End of the Line for FE Power Cast Aluminum Products

[jayb]

The day after I posted the information about the new intake castings, I got a
very unwelcome call from my foundry.  They are shutting down the production
line which builds casting molds from a particular type of sand, which happens to be
the sand that I use for all of my cast aluminum products. 

Over the last week  and a half I have contacted a bunch of foundries within
about a 300 mile radius of me, but have not been able to find one who is
interested in my business, or is able to meet my pricing requirements.  My
business is just too small for most of the foundries out there.  As a result,
I have no option but to discontinue manufacturing cast aluminum parts.

My existing foundry has offered me a "last buy" opportunity, but I have to place
any orders by an April 24 deadline.  Unfortunately, they have also increased the price of
all my castings by 50% for this last buy.  Nevertheless, if anyone is interested
 in any of my cast aluminum products, now is the time.  More details are in the
Vendor Classifieds post here:

https://fepower.net/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=13138.0

FYI FE Power will continue in business selling books, making CVR water pump
adapters, SOHC rocker arms and rocker arms for my cylinder heads, etc.  Also,
in a few months I will pick back up with clear valve
covers, hopefully a pentroof style along with my normal Cobra Jet style.  I have
also been working on SOHC clear valve covers, hopefully available sometime this
summer.

Also there is some possibility that another company may be interested in purchasing
my foundry tooling and machining fixtures and continuing with these products.  This
would be great, but frankly I am not hopeful this will happen; no one has ever
expressed interest in doing this before.

Thanks to all the folks who have supported my business over the past 15 years.
It's too bad that I won't be able to keep making cool aluminum parts, but I will
continue with this forum and the business for a couple years yet - Jay

[MRadke]

Have you checked with Avalon Precision Metalsmiths in Markesan, WI?  They were just purchased by Sigma, but historically they have done smaller batch precision castings.

[FrozenMerc]

That sucks Jay.  Sign of the times, I guess.  It is very difficult to find small batch custom manufacturers on this side of the planet these days. 

Perhaps check in with Dee Inc. in Crookston, MN.  Bit over 300 miles from the Twin Cities, but at least still with in the same state.  I did my Senior Design project with them some 20+ years ago at the end of my ME degree.  At the time Dee was doing alot of small batch stuff for the Ag manufacturers up and down the Red River Valley. 

https://www.deeinc.com/

[thatdarncat]

Well, that just sucks  :'(

[427Fastback]

Agreed....not good

[jayb]

Avalon Precision Metalsmiths does investment castings, not sand casting.  Checked with Dee a few years ago, no go.  Trust me guys, I've looked all over within a reasonable distance.  There are certainly places farther away that could do it, but one thing I have learned over the years, after having been through 5 different foundries since 2011, is that being able to get there and help them solve problems with my products is very important.  I went all the way down to Fairfield IA once for a foundry, looked like it was working well after 6 months, then another foundry bought them, cleaned out their equipment, and closed it up.  I was too small to go with them.  The foundry that I've been with for the last 4 years has been really excellent, good quality castings, good customer service, and only a 20 minute drive from me.  Too good to be true, I guess...

[WConley]

I'm so sorry to hear, Jay.  You had a good run of very cool stuff. 

[Ford428CJ]

Super sorry to hear this Jay….. But at least you’re still making other things, which is great! Wishing you the best and thanks for the things you have done over the years.

[kcoffield]

Jay, you've done a great service to the FE community. The foundry story is not one unfamiliar to me......seen it many times unfortunately. Hopefully this means you will be able to devote some much deserved time to your own projects.

Best,
Kelly

[frnkeore]

This is horrible news and very sad! I always have loved your innovation.

[cjshaker]

Well that sucks. Just like Pro Stock Engineering, a few years making great FE stuff, then gone. Sorry for the analogy, I'm only speaking from a parts producing standpoint.

It would be great if Pond, or someone with experience and access to quality foundries, stepped up to keep producing these parts, especially the adapters and heads.

but I will
continue with this forum and the business for a couple years yet - Jay

Are we to take this that you will be shutting down the business and the forum in a couple of years?

[jayb]

Probably the business, but not the forum.  I will be 68 next week, and I don't think I want to continue making FE products for everybody after I turn 70.  On the forum, it is costing me about $500 per year to keep it up and running, and free from scammers.  Right now I expense that cost to FE Power.  Probably when I close down FE Power I will solicit donations from the forum members to keep it operating, so hopefully it will be up and running for years to come.

[MeanGene]

Well that sucks. Just like Pro Stock Engineering, a few years making great FE stuff, then gone. Sorry for the analogy, I'm only speaking from a parts producing standpoint.

Are we to take this that you will be shutting down the business and the forum in a couple of years?
[/quote]

I'd say there are two major differences- quality and good engineering of the parts, and the fact that Jay is not a total dickhead and bullshit artist like "ProStock Paul" 

[JamesonRacing]

Thanks for the great FE ride, was cool while it lasted.  I'm so happy that you invested your time and genius to make these parts available to us.

Is there a last time for cast valve covers, or is that already done?

[jayb]

Sorry David, I haven't been able to cast valve covers in several years.  The foundry that I was doing that with went out of business, and no other foundry I have found can use the tooling - Jay