Diy Fibreglass Airbox

[bj_dove]

Im thinking of making my own fibreglass airbox based on the stock one, but to accommodate a pod inside it plus induction from underneath rather than the stock snorkel.

anyone got any tips for me? love to see some aftermarket versions to give me some ideas!

Cheers, Bart.

Edited May 23, 2007 by bj_dove

[Craved]

i started once

cut out the templates out of cardboard

masked the area off with think layers of tape to create a buffer between the painted engine bay and where the glass would be layed.

then i ran out of time that day, few days later the tape had all come unstuck so i ripped it out and just made an alloy one up.

this idea is probably the BEST option to take to ensure a completely sealed unit from heat. and once you peel the cardboard off the outside of the box you make, just line it with a heat shield material and it will be perfect.

[BHDave]

Yes. PITA

I never finished it so it's only a partition

[PLYNX]

bj_dove Dude ! Where are you located ? I have one completed in fiberglass. It uses the original snorkel as well. Took me a very long time to get exactally right and Im not keen on posting pics because of people copying the style.

[made_guy]

"people copying the style"??? help a brother out.

Edited May 30, 2007 by made_guy

[Trooper]

bj_dove Dude ! Where are you located ? I have one completed in fiberglass. It uses the original snorkel as well. Took me a very long time to get exactally right and Im not keen on posting pics because of people copying the style.

I am still trying to find one that suits what I want. I am thinking about a Plazmaman alloy one

Why don't you want people copying the style? Isnt that the idea of the forum to help each other out?

[PLYNX]

Oh yes ! I have helped a lot of brothers out on this forum for free and at my own expense as well and not thought twice about it cause thats what you do for people in a club. I put hundreds of hours into the development of that air box and I should just give it away ????? And dont get me wrong I aint after any financial gain for what I do and if someone asks to see it arrange to meet me and see it in person and have a chat on how it was done and I'll help out with them making one for themselves. Im cool with that.

[Trooper]

Oh yes ! I have helped a lot of brothers out on this forum for free and at my own expense as well and not thought twice about it cause thats what you do for people in a club. I put hundreds of hours into the development of that air box and I should just give it away ????? And dont get me wrong I aint after any financial gain for what I do and if someone asks to see it arrange to meet me and see it in person and have a chat on how it was done and I'll help out with them making one for themselves. Im cool with that.

No worries mate... understood.

I was just really keen to see it, the more ideas I can get the better.

[PLYNX]

Like I said and if your keen to see it no problem organise to meet and I'll show you. Then you can judge for yourself if its any good or crap. You might even have a better idea to develop it even further.

[LatinR33]

Yeah I'd love to have one of these fabricated to suit a pod but to use the factory snorkel. Ive seen a few around for sale but im waiting to see a bulletproof version for example the other ones ive seen are not fully enclosed and allow hot air in or you cant use the pod brace to make sure the pod doesnt move. havent seen any around yet. I swear if someone sold one of these they'd make a killing.

[MearCat]

Yeah I'd love to have one of these fabricated to suit a pod but to use the factory snorkel. Ive seen a few around for sale but im waiting to see a bulletproof version for example the other ones ive seen are not fully enclosed and allow hot air in or you cant use the pod brace to make sure the pod doesnt move. havent seen any around yet.

What a coincidence! I've recently started making a fabbing a FULLY SEALED airbox for my R33. Some of you may know of the gauge pods that I make, but in a lull with getting cars and designing new gauge pods over the last month I've started doing an airbox in fibreglass - that uses the factory bolts to hold the box and the pod in place. I have a front mount intercooler so this won't suit a car with the factory snorkel or factory intercooler return piping. I have a mate who wants one for his standard intercooler fitting as well and who knows - I may end up selling them if there's interest

I'm moving slowly on the fabrication and have only done the main box part and no lid so it's not finished, but I have no problems in posting some pics if anybody wants. The lid will be sealed for my design but will incorprate the use of the factory snorkel for the other one.

-Alan

[LatinR33]

fantastic, Put pics up when you can.

[MearCat]

I'll try and get the box to reasonable fabricaiton point and upload some pics this week. As PLYNX said, it does take a very long time to get it all lined up right and fitting well.

For the benefit of bj_dove (originator of thread) and anyone else who's doing airboxes, I've been trying to think of ways to secure the lid. Anyone got any (simple & effective) ideas? I don't like the idea of using screws in fibreglass because you may eventually strip any thread you made. I thought of actually mounting magnets/latches (the ones you find on cupbaord doors) to keep the lid on.

Comments?...

[Craved]

I'll try and get the box to reasonable fabricaiton point and upload some pics this week. As PLYNX said, it does take a very long time to get it all lined up right and fitting well.

For the benefit of bj_dove (originator of thread) and anyone else who's doing airboxes, I've been trying to think of ways to secure the lid. Anyone got any (simple & effective) ideas? I don't like the idea of using screws in fibreglass because you may eventually strip any thread you made. I thought of actually mounting magnets/latches (the ones you find on cupbaord doors) to keep the lid on.

Comments?...

you can buy tool sets that are half fivet/half nut.

basically you press the threaded section into a hole, then you can use a normal bolt. kinda hard to describe, its a bit like a threaded eyelet.

[Craved]

This is the tool i was speaking about

http://www.rivetsinstock.com/rivet47.htm

[MearCat]

Wow - what brilliant idea! Lateral thinking at it's best Thanks Chris.

[PLYNX]

I also started looking at my air box again after a bit of a break and was going to use small cabnet latches to hold the lid down. These are similar to the lockdown clips that the original air boxes use and are available from Bunnings. Three will suffice on my airbox as one side slips under the front gard. I was really after the speed of removal that the original latches have. also the one I have built is for the original intercooler piping.

[MearCat]

I also started looking at my air box again after a bit of a break and was going to use small cabnet latches to hold the lid down.

You mean like this one (like on suitcases and tradies tool boxes)? Latch Pic

[swanny180]

Quick related question here:

Would there be any merit in fabbing up a fibreglass snorkel to replace the stock one while using the stock airbox?

Basically to get a ram intake effect?

Just noticed that the stock one has airflow dividers and looks like it might be a bit convoluted in terms of flow, thought it might be possible that a custom one with a bigger opening perhaps extending a little lower down into the frontal airflow could be beneficial?

[MearCat]

Would there be any merit in fabbing up a fibreglass snorkel to replace the stock one while using the stock airbox?

Basically to get a ram intake effect?

Just noticed that the stock one has airflow dividers and looks like it might be a bit convoluted in terms of flow, thought it might be possible that a custom one with a bigger opening perhaps extending a little lower down into the frontal airflow could be beneficial?

For the flow through factory snorkel - I agree that the factory snorkel is not exactly the best internal design especially with the hump in it that goes over the intercooler return pipe. This could certainly be improved to become a "big mouth" design to catch more frontal airflow and smoother internal flow to the stock air box.

As for getting the air into the snorkel, of course the bigger opening in the snorkel the better but with the factory snorkel, the only thing that will really help flow INTO the snorkel would one of Bass Junkys air guides (also in the Fabrication section). These are very well made and a great item btw