I don't remember clearly, but I believe the race seat you couldn't quite get into was the early NISMO seat in my KPGC10, no?
Maybe you're just 'big boned'?
Cheeky
- I got in it ok but remember you having OEM works seats...(see photo) - as a reference, it was back in April 2011.
No, I'm referring to a pair bought for a future Z project by someone we both know.
And you're right - I don't know very much about their products and nothing about 'them' although I have my opinion which is as usual open to change upon being presented credible evidence.
I'm sure that you and others with the rarer engines are very grateful to KEW for their help and support and I also respect them for it and perhaps that is the niche market to which you were referring (?) because eg RHD applicable exhaust manifolds don't help the vast majority of Z owners !
I'm not questioning their prices - it's a free world and they can obviously charge what they like [and if it sells, it's the correct price) but they don't just sell into Japan :
http://www.kameariusa.com/
http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/CTGY/classic12f02 (and there are more Kameari parts sold via them).
http://whiteheadperformance.com/product-category/240z-260z-280z-70-78/exhaust/
So do you mean Japan as a niche market or the rarer S20, 2-TG and 2000GT parts ?
My whole point is that parts, like cars need to accessible (for the Z scene to grow and evolve outside of Japan and also the USA - basically HERE in Europe where we never had much of anything ; cars or after-market parts !) and not merely to the lucky few that either live and/or have access to parts within Japan and the means with which to buy them.
Most people here, quite rightly, rely upon products outside of the EEC and therefore pay high shipping charges and in most cases customs duties on the whole amount - it must have a stifling effect on interest and quality improvements and reinforce the typical journalist's article claiming that parts are difficult to come by.
I chose a Tomei variable timing sprocket and an Arizona Z car baffled sump because they were less expensive at my door than the Kameari equivalents - does it matter who copied whom if the end product is acceptable ? I'm not someone addicted to top marques, walking around in Nikes and Lacoste polo-shirts.....if I was obsessed with having 'the right make', I'd be in some other make of car now and not a 'Datsun'. What is important to me is efficiency and aesthetics in that order with cost considered where it can be applied. But that's me - each to their own.
So, you still don't see why anyone would or should 'copy' KEW products and make them cheaper ? Surely you must support good quality parts and car available within Europe....? These are for people to whom KEW do not target their products - your own words so tell me please how the majority should proceed to construct a quality car from A to Z , Or should they just stay humble and muddle through.......there are those who would sneer at that too remember ;-) !
Ps : Mangoletsi (easily consultable here) :
http://www.mangoletsimanifolds.com/manifolds/datsun-240z-260z-280z-intake-manifold-linkage.pdf do a 40, 45 and 48mm 'off the shelf' and bigger if required on special order.
I don't see KEW advertising 'their' manifold as a Harada unit and I can't remember now for how much they were selling directly from Japan an Ebay.com