Parts availability.

[Nick Mann]

I'm just throwing a few ideas round in my head at the moment.

What parts do you all need on a regular basis that are expensive/hard to get?


For example:

Everytime someone wants a clutch, that seems to be a question.
Many people seem to be talking about replacing engine mounts - I guess as they are 10 years old and starting to look a bit worse for wear!
Brakes are a bit awkward, I guess, as people like to research and choose their upgrade to suit their budget.

So? Any other ideas?

[stuey]

Nick the clutch thing still confuses me...

Mines still ok, but I know it'll need doing at some point and still have no idea if I need an EVO 8, EVO 6, uprated VR4, exedy, paddle, dual plate, spacer, no spacer, organic, Spec, carbon.... all a bit confusing....
If someone I trusted sourced a decent guaranteed fit without hassle uprated one, it'd be nice to know for the future..

[Nick Mann]

Yeah - that's another problem I guess. One on my list of things to do is to work out what this spacer is that needs to be made to fit the Evo clutch to the VR4. Hopefully tomorrow I can work that out. It doesn't necessarily mean that one type of clutch will suit all. I have been recently measured at 367 lb/ft torque - it takes a fair upgrade to quote that much torque. The Scottish Wagon of Cock will have more than that, at a guess, so will need something even more mighty. But at least if I can move us to mainstream options (eg the Evo) then we all get to peruse a well explained, well tried and easy to buy assortment of clutches.

[WildCards]

Alloy Wheels - Repair, Paint or Source replacement wheels, or new wheels which definately meet various caliper clearances etc.

Brake Upgrades - Be it a guaranteed to fit caliper, pad & disc deal of some description or just a straight pad & disc swap. Braided hose kits?

Upgraded Mounts & suspension bushings for the Poly stuff would be nice to see.

Hoses, if a package could be put together with all the hoses needed in a variety of colours, I know my old mans enough of a tart to buy one.

Engine covers, boot mats/liners, dog guards, towing eye covers, badges, Momo steering wheels, carbon effect or aluminum coloured dash plastics.

[Kieran]

Hubs are popular.

Everyone can get the front control arms and stuff, but rear control arms wear out as well and they're hard to get hold of.

Erm, propshaft mounts/bearings? Not a lot of people replace them but they wear out too.

Maybe a side line in making up AYC Hydraulic fill/empty control boxes?

[Davezj]

Hubs are popular.

Everyone can get the front control arms and stuff, but rear control arms wear out as well and they're hard to get hold of.

Erm, propshaft mounts/bearings? Not a lot of people replace them but they wear out too.

Maybe a side line in making up AYC Hydraulic fill/empty control boxes?

what is a ayc empty/fill control box

[Kieran]

what is a ayc empty/fill control box

That thingie that one of the ozvr4 guys did - Basically a switch box that you hook up to the AYC multiplugs in order to bleed the system without having to have the car running and the wheels spinning in mid air.

[Turbo_Steve]

Dash bits!
Tow Hook Covers (everyone asks!)
er...maybe foglight grilles? (they seem to break a lot).
and: Undertrays and arch liners! The holy grails!

[Davezj]

that sound good.

if you need a PCB designing and manufactureing for it, in a more of a quality product kind of way.

then let me know.

[Davezj]

Are all these bits for a sale or for loaning out for diagnostic stuff.

for a situation like:-

you get a knocking from front end, and you want to track it down so you borrow a known good set of lower control arms, wishbones, etc, etc. fit one test it, fit another, test it and so on. until you track it down. then go and buy the bit you need and replace all your original bit and give the known good set back to the club. it what we call at work a gold brick set of parts.

[Nick Mann]

TBH a full idea hasn't yet sprung to mind.

I am working on an easy(ish) way of fitting TD04s to a 6A13TT. If I am successful I intend to sell a kit, possibly with a fitting service. The plan is to use as many of the VR4 parts as possible to keep the cost sensible. Hopefully in a few months I'll be able to assess if it is possible.

As I service more cars I am starting to keep a few parts on the shelf and the variation in price on some stuff makes me wonder about where we get good deals and where we get bad deals. Part of me would like to make a bit of money whilst providing a service, part of me thinks that some items should be available through the club. Either way round, as I said, the idea is not fully formed - this thread was to see if there are opportunities for me or for the club that could benefit the people here.

Tomorrow I am going to speak with an independant Mitsy parts supplier, and I have already run both of my viewpoints past him. I was just looking for ideas to make sure I get on the right track! Thanks all!

[ianturbo]

All of the above , bottom arms specaily (i bought one for mine straight one )and it was the othe one (bent)one i needed
ian



P.S
petrol!! you all forgot that one , anyone know any oil barons ???
ian

[shaun1978]

well heres a list -

-Standard shocks seem hard to find
-Engine covers
-Standard exhausts
-Engine mounts
-Gaskets
-hoses
-wheel bearings
-ayc spares

[richy rich]

Nick I have a good suppler that has on the shelf water pumps, belts, tensioner pullys etc etc if you need them give me a shout.

Also got a good suppler for wheel bearings.

[Eurospec]

The GTO owners club keeps a stock of 'hard to get' parts for members to use. The club does make a small margin on them to cover costs etc, but its a good way to earn a little revenue for the club and help members.

Example, a relatively common failure on a GTO is the gearbox output shaft, but you wont know that its failed until you have the thing in bits. At that point you would normally order one from the US or Japan and then sit back and wait for 6 weeks for the bugger to get here. Thats a pain in the ass for anyone. Or you can get one from the club within a couple of days.

There is a company called evil empire who is an independant importer of genuine mitsubishi stuff. We use him a lot. He will only do Mitsu and will tell you everything else is **** (blueprint etc). In reality the vast majority of aftermarket stuff is fine, of course there is tat out there, but then its his business to sell genuine. Obviously he is cheaper than mitsu, and the parts are genuine, mostly from Japan.

Cheers,

Ben.

[miller]

Sparkplugs!

There are so many references out there it can be mind boggling! Am sure these will go within the general service items though.


Mike

[White Lightning]

Torque converter oil seals ....

[Davezj]

crank oil seal

head gasket set

gasket sets in general.

facelift hub carriers, ABS sensors, EVO wheels.

[Wodjno]

Nick..

The wheel bearing is something i was looking at bulk buying.. But as i can't seem to get CAPS up and running on any of my PC's, i couldn't verify the exact part numbers that i needed and how many different variants there were. My contact was happy to help with different part numbers to make up he bulk purchase as well.. But i need to be sure of all the part numbers..
I was looking originally at supplying Front and rears for VR4's and V6's..
Any further help would be good, so i can get a total price.. But the price looked like it would be around £60-£70ish and that was to include 12month warranty amd peace of mind that in the event of any issues, they could be resolved quickly as all the stock would be in UK ...

Sorry for Thread HighJack

[big stan]

for anyone thats interested gordon lamb mitsi main dealers in sheffield can get the tow eye covers just ring em up with your chassis number 37 quid inc vat.BS