Would you buy a full race head from a small shop/private seller?

[DSMcamaro]

Would you buy a full race head from a small shop/private seller?
-New EPN 1mm oversized valves
-New EPN 100% bronze guideliners
-fully hand ported and polished
-New Manley Spring
-New Manley titanium retainers

If you could get a head like this for 800$ that would normally cost over $1,300 from slowboys or somewhere else, would you consider buying or would you only trust a big well known reputable shop?

 

[laserspeeddemon]

Nope, I would build the head myself. I only need a machine shop to do the machine work (and put in the guides)

 

[Flash]

I think it will not be a sustainable practice to offer low prices.
The first question I ask is what will the price be a reflection of? I ask because if the company with the race head is confident in their product and find it superior to others offered, they might want to add a premium to the prices of their heads. Pricing is a reflection of different meanings to different people. Will price reflect that no corners were cut, will price reflect the quality of a product, etc… As a general rule, you can NOT have the lowest price and highest quality.
Next, how could a small shop be able to offer low prices? From a marketing standpoint, it would be foolish to offer prices where I see would show low income and a very narrow profit margin. For a shop to survive they have to make an excess to be able to cover all their costs and gain profit to expand the company for the future. You need to know the cost per a race head that it costs your company. The cost will reflect materials, labor, research and development, market research.

 

[DSMcamaro]

Well one might see a lower price as a marketing tool used to get your name out there and build a reputation. If you had to choose between a shop that mass produced these and had a reputation for it, and a small shop without a big reputation, why would you buy from the small shop if it cost the same as it would from a shop with a strong reputation? Also consider the cost of labor/standards of living. Over half of the price in something such as a cylinder head is pure labor. Now consider the dollar per hour charge that a big shop in a big city would charge compared to that of a smaller shop. Thats how prices could be lower without a cutting corners.

 

[91_tsi]

i would definetly talk to the shop and make sure they know what they are doing and also ask why the price is so low. Then go from there.

 

[Flash]

Lower prices may be a tool. But it will not always be the best tool.

I'm saying price will be a reflection of quality in the minds of some consumers. Price may get people in the door, but will the quality keep the customer coming back for life? You can not have highest quality and the lowest price. Quality will be sacrificed.

And I still don't see how someone can run a sustainable business when they are charging a floor price.

 

[SeeYaAWD]

More power to the person who is able to actually make money doing this type of thing. These circumstances would doubtfully allow for someone to do this for a living, but it would sure be a nice way of making extra ca$h. Hell - I'd do it if I had the resources

 

[highpsi93tsi]

If the shop does cylinder heads for other cars, then possibly. The reason its 800 and SB is 1300 is MABYE because SB farms it out and tacks on a profit. That I dont know so dont quote me..Big hogged out ports arent necc. your friend unless you're running a huge turbo and lots of boost either. Have they done others for DSMs before? If so talk to a guy w/ the same head and see what he thinks of the product

 

[The_EE]

I picked up a head recently, cnc ported etc, a 1g head for $900. Looks brand new from someone who works at RRE. I personally think I got a good deal on it and have no fears.

sometimes a good deal is too much to be true and sometimes it will bite you in the rear.

 

[CPHunter]

believe me i know, i got my motor rebuilt by shop, thought the price was to good to be true, though i was getting mitsubishi 2g pistion, but got screw and got Rock pistions from this shop, if i hadn't found the box, i would have never known, sure i made to SOB change them to what he told me they where, but some of these small shops can claim they are putting good stuff, and give you the shaft

 

[Defiant]

No, we don't want to buy your head.

We don't want it advertised outside the Classifieds, either.