Hot Part Kits, why not very popular?

[mrk1]

With these cars proving to be successfully boosted I'm surprised to see so few builds utilizing a hot parts kit. Is everyone just looking for the kit convenience?

Cars that have been around a little longer like a S2K seem to sell just hot parts and shops/owners take it from there. I see a lot of people comment on turbo kits, "I like the turbo placement but not the intercooler" or something like that. If you purchased just the large items you could customize from there to fit your needs.

[CSG Mike]

If you saw the s2k market in the third/fourth year of production, it wasn't common to see a lot of "custom" forced induction....

[zkv476]

I'd also imagine because the kits that have been developed typically have stuff that's placed in different locations. A kit is designed to work all together and is just less hassle and less fabrication post-purchase. Most kits are bolt on and go (save for cutting some stuff to clearance if needed).

Although I do know if you wanted you could buy the hot parts to JDL's turbo kits. But of course there wouldn't be guaranteed fitment with products from other companies.

[mrk1]

I'm not looking to buy, I build all my own stuff from scratch. I'm just surprised more people are not buying hot parts like the JDL you mentioned.

Most speed shops have someone who can fab up a intercooler pipe, I understand most won't want to build a manifold on the more involved parts.

[Shady195]

It does not make financial sense to most people or shops. For a speed shop, even a good one to make a "one off" kit for someone takes a lot of time and money. The turbo manifold you can buy from JDL thats 1100 may cost double that just because of the research and test fitting over and over a custom shop would need to do. That 200 dollar intercooler kit, may cost 500+ at a shop for the same reason, measure cut test repeat.

Most people see these prices and say, well why don't i just go buy that turbo kit from XX company that requires little to no work. For shops to compete they need to drop prices, and unless they are investing in the platform, making jigs etc LIKE JDL, AVO etc ; they basically do a lot of work for little money. They make more just buying the JDL/Greddy/AVO etc turbo kit and charging labor for a mostly hassle free install.

[mrk1]

I guess I'm just bummed to not see more personal creativity and only seeing box kit A, B, or C.

[Shady195]

Originally Posted by mrk1

I guess I'm just bummed to not see more personal creativity and only seeing box kit A, B, or C.

Unless people do it themselves, creativity costs to much money.

[MAPerformance]

We have a hot parts kit available too. But I think when most people add up the cost of the hot parts kit, turbo, intercooler, it may end up being more money than just buying a complete kit in the first place. Just my thought...

[Subzero]

I think there are markets for hot parts, just not in one small cult market like this one. A bigger cult market like VW bugs is where you see more mixing of parts and ideas. You have to find that one crazy guy/girl who can make it work or BE that crazy one who can make it work. (There needs to be more mad scientists in the world!)

Errors usually cost more money than creativity. Creativity on the cheap that appears to be expensive--THAT's talent. You have to be good at your craft to not appear to be a hack with your results.