After searching for the past year for the fender GFX for my 91 bird I decided that $100-$150 for each side was just plain rediculous since they're so easy to damage and might eventually have to be replaced. Being the tightwad I am I decided to make my own. Tried plexigalss and lexan first....no good, too brittle. I hate fiberglassing, too messy. Since I'm a sheetmetal worker by trade the answer was obvious.....finally.

Check out the thread on my local 3rd gen board: http://www.austinthirdgen.org/forum/...=0&#entry35583
for pics.

I just want to let all the 91-92 owners that this can be done at any sheetmetal shop. It should be very cheap, mine was free because I made them. Any sheetmetal worker that is worth their salt can turn these out for you as long as you take them at least one side to copy.

 

That is extremely impressive! I agree with the guy on the other board, you should make up a batch and sell them :-)

 

I might do that...to help pay for the repaint that I need.

 

Very impressive, and it should be okay to sell them, other people make repro stuff. So are you planning to make some custom ones?

 

The custom part I'm planning on doing is going to be on the flat piece that goes under the car. I'm planning on making a type of air scoop that would be either ducted or directed towards the brakes for cooling. The stock piece had a small air scoop looking thing that looked kinda cheesy. The one I'm planning on will force alot of air to the brakes. Or, I could go the cold air route and make the scoops to force air up into the engine compartment. More than likely I'm going the brake cooling route.

 

HOLY GFX FYRCHKN!! Those are very nice.Can I be first on the list for a set?I don't care about the underneath area,just want to get rid of the ugly gap between the nose&fender on my 91 v-6 bird.I have a set of gm spares that I'm holding onto in case I damage my new ones which were around $200 for the pair on my 89 (91-92 clone).The v-6 car I am fixing up for my 15 yr. old niece thats going to be a b-day present on her 16th.Yeah,she doesn't know yet,and hopefully doesn't until I hand her the keys!!Anyway,I think your design would be PERFECT! for this car. let me know,and thanks,Tim

 

I know all too well about the nasty gap, I've been cruising like that for a year now. I'll get you fixed up.

 

HOLY GFX FYRCHKN!
Had to say that again for some reason,talk to you later,and happy turkey day to everyone!!

 

thats damn impressive I bet you could sell those faster than u could make them considering the scarcity of 91-92 gfx

 

Nice Job!

Those look Great! And I am not a fan of the 91-92 "Rain Gutter" Ground Effects, but I give credit where credit is due, You did a Great Job

I am with the other guys, if there is a demand, you should make some up and sell em. Especially if you need $$ for the car.

 

Great work! Just another example of what alittle thought, creativity, and skill can really save you a ton of money in the world of car hobbies. Not to mention the satisfaction of being able to say "I made that from scratch."

Good job!

J.

 

Hi They look GREAT Please let me know if you make any I would love to have a set for my 91 GTA.
Shannon

 

Looks pretty nice

Kinda wish i hadnt forked over the $200 for a NOS set when I painted my bird

 

well this got me thinking I bet the gfx on the door could be made the same way you know the ones if talking about the bottom of the door were its kinda a long triangle

 

thats very nice! you cant even tell that they are made of sheet metal. nice work man

 

Yeah, but those are cheap and plentiful... I had to replace the one on my driver door and I got it at a junk yard for $20.
I made these because they're hard to find and very, very expensive.

Whoever needs/wants some pm me....I'm taking orders.

 

very nice, I just got done buying a pair at 200$. Too bad I didnt wait.

 

I thought I was going to have to do the same thing. Especially after my first attempt with Lexan.

I thought I read somewhere that GM had discontinued them I think. I could be mistaken.

 

FYRCHKN,,,,The Master Fabricator!

 

I'm pretty sure they did discontinue them. I got mine from ebay, from a dealer in Michigan or Illinois I think. Dont know how many sets he had, but I guess they have stuff laying around sometimes.

 

They're discontinued but many dealers around the US have got them. PM sent. Mine are toast as well.

 

whats the price?

 

I would be EXTREMELY interested in a set of these for my 91 T/A as well. I've been looking for a set of these cheap for 2 years.

 

Prices vary as to what all you want done to them. Compared to what GM wants for a pair, I'm dirt cheap and my product is ALOT more durable. PM me for info/pricing. I'm still less than half of what GM wants for my top finished pair.

 

I'd buy them! What do you seriously think about making a few pieces?
The front fender pieces alone would sell faster than you could make them!

 

Impressive!

When mine started cracking and becoming an eye sore I just broke out the fiberglass, built up the backside of the piece, and then repainted.

Your's will last much longer I presume.

Did I see that these might go into production for sales?

 

Due to the amount of interest I'm reviving this thread.

