to get some prototpyes cut to see how the fit is. We're starting off with 3 designs and 5 variations of each, for a total of 15 options! They are going to really be nice, I already have a favorite picked out, but you know I'm always apt to change my mind when I see the finished parts! - Pictures will be available when physical finished parts are available, and depends on what the Patent attorney thinks too, as these are going to be a departure from what is currently available, just like the honeycomb panel was so much different than what else was out there.
Bullitt Member
Joined: May 1, 2005
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From: Grand Rapids, MI
I have no doubt that you will make a quality product. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumb.gif[/img] I am just as of the last couple of weeks finally getting to drive my car, (I picked it up Nov 15th and put it right into storage) and am getting antsie for the summer and car shows. It seems to attract a lot of attention and I want it looking just right. The rear panel looks great by the way!!!
[attachmentid=47010]
[attachmentid=47010]
Team Mustang Source
Joined: February 2, 2004
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OK, I'm resigned to wait for the SHR tail light bezel. Put me down for an order.
I am also interested in your rear center emblem, but I have a question, too. With an SHR honeycomb panel already in place, how hard will it be to remove the stock rear center emblem to enable me to install one of your new ones? I'd hate to break the panel trying to pry it off.
I am also interested in your rear center emblem, but I have a question, too. With an SHR honeycomb panel already in place, how hard will it be to remove the stock rear center emblem to enable me to install one of your new ones? I'd hate to break the panel trying to pry it off.
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Joined: January 9, 2005
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GrayBeardGT @ April 15, 2006, 7:36 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
OK, I'm resigned to wait for the SHR tail light bezel. Put me down for an order.
I am also interested in your rear center emblem, but I have a question, too. With an SHR honeycomb panel already in place, how hard will it be to remove the stock rear center emblem to enable me to install one of your new ones? I'd hate to break the panel trying to pry it off.
[/b][/quote]
You haven't even seen them yet, what if they are ugly? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img] Just kidding!!
Well, here's the scoop on honeycomb panel owners...
We're going to offer ALL of our existing customers a re-fit kit to remove and reinstall the honeycomb panel safely, and we'll test it out to insure it works before shipping it out. I do not want there to be any profit in the kit, so whatever it costs us to offer it is what it will be. There might even be a special or two early on once we get the emblems finished for our existing customers.
As to breakage, we've had the pieces on and off so many times I don't even think much about it anymore, it's actually not hard, just time consuming if you don't want to damage anything. The piece can be safely removed in under 30 minutes, but then cleanup and re-installation takes about another hour.
And for goodness sakes - no prying on the panel!! That's bad - it was designed to survive normal everyday use on the back of the car, not an attack with a 40" Snap-On prybar [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img] !
OK, I'm resigned to wait for the SHR tail light bezel. Put me down for an order.
I am also interested in your rear center emblem, but I have a question, too. With an SHR honeycomb panel already in place, how hard will it be to remove the stock rear center emblem to enable me to install one of your new ones? I'd hate to break the panel trying to pry it off.
[/b][/quote]
You haven't even seen them yet, what if they are ugly? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img] Just kidding!!
Well, here's the scoop on honeycomb panel owners...
We're going to offer ALL of our existing customers a re-fit kit to remove and reinstall the honeycomb panel safely, and we'll test it out to insure it works before shipping it out. I do not want there to be any profit in the kit, so whatever it costs us to offer it is what it will be. There might even be a special or two early on once we get the emblems finished for our existing customers.
As to breakage, we've had the pieces on and off so many times I don't even think much about it anymore, it's actually not hard, just time consuming if you don't want to damage anything. The piece can be safely removed in under 30 minutes, but then cleanup and re-installation takes about another hour.
And for goodness sakes - no prying on the panel!! That's bad - it was designed to survive normal everyday use on the back of the car, not an attack with a 40" Snap-On prybar [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img] !
Team Mustang Source Legacy Member
Joined: August 23, 2004
Posts: 5,448
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Marcello,
Can you at least give us a general description of the bezels? What "look" are you going for?
I've been in the market for the perfect set ever since I came up with the idea back in '04 when the first cars hit the ground and no one has even come close to an acceptable product.
If what you're planning sounds good, I'll wait. Otherwise I've been seriously considering painting the areas I want black.
Can you at least give us a general description of the bezels? What "look" are you going for?
I've been in the market for the perfect set ever since I came up with the idea back in '04 when the first cars hit the ground and no one has even come close to an acceptable product.
If what you're planning sounds good, I'll wait. Otherwise I've been seriously considering painting the areas I want black.
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Joined: January 9, 2005
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You can call me during the week and I'll discuss it over the phone with you. I'd like to say more here, but until it gets a little closer to production, I don't really want to give away the details.
What I can say in the open:
* Made of Aluminum, in a variety of finishes (black anodize being one)
* Not cut with a laser, die stamp, or waterjet (like the stainless parts)
* Not made in China and imported in through CA
* Substantially more intricate than anything that is available.
* Competitively priced to make them attractive to buyers who want the best parts, but don't want to break the bank buying them.
Patience [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img] .... you know it took us 9 months to do the honeycomb panel, the last 2 1/2 of which was because I wasn't happy with details that probably nobody else ever noticed.
The digitizing equipment we bought is made by the #1 supplier of this stuff in the world - Renishaw. Along with Ruby tips in various diameters, we're just moving along as we can while working towards the goal of our next perfect part. As we move further forward with our new equipment, hopefully we will be able to close the time gap on development, that's part of what this latest purchase was all about.
