Blockoff Plates
 

I'm going to buy some aluminum and cut out some blockoff plates, but I need to know how thick the aluminum should be. Thanks in advance.

Don't see why thickness should be a concern. As long as the Plate provides complete cover and good seal, you should be alright. What type of sealant/gasket do you intend to use??

I recommend purchasing one of the pre-made kits. The k2rd kits are very well made, inexpensive, and come with all the hardware needed to bolt them up. All the homemade BOPs I have seen have been rough and nasty looking, and didn't seal as well. Make sure you use silicone when mounting them.

If the aluminum is too thin, once you tighten down the bolt, the aluminum will deform and not seal properly. So I'm just asking what is the average thickness of most blockoff plates people buy/use.

Affirmative. Sounds like GF's has the proper fix! :)

I'm only removing my airpump and main cat so I don't think I need an entire kit. I can make the exact ones I need and they won't turn out rough and nasty looking like the homemade BOPs you speak of. Bottom like is, I just need to know the thickness of the aluminum to buy, so would you guys please just provide the info I ask for...

Why don't you measure the flange thickness on the original part you're removing and use that as a template for your plates??

check this out not that expensive and is complete, I got mine from here too
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...spagename=WDVW

A quick google search sent me over to the 'lightning' page, where they recommend 1/8th in thick aluminum :).

Rich

Because I haven't taken anything off yet... I have all my old gaskets as templates. I want to have them made before hand to reduce down time... Jesus man! Why can't you just say... "the blockoff plates are ???" thick" and leave it at that... or if you don't know, say "sorry man, I just don't know how thick most BOPs are" it ain't that hard to comprehend what I'm asking! :mad:

Thank you so very much. :bigthumb:

Good Luck.

Thanks

FYI....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=46097

Don't forget you'll need bolts to replace the studs. The studs aren't threaded down far enough to reuse the nuts unless you use a thicker blockoff plate or washers.

Look through the thread I posted the exact same auction....lol...:D

Tru dat.....:bigthumb:

EDIT: nevermind... i read this too fast

How thick would they need to be? This is what I needed to know.

The Blockoff Plate kits come with everything you need (which is why they are kits). They come with bolts to replace the studs. If you want to get around replacing the studs, your best bet going to be to measure the unthreaded portion of the stud. You are already going to need to make a template of the area to cover for your block off plate, just measure the stud at that point.

Otherwise, remove the stud, run up to your local hardware store and find bolts of the same size/pitch.

You can either get bolts or if your intent on using the studs you can use washers to make up the difference. It probably wouldnt take but 2 washers to clear the flat spot on the stud. The thickness of the plate really isnt going to matter as long as its failry sturdy. You can deform alum plate if you tighen it too much but you dont need to tq these down any more than 10 ft/lbs so you shouldn't deform it. That said, 1/8" is a good sturdy thickness. Also use silicone to seal it, Permatex Ultra Gray works great, you can get it at Auto Zone or Advanced Auto.

Worse case, you can get the bolts from the Mazda dealer so they'll match all your other bolts, I think they are .50 cents each and you probably dont need many of them.


STEPHEN

I want to say the bolts you will need are M6x1.0, but my memory sometimes plays tricks on me ;)

It is M6X1.0. I used 10mm long flange head screws. Oh ya and 1/8 thick sheet Al.

Autozone now carries IMPORT bolts and nuts now. They felt perfectly and looks very similar to stock. I also bought the ebay block off plates, it should arrive anyday now.