I never got around to making a batch to sell since the past year has been kinda hectic with the new baby. But, since there's so much interest I'm going to set aside some time during the next few weeks to fab up a batch of them.

My prototypes are still holding up great and haven't been off the car since they were installed over a year ago. I did, however manage to bang the passenger side one on a curb, but it was fairly easy to straighten out with a pair of pliers and a hammer while still on the car.....can't even tell it was damaged now.

I never did get around to making the flat piece that goes under the car....I guess I need to get off my butt and figure out what needs to be done with them.

It's going to take me around 2 weeks to a month to fab up 10 pairs since I do it in my free time at work and not on the clock. They will come in raw galvanized steel ready to prime and paint. They will mount right up to the stock bolt/screw locations.


Prices:

Basic visual side pieces (like on my car)---$75/pair shipped (lower 48, standard shipping)

Full replacement piece (like above, but with the extension that goes under the nose)--- $125/pair shipped (lower 48, standard shipping)

I'm fixing to set up a pay pal account, but I will accept personal checks. The GFX will ship as soon as the check clears the bank.

 

Nice work man. I thinking about getting a set. Working at a fab shop have it plus.

 

That is good news! Can you get some more pics for us when you get a chance. Esp interested in the difference between the "visual" pieces and the "full"pieces.
Mark

 

There is a link to all the pictures I have in the first post of this thread. But, so you don't have to scroll all the way back up, here it is again:

http://www.austinthirdgen.org/forum/...=0&#entry35583

The "visual" pieces are what is shown. All they do is fill in the space between the nose and the front tire.

The "full" piece would be very close to the full OEM style that has the flat piece that goes under the car and bolts to the bottom of the nose. I never had a full original piece to copy or get measurements from so they will be as close to OEM as I can get by looking at them in pictures online. I don't have any pics of these because I haven't made any yet.

 

i could get you the measureement cause i have the GFX pair at my house i got at the junk yard awhile ago.

 

I would like to get a set of the full replacement.
If you need the OEM front ground effect pieces I have them.

 

Keep us updated as to when they are finished. Will you sell them as singles?

 

That's sick dude! Great job.

 

I guess I could, but I'm pretty sure you're going to end up needing the other one eventually.

 

I'll be looking for a pair of full pieces when you are done!

Douglas

 

did you make any more front fender ground effect with the part that attach to the bumper too

 

I would be interested in the gfx's also lmk

 

***Update***

I have the majority of the pieces blocked out, but about 3 weeks ago I was transferred out of the shop that I used to work in. Now I'm out in the field doing installs. The only time that I have to work on them now is after work. I haven't forgotten about everybody that wants them.

 

Dude, those turned out great. A few questions as a felow metal fabricator, (I was the Stainless Steel Third Gen thread starter). Why galvinized, and why only 24 and 26 guage? It looks like they were riveted (?) instead of welded...?

Just wondering. The stainless steel idea is looking more and more like it's getting tabled for a while, but I might end up having to make some gfx's this summer. I would have gone with 18 or 16 guage, cut the sides with extra room and welded them to the bent pieces. Finish with a bench / angle grinder.

I'd probably have just painted them with Rustolium, they make enough colors to get pretty close. Does the galvinized steel adhere better to auto paint?

Did you use any specialty tool to get the roll and curve into the side piece, or bend it over a wooden jig or something?

Just curious. Again, nice work.

 

I work in an HVAC sheet metal shop and galvanized is plentiful. 24 & 26 ga is plenty strong enough for this application. Hell, the body of the car is only 24 ga and the floor pan can't be more than 20 or 22 ga (I had no problems cutting the shifter hole in the tranny tunnel with tin snips).


That's what I did, Sunrise Red is a perfect match to the 91/92 stock red.


Yes, if you prep it right. You have to kill the galvanized coating by rubbing it down with vinegar. Then sand it to give the primer a "mechanical tooth" to stick to.

Just the good 'ol hammer, dolly, and anvil method. It's a little bit of a trick to get those compound bends into a flat piece of metal.

 

How are things coming? I sent you a PM if you are still interested in selling them.

Let me know.....

Carl

 

cool deal!

one question

the gfx piece is a lot larger that the part you made, it wraps under the car as well. what did you do about that?

 

you must be talking about the part that connects to the bottom of the front bumper

 

No....The side pieces wrap under for several inches too.

 

That is flippin' cool!

 

more like a foot, but same difference, what was done about that part?

 

Nothing so far. I really haven't needed them since my bumper doesn't sag underneath. The "full" pieces that I mentioned in an earlier post will include the large piece that goes under the car.

 

when are you gonna make some for sale

 

I will buy a set from you! are you taking orders?