I realize I'm new here...but would it have been possible for all of us to get together to sponsor a group buy at a special price for the Jeff Bauer thermostat? I'm sure the cost is not what it was years ago.

Back in the CRX forum days, we would always have group buys - and we did well with products like hondata!

Its a compromise. Engineers want the most for their product. Customers want the best quality without going overboard by paying too much. There is always intrinsic value and comparable pricing. In my marketing studies, I've found that charging more than 2x will cause a huge drop in sales volume (unless it's life saving medicine, in which case - charge as much as you want)
With thermostats available for about 100, and even less on eBay - why not source an offshore manufacturer for this and just let them go en masse to all the Jeep people for a mere 200 bucks? If ego is an issue, engrave your name on the product - I do that in all my coding.

Some may or may not agree with this idea - but with open minds, this could work. I'd even volunteer my time to help. Having a standalone website created to facilitate this would help with spreading the knowledge without fear of admins deleting posts or others sabotaging the launch of the product. It's alot like a kickstarter campaign in case anyone has been involved with those.

Excellent idea Snakeyez

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2020 Ram 1500 CC Ecodiesel Limited
1995 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4, 5.9 Cummins, 47RH, Reg Cab
2005 Liberty CRD,fixed the rockers and a couple more things,GDE Hot tune,Weeks Stage 1 and 2 EGR delete,Hot Diesel solutions Tstat assembly(wonderful heat!), ARP studs, OME 1.5" lift.....thanks Seth! (Sold)
2006 Liberty CRD....The Moose Hit

If I don't forget I'll post some pics when I get home on sat. But I can tell you right now, the thermostat is worth its money only if you plan on keeping the crd for a while. It is a masterpiece and I do recommend it without any doubt. It's a solid unit, very well made, way overbuilt. You'll love it and if you do want to keep the crd for a while get it without hesitation. Jeff is a bit chattery but he's a very nice guy with pride of ownership of a super well made product.

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2005 kj CRD, samco, suncoast tc, provent, Kennedy lift pump, GDE ECO full torque, 2nd gen filter head, 245/70/16 a/t tires, mopar light bar, fumoto oil valve, OEM Skid Plates, ARB Front bumper and HD OME, tru cool LPD47391 40k GVW tranny cooler (stock cooler delete), FF Dynamics e-fan and shroud, rocker arms replaced, HDS2 190F thermostat.

Your idea is good, and I agree with it generally. In particular, the crd market is so small that it's not worth to start it. Only Jeff can be that crazy to do something like this. Kidding of course. I one am a loyal Americana guy, and I'd pay the price for a well made product. Even if Jeff is Canadian, the research he made and his investment is worth my money. A product very well made, very well thought. I trust his product and also tested it extensively.

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2005 kj CRD, samco, suncoast tc, provent, Kennedy lift pump, GDE ECO full torque, 2nd gen filter head, 245/70/16 a/t tires, mopar light bar, fumoto oil valve, OEM Skid Plates, ARB Front bumper and HD OME, tru cool LPD47391 40k GVW tranny cooler (stock cooler delete), FF Dynamics e-fan and shroud, rocker arms replaced, HDS2 190F thermostat.

Thermorex's postings are fair; I am a talkative person, especially about things I am passionate about. Like the topic of how diesel owners are screwed over by the EPA.

And, yes, I realize this character flaw of mine may put some people off... but it is people like me that have the gonads to try to pull this little venture off.

The "masterpiece" comments are flattering, but they give the clear impression to my detractors that the Model 001 belongs on a shelf, and not under the hood of a CRD. Nothing could further from the truth. The good looks and the incredible strength of the Model 001 come from the fact that I did a cost analysis of the various methods of manufacture, and determined that the only cost effective way to manufacture a properly engineered upgrade thermostat assembly for a limited production vehicle was to CNC machine the housings, the caps and the hose barbs. A mold for die casting aluminum would cost between $100,000.00 to $150,000.00 CDN. All of my CNC development costs to date, including those for the latest third generation Model 001, have cost me a relatively low 20,000.00 CDN. So the good looks of the Model 001 are merely a happy side benefit.

Sure, I could cast the housings, caps and hose barbs and sell the complete assembly for under $200.00. But I would have to charge at least $1,000.00 extra for each unit as a fee to develop the mold. I am certain most people can see the nonsense in that method.

CNC machining also gives me the flexibility to change up the design as I please at minimal cost for different applications, such as the use of the R428 engine in front wheel drive vehicles. For example, I changed the design slightly for the third generation Model 001 - not as an improvement in the function and features - but merely to make accessing parts easier should I decide to move production to the Philippines. The upside to the changes is that the Model 001 is even stronger, and the bottom hose barb is machined in place.

F.Y.I. I am a dual national; both American and Canadian. I was born on the Mountain Home, Idaho Air Force Base when it was in operation in 1965.

I was gunna say, I would call you enthusiastic. I've enjoyed every conversation we've had on the phone.

