Building Jeep, or any other, frames

India would be the place to set up a retro-capitalist after market frame sweat shop, it seems. Working off the back of my envelope and using wildly different sources for loosely-defined welder's wages:

(2004) USofA US$28,900 (welder, mean wages) (2005) Mexico US$16,400 (welder, average legal minimum) (2005) China US$ 2,300 (generic skilled worker) (2005) India US$ 1,900 (ordinary welder)

Allowing for differences in worker expectations, skill levels, machines, supply lines and so on, and ignoring the wild differences in employee overhead costs, let's assume it takes a man-week to make the frame. In the US that's about $560 for labor. Mexico costs $315. In India that's $36.

Bret Ludwig wrote:

In actuality you also have to consider the cost of the equipment, supply of materials, worker skills, etc, etc, etc. India is actually not a terribly cheap place to manufacture because these costs, plus baksheesh, etc. compensate for low wages. India is bureaucratic beyond belief, and corrupt. The smart Indians, rather than fix these problems, simply come here. Most are decent people but 1) not everyone can come here, and, 2) the more people of non-European backgrounds, mentalities, and bioinclination come here the more here will become like there! Just like Californicators who "emigrate" and make Tucson, Portland, Seattle, like L.A., only on a far deeper scale.

India does make Jeeps now-Mahindras-and while EPA and DOT mean you couldn't import them as vehicles you could import frames, sheetmetal, etc. for "restoration" purposes. However the manufacturer may refuse to sell theose parts as they may fear loss of license from DCX if one is needed.

Still, the point is, in volume the price could come way down. Incidentally I do not think most people really should build their own Jeep frame: I think Matkins and other aftermarket products are worth the money. And no, no way in hell am I going to fly a Deutz.

In fact I'd probably rather fly a Hog.

When someone can show me 2000 hours on a Hog-Air let me know. This is a scam designed to sell logo merchandise, much like Harley Davidson itself.

One could say the same for Jeep. ;^)

Earle

Probably about the very short TBO at anywhere over 50% power.