2nd Gen TA custom billet

[redfire69]

So I got tired of not being able to find billet fender braces (core supports) for my 80 TA so took some advice and had some custom ones made. Thought I'd share a few pics, also pictured are custom nose braces (very small items) and radiator cover. I'm also having some one off items made for my 69....I think billet is an addition...

[jy211]

radiator cover is nice. I've been looking for one for the 68', but can't find any....

[redfire69]

radiator cover is nice. I've been looking for one for the 68', but can't find any....

Thanks, I took the advice of some on these forums (when looking for billet emblems for my 69) to find a machine shop and just have them made. I designed the part through discussions with my local machine shop and had them make the one-offs. Its not cheap, but its definitely worth the results...

[Larry Navarro]

Those are very nice and look better than the units I offer for the 2nd gen t/a.
I started producing these a few years back after I built the prototypes for my SD and SE cars.
I basically patterened them after the '73 and '74 t/a's which were produced by the factory in steel and have them machined out of billet aluminum.

[Larry Navarro]

[cdoggy81]

Very nice! Think he would make another radiator cover?

[WS6]

look good to me too.

Glad to see you made it over here Larry. You've got some good products that should interest members here.

[redfire69]

Those are very nice and look better than the units I offer for the 2nd gen t/a.
I started producing these a few years back after I built the prototypes for my SD and SE cars.
I basically patterened them after the '73 and '74 t/a's which were produced by the factory in steel and have them machined out of billet aluminum.

Thanks Larry,

I had these modeled after the later, thinner supports, since my car is an 80. I wanted it to look like stock, but a little one-off, so I had him leave a raised area in the middle of the support and mill down around the edges and where they attach, also slightly round the edges. The guy I had do these had double the time in them than what he quoted me... so basically they would be pretty expensive for him to do again. I really have a better appreciation for what goes into all these custom parts now!!

Ron

[redfire69]

Very nice! Think he would make another radiator cover?

He might, although he put more time in it than what he quoted me, so it might be pretty expensive...

[Larry Navarro]

After first venturing off in producing parts, I was like anyone else;....."how can something be so pricey, it's just a piece of aluminum".....
Well, there's a lot of time and cost, especially when you figure in the rate for machine work and the price of materials.
I have come to appreciate and justify the labor and cost of parts fabricated by any vendor. I am in no way getting rich off the little I offer and produce but it does provide me with some "play money" for my cars.