[RocktimusPryme]

Originally Posted by dataway

One thing we do have on our side is technology. Computers have changed the world of rapid prototyping and small run parts. There is technology in the pipeline now that precludes the use of giant dies to produce body panels, they are "hand formed" by CNC machines from sheet. How long before cylinderheads can be metal 3d printed like they already are with many high tech components, even entire rocket engines.

We are approaching a point where if you can generate a 3d CAD file of a part, then it can be produced, often without dies, foundries, casting etc. All quite expensive at the moment, but then 20 years ago a 3d printer would cost you $20,000, now you can get a pretty nice one for a few hundred.

Ferrari is using 3d printed pistons in their F1 cars, rare body panels for exotic vintage cars are being produced by CNC forming machines. Dies for injection molding are now whipped out by CNC machines instead of tool and die men.

Who knows, ten years from now the aftermarket might not care about volume demand, they may produce individual parts on demand.

For flat parts its come down a lot. A mechanical engineer buddy of mine did a drawing for some custom BMW swap parts to put one of their newer V8s into an old E30 or something. Sent the drawing to a company and they sent him back the completed part. For like $160? Something like that, not a whole lot more than what we would pay for the same type of part to adapt a chevy trans to a BOP engine etc.

Similarly there is a site that has free CAD drawing files for the brackets to adapt different front brake assemblies onto 3rd gen camaros. You just send the file off and someone will send you back the adapter part.

It just also goes to what I was saying, there is more cool stuff than ever. Racing is still big business, people have been forecasting the death of the NHRA forever, but they still bring in crowds, No Prep Racing is huge on TV. Vice Grip Garage was #6 trending on YT this week working on a ratty squarebody. We can all talk about the weird skibidi rizz talking youth, but you don't hit that number without having some crossover appeal. The aftermarket and and interest are healthy and the future looks bright imo.