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2006 CRD - GTB2056 turbo by Dieselguy86, Eco Trans Tune, Lift Pump, Week's, HDS Tstat, Racor Filter, ARP's, OME 790's+Top Plate, JBA 2.5", JBA UCA, Moab's+265/75R16, ARB Bull Bar, 4.10's, TrueTracs

I can't resist an off topic response on this one. Jeff, I forgot you had mentioned that you had the same home town as myself, small world... She's still in operation also, home to some stealth bombers. Every so often I'm in the remote back-country and look up to see the strange triangular jet. FWIW

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05 CRD: H.D.S2 stat,WW Ironrock trilink&LCA's, OX rear,ARB front, 4.10's, ARB bumper, Suncoast,OME 3.5, JBA UCA,rock rails, Moabs&265/75 Duratracs, GDE tunes ,FFD fan,ARP's, 2 micron fuel, new valves,sasquatch battery tray & grid heater, tensioner relocated
Mech fan, VH & AC delete

Normally I would not even reply to this thread as it has degenerated into the continual mudslinging so common on this board and others. But let me reply to Napabavarian with my observations regarding thermostats.

First off, after purchasing a CRD knowing full well it's eccentricities I began to research a replacement Tstat. Lets not debate he short comings of the OEM yet again. I decided on Jeff's product for my CRD. Yes his small business has teething problems, but the product was received as advertised and has been working flawlessly for 25000 miles. I have recently purchased another CRD for the fleet and have one of Jeff's Tstats on the way. So, I am satisfied with the product to the point of purchasing another, in spite of all the arguments against.

Price? Yes they are expensive, but you are getting a very low production volume, quality piece.

Cost of OEM vs HDS? Yes, you can purchase an OEM for about 1/3 the price, but you will be changing it again, and possibly yet again. My time is valuable as well, so there is hidden value in the more expensive long term solution.

Reliability? I don't expect one of these HDS stats will ever fail given the quality of the components, but if so, the thermostat itself can be procured almost anywhere in stock and changed out with a minimum effort. Not so with an OEM, it would have to be ordered, even if it broke down in front of a Jeep dealership. This reliability is important for myself and my wife.

The modified OEM? A solution as well, but here is my perspective. I have a lathe, mill and HF tig unit in my shop. Probably even have enough billet stock to make the modifications from. Everything to mod my own. Again, my time is valuable, when I can purchase a well designed and manufactured component ready made instead of fabricating / modifying something, I will. Something to keep in mind with this as well, although I have not heard of issues as of yet, is the metallurgy of the OEM casting and it's suitability for welding on. The ratio of old Budweiser cans in the casting is unknown from batch to batch.

Increased operating temperature over OEM? Keep in mind that Chrysler went to the expense of installing a viscous heater in the cooling system to get the coolant to the heater / defroster up to a temperature that would actually do some good. In the 200 deg range the engine operates more efficiently, albeit produces more NOX per gallon of fuel, however now uses less fuel to accomplish the same amount of work. Recently I was using my CRD to get to a work site, 60 mile drive one way, each day. With the GDE tune and OEM stat operating at 176 deg. I could make 3 round trips to a tank (fuel stops were sparse). This was for 5000 miles. When the HDS stat was installed (with no other changes) the higher operating temperature increased mileage to allow for 4 round trips to a tank. a gain of approx. 30-40 miles per tank. This was verified over an additional 25000 miles. The engine also runs much smoother, quieter and appears to produce less particulate soot due to more efficient combustion, although I have no definitive measurement of soot without an opacity meter.

So Napabavarian, make your decision as you see fit, but your original question was regarding the product itself and I have provided you with my personal experience and observations. No mudslinging allowed.

Cheers,

mrhemi

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2006 KJ Sport CRD, 2006 KJ LTD CRD, 2013 Subaru BRZ 6spd., 1994 Ford F150 XLT, 1969 Dodge Charger R/T 4spd. (Yes it's a Hemi).

This analysis is very succinct. Can I work around Jeff's thermostat? Yes. Is Jeff a kook? Yes (sorry man, but you need to lay off and let your customer's tout your product) Is the HDS001 expensive? Yes, but so it my fuel pump harness, my intake plumbing, my battery tray, my lift, my sliders, my 4-link, and nobody bashes those products. Is the HDS001 quality? Yes, undoubtedly. Is there a benefit to the HDS001? Yes. Do it once, and then t-stat changes are no big deal, and I have heat within a mile (maybe less) of my commute. Is my time, Jeff's time, and the benefit, worth the cost? YES! All the other benefits are speculative, but I don't care. Running hotter is probably better. The flow is probably better, but who cares. If I ever have another CRD and I am still in a cold climate, the HDS001 is top of the list for mods.

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JBA 4" lift, IRO Tri-link w/ wwdiesel bracket, JBA sliders, 235/85-16 Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs, Mercedes Benz forged ultralight wheels, Weeks stage 1 and 2, Weeks lift pump and harness, Weeks battery tray and AGM battery, GDE tune, Suncoast TC, updated front pump, HDS 001 T-stat, ARP studs, Front and rear Detroit/Eaton Truetrac LSD.