aTOMMICA I went to that websight you posted where you got your aircraft aluminum and there are so many options in thickness and diffrent aluminum. I was just wondering which thickness and which aluminum you used on your set up. Im considering going through the same websight. But im thinking ill just go to home depot and try to find the same stuff

 

Attomica,

That'll teach ya to make kewl **** for your car and post pics on here, huh?

*bows before Almighty Cold Air Box Master*


JB

 

Ha! Ha! Thanks for the new title. I really didn't expect this kind if response, but it's cool as hell.

RylAssassin, the aluminum I used is the 2024 T3 alloy in a .032 thickness. I got two, 1ft. by 4ft. pieces and they cost $13.75 each (one peice isn't quite enough). They were beautifully packed to ensure no damage. I already had the piano hinge so I didn't need to order more, but I know they have that too. For those of you interested in this source, the company is Air Parts, Inc. Look at www.airpartsinc.com and you can place orders at 1.800.800.3229. They ship fast too.

 

I'm working on a manual for this airbox with the templates, a list of tools and materials and a suggested build sequence. If anyone wants one, I'll be glad to send it to you. Email your address to attomica@aol.com and I'll send 'em out as soon as I have everything compiled. It's important to understand that this is not a series of directions that you should closely follow, but more like a guide and some suggested considerations. It's based only on my experience with my car and each car is different in some way so it's likely you'll have to modify my plans to suit your needs. Cool?

 

hell yeah...

*gets in mile long waiting list*

 

Remove your airbox now and send to me
Just kidding. You should make at least one more, toss it up on ebay, and see what it is really worth. If you make enough profit, maybe it would be a good weekend money maker.
Just make another one, describe it, show pictures(which were awesome), and see what the public(ebay) thinks its worth. PLEASE
Note: a good tradesman/craftsman can make between $15-$40 an hour. Don't sell yourself short. Let supply/demand economics work in your favor.

FOR EXAMPLE::::
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...threadid=97008
I vaguely remember everyones comment on this fiberglass headlight cover. Pros/cons... make it look like this....make it look like that....use this or that material......blah blah blah.....the power of ebay.......the birth of an entrepreneur......or something like that
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1847093544

 

is this the tool ?

http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...%5Fid=64%2D823

 

Yeah, but it would turn into a job that would have demands I'm just not interested in meeting. I have a great job during the week, but weekends are for relaxing. Making these on time, filling orders on time and fielding the eventual custom requests would create an undesirable burden. I did this one as a form of relaxation and it took me all day long because it was relaxing. I'll be glad to answer any questions you have and I'm even making a manual to help, but unfortunately, I don't intend to make another one.

 

did you look at the tool i posted
look above !

 

Yes, vmb, that's the one! Get it...it'll make your life so much easier. I don't know why they have it in the "crimping & stripping" section. It should be in the "pliers & cutters" section. That's why I missed it. I'm glad you found it.

 

I've been getting some requests for the templates and I'll be glad to send 'em, but I need a physical address to know where they're going, not an email address.

 

aatomica,

maybe you could just make a drawing on computer... and then people can just print out the templates on a sheet of paper and stick it on the sheet metal and then just cut away.

 

Cheers!, I thought about that, but several reasons steered me in the hard copy direction. I think it will me more accurate in terms of size and proportion and it's more trouble than I care to bother with to create a computer file with those considerations.

 

False.
I know it's been a while since this was posted, just didn't want to let it hang out there without correcting it, since someone might believe this and go along thinking this is the case. The "transparent aluminum" story that hit Slashdot and a few other places a couple of months back was a mistranslation. The actual story from Fraunhofer Labs (same people that brought you MP3s) was about transparent alumina, a whole different animal. Alumina is aluminum oxide, and this was a ceramic based on alumina. Aluminum oxide is used as an abrasive, among other things. No transparent aluminum yet outside of movies.
Just trying to do my part to stop another blasted urban legend from starting.

 

now youve done it Blackavar now everyone is gonna start buggin this guy to make them cold air boxes again...

 

great job, but what it with that crazy cut on the top ?

 

I was hoping someone would notice that. I cut that out so I wouldn't have to manipulate the lid to use or replace the hood prop rod. The prop rod hook fits through that scallop cut perfectly and the lid can remain in place. There two other bonuses. The scallop cut creates an oblique opening that air from the near future NACA ducted headlight cover can direct right into and it also resembles the lower half of Texas, which is cool since I live here.

 

actually, a jigsaw isn't that bad on aluminum at all. I modded the **** out of my computer case (before I had my 7, and I spent a good bit of money on the nice aluminum case for it's cooling properties) and it was cut with a jigsaw. the aluminum is 1-1.5 mm thick, and the jigsaw cut through it like butter. no spilnters, no torn-off teeth, just a few nice, clean cuts (chich I proceeded to file down with a metal file, to get out the small burrs). anyway, a jigsaw is great to use on aluminum.

 

by the way, if you sell them on e-bay, you can just make them at your own pace and sell them when they are ready, still making quite a nice profit

 

Give me templates!!!! PLEASE? I need them or I will explode. hehe. No seriously. That is too cool. I want one and don't be all oh, it's nothing about it. I couldn't make on that looks that nice! Just give us templates tho if you don't wanna make money and I guess some of us will be happy.

 

I will say it again.

Has nobody noticed how the hood prop rod blocks the inlet shorkel?

I removed the stock prop rod.
I stow an aluminum tube behind the snorkel, for holding the hood up.

 

My eyes tear at the beauty...even after many months it's still a work of art.

 

I know it has been said already, but damn that is some nice work. I will definetly have to get me one of those tools.

 

who ever is interested in buying them I wil be getting the template and wil have the reproduced depending on the number of ppl who want them..... Im working on seeing the pricing but theres a few more things i need to figure out. Like material and if I should anadize them and offer them in diff colors. if I leave them aluminum they wil discolor and lo0ok stupid... so lets see some feedback and if I can get enough I will start making themas soon as I get the template.

- James