Scar0
06-19-2010, 06:44 AM
My requirements:
1. I wanted it to look good, but blend in with the rest of the rig.
2. It needed to be functional. (Protect the lower part of the radiator.)
3. I didn't want to spend a fortune on it. Under $40.
I was able to accomplish all my goals.
ABS Plastic @ $27.80
ABS glue $2.85
Plastic rivets $2.99
This one was a long and tedious process. It was almost as time consuming as my cup holder lights.
I went threw 3 preliminary design changes and this is what I came up with.
I started with a 1/8" sheet of Black ABS plastic. (2'X4')
I used ABS for three reasons; it has a fairly low melting point (easy to bend), it is easy to machine, and it has a fairly high resistance to impact fractures.
A couple Pics of the process;
This is the shape I wanted so it would blend in with the rig.
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrillPat1.jpg
My patterns;
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrillPats1.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrillParts1.jpg
The parts;
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrillParts2.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrillParts3.jpg
The assembly;
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrillAssy1.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrillAssy2.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrillAssy3.jpg
And here are the results.
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrill111.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrill112.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrill113.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrill114.jpg
This was one of the more challenging Mods I've done, because of all the angles.
I'm sure it would not take as much time if I had to do it over again. Now that I have my patterns.
A few things I didn't mention above;
The horizontal slats match the angle of the air-dam, to project the air up and into the radiator.
The vertical slats line up with the vertical slats in the upper grill.
The air-dam and the bumper are now connected, which will stop some of the rattling.
The top of the vertical slats are mounted on the inside of the bumper to keep the look as clean as I could.
All the vertical and horizontal joints are glued together. (Bottom only to keep it clean looking.)
Finally, but certainly not the least, I used push-pin rivets to hold it in place. This makes it easily removed and/or replaced.
FYI with a 2'X4' piece of ABS, there is enough left over to make 2 more grills, if I ever have a need. So the actual cost is substantially less than what I posted above. (About $18 less.)
1. I wanted it to look good, but blend in with the rest of the rig.
2. It needed to be functional. (Protect the lower part of the radiator.)
3. I didn't want to spend a fortune on it. Under $40.
I was able to accomplish all my goals.
ABS Plastic @ $27.80
ABS glue $2.85
Plastic rivets $2.99
This one was a long and tedious process. It was almost as time consuming as my cup holder lights.
I went threw 3 preliminary design changes and this is what I came up with.
I started with a 1/8" sheet of Black ABS plastic. (2'X4')
I used ABS for three reasons; it has a fairly low melting point (easy to bend), it is easy to machine, and it has a fairly high resistance to impact fractures.
A couple Pics of the process;
This is the shape I wanted so it would blend in with the rig.
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrillPat1.jpg
My patterns;
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrillPats1.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrillParts1.jpg
The parts;
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrillParts2.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrillParts3.jpg
The assembly;
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrillAssy1.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrillAssy2.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrillAssy3.jpg
And here are the results.
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrill111.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrill112.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrill113.jpg
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/Scar0/Nitro/BGrill/BGrill114.jpg
This was one of the more challenging Mods I've done, because of all the angles.
I'm sure it would not take as much time if I had to do it over again. Now that I have my patterns.
A few things I didn't mention above;
The horizontal slats match the angle of the air-dam, to project the air up and into the radiator.
The vertical slats line up with the vertical slats in the upper grill.
The air-dam and the bumper are now connected, which will stop some of the rattling.
The top of the vertical slats are mounted on the inside of the bumper to keep the look as clean as I could.
All the vertical and horizontal joints are glued together. (Bottom only to keep it clean looking.)
Finally, but certainly not the least, I used push-pin rivets to hold it in place. This makes it easily removed and/or replaced.
FYI with a 2'X4' piece of ABS, there is enough left over to make 2 more grills, if I ever have a need. So the actual cost is substantially less than what I posted above. (About $18 less.)