Of course, being able to reverse-engineer a cylinder head isn't a bad side-benefit for us racers either [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img] !!
What I can say in the open:
* Made of Aluminum, in a variety of finishes (black anodize being one)
* Not cut with a laser, die stamp, or waterjet (like the stainless parts)
* Not made in China and imported in through CA
* Substantially more intricate than anything that is available.
* Competitively priced to make them attractive to buyers who want the best parts, but don't want to break the bank buying them.
Patience [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img] .... you know it took us 9 months to do the honeycomb panel, the last 2 1/2 of which was because I wasn't happy with details that probably nobody else ever noticed.
The digitizing equipment we bought is made by the #1 supplier of this stuff in the world - Renishaw. Along with Ruby tips in various diameters, we're just moving along as we can while working towards the goal of our next perfect part. As we move further forward with our new equipment, hopefully we will be able to close the time gap on development, that's part of what this latest purchase was all about.
Of course, being able to reverse-engineer a cylinder head isn't a bad side-benefit for us racers either [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img] !!
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SilverHorseRacing @ April 16, 2006, 1:56 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
* Made of Aluminum, in a variety of finishes (black anodize being one)
Of course, being able to reverse-engineer a cylinder head isn't a bad side-benefit for us racers either [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img] !!
[/b][/quote]
Here are the important parts. I'll be able to get a black fuel door and taillight bezels. AND there's maybe an opportunity for new cylinder heads.
* Made of Aluminum, in a variety of finishes (black anodize being one)
Of course, being able to reverse-engineer a cylinder head isn't a bad side-benefit for us racers either [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img] !!
[/b][/quote]
Here are the important parts. I'll be able to get a black fuel door and taillight bezels. AND there's maybe an opportunity for new cylinder heads.
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Joined: January 9, 2005
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(StangNut @ April 16, 2006, 8:58 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
Just curious. Why aluminum? Why not plastic? Cheaper to manufacture?
[/b][/quote]
Actually, on the front side it is about a wash, the final pieces will be more expensive because they won't be plastic, and material cost for aluminum is higher.
As to why - plastic is already being done in one form or another, and the cost of having the plastic properly finished makes it not much cheaper than the aluminum, plus then we can match our other two exterior billet components easier.
Anyway, I just think they will come out nicer in aluminum, and be long lasting, no matter the environment they get subjected to.
Just curious. Why aluminum? Why not plastic? Cheaper to manufacture?
[/b][/quote]
Actually, on the front side it is about a wash, the final pieces will be more expensive because they won't be plastic, and material cost for aluminum is higher.
As to why - plastic is already being done in one form or another, and the cost of having the plastic properly finished makes it not much cheaper than the aluminum, plus then we can match our other two exterior billet components easier.
Anyway, I just think they will come out nicer in aluminum, and be long lasting, no matter the environment they get subjected to.
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From: Holland
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SilverHorseRacing @ April 16, 2006, 11:59 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
plus then we can match our other two exterior billet components easier.[/b][/quote]
good thinking! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumb.gif[/img]
plus then we can match our other two exterior billet components easier.[/b][/quote]
good thinking! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumb.gif[/img]
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Update as promised -
Renishaw probe arrived on Tuesday, no tips and no software... so we're waiting on that now. Software will be here first, probe tips hopefully by Friday.
I had an interesting discussion with one of our members here the other night.. I hate giving stuff away but...
Stangnut - I liked your idea a lot, and so long as you keep it under wraps [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img] (sorry guys, not saying right now) until we can get it to production you get set #3 (I call #1, and Brad gets #2) - I'm going to incorporate the idea into the production part IF it can be done without ruining the pricetag. It definitely is a nice idea, but will add a bit of complexity and additional machining time to the part (x2 for two sides...)
Finally, I'm way behind right now, we just lost our second hard drive within 6 months this morning, and the phone system went dead for 1/2 the day... luckily we have a RAID array and do regular backups, but still this is a pain the butt to deal with again - especially since I went 12 years without a failure - guess it's just time to catch up with the statistics.... couple that with fighting with the phone company and it spelled a pretty rotten day...
Anyway, more as I can release it.
Renishaw probe arrived on Tuesday, no tips and no software... so we're waiting on that now. Software will be here first, probe tips hopefully by Friday.
I had an interesting discussion with one of our members here the other night.. I hate giving stuff away but...
Stangnut - I liked your idea a lot, and so long as you keep it under wraps [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img] (sorry guys, not saying right now) until we can get it to production you get set #3 (I call #1, and Brad gets #2) - I'm going to incorporate the idea into the production part IF it can be done without ruining the pricetag. It definitely is a nice idea, but will add a bit of complexity and additional machining time to the part (x2 for two sides...)
Finally, I'm way behind right now, we just lost our second hard drive within 6 months this morning, and the phone system went dead for 1/2 the day... luckily we have a RAID array and do regular backups, but still this is a pain the butt to deal with again - especially since I went 12 years without a failure - guess it's just time to catch up with the statistics.... couple that with fighting with the phone company and it spelled a pretty rotten day...
Anyway, more as I can release it.
Team Mustang Source Legacy Member
Joined: August 23, 2004
Posts: 5,448
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No problem, Marcello. I'll keep my mouth shut. Glad you liked the idea. (I have lots of 'em [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen.gif[/img])
Thanks again for all the help you gave me on my grille project. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumb.gif[/img]
Thanks again for all the help you gave me on my grille project. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumb.gif[/img]