In the front of the 82-92 camaros there is this plastic peice that is either not used, or in the 8 cyl models tends to be a form of cold air induction.. It sits right in front of the hood latch mechanism in the front of the car.

I was wondering if anyone had custom fabricated a sheet of metal, be it aluminum, tin, steel whatever, that would fit from this area, up over and secure the radiator as a dress up item. I would like to have one of these made but it seems to me that ive seen it somewehere on here before.. any ideas are greatly appreciated.

-steve

 

There was a gentleman here who made one by simply bending thin stainless in an inverted "v" and then bolting it down, but I've seen some nicer pieces at Camarofest last July. I don't know if they were one-off pieces or not, but I've never seen one that is mass produced and I've looked so I would imagine that they were one-offs.

Mathius

 

Here it is... A little too basic for my tastes.

 

well the radiator part is only part of what I would want. I want the whole sheet in front of that that is plastic. Does that make sense to you? As in up front where the hood latch catches, i want that piece chromed metal, and extending over the radiator support up to cover the top of the radiator like your photo showed too.

-Steve

 

If you check my webshots site out under the projects album, you can see a really crappy picture I took of some aluminum work I did in the engine bay, you can kinda see the rad cover. Its on a monte but the design could be adapted to an F-body easy enough I would think. I just did this since I switched to electric fans and had to get rid of the old fan shroud, but it turned out not too bad. Its just 1/8" sheet bent in a metal break and somewhat polished.

http://community.webshots.com/user/chevyguy1984

 

thats only part of what i want though. I want it to extend all the way up front over the radiator support, and around the front hood latch mechanism, where that peice of crappy plastic is clipped in at.

Does this make sense to anyone other than me?
-steve

 

why yell at us if you know what you want? take a sheet of aluminum and cut it to fit and make the proper bends. then polish it or whatever to get the finish you want. they dont make these in aftermarket for our cars so YOU have to make it YOURSELF. people are just telling you what they have seen. i have not seen anything like the way you want it so be the first.

 

ive seen it and i ma do it on mine if i keep it. which i probably will so ask me again in a few months

 

Spartyon,

The reason why i was describing it is because of a couple of reasons.

1) I have no idea how to go about this. Ive never worked with metals other than minor body work.

2.) was wondering if anyone on here had done it, as to find out where they went to get it done, if they did it themselves, what it was made of, etc.

3.) IF someone had done it, was hoping i could convince someone that Id buy one from them.

4.) Hoped to see photos of one.

5.) The Forum title is Fabrication, and the description states "Discuss custom fabrication ideas, tips, techniques, and projects." Thus this would suggest that one would not be jumped on for asking about something that one would like to have fabricated so i figured i could post about my idea here without having it locked or someone flame me.


I hope that answers your question as to why.

Thank you for telling me to use aluminum. and for letting me know that they dont make them in the aftermarket.

Jocww,

Yea i thought i ahd seen one somewhere too. Just dont remember who/ where or how it was done. I will definately ask again! thanks!

-steve

 

 

steve dont worry about spar. hes an *** so dont let him get to u

 

first of all i will apologize cuz i see how that can seem a little rude but it seemed as if people were showing him and telling him what they have seen and he kept repeating himself. i just stated a fact that no one makes these for our cars period!.!. so if that makes me an @ss then wheres the match cuz i feel a big one coming on.

 

well the match can be up your *** for all i care. but i aint gonna start a flame war. just be nicer next time. cuz it may be you next time or the time after that or after that

 

while i do appreciate everyones input on the subject I still have yet to find a place to fabricate or find what to fabricate it out of. I dont even know how i'd get the complex bends in it, or the cuts fro the hood latch.. So i guess ill just give up.

Thanks.
-steve

 

well to get perfect bends you would need to use a press brake. i personally think that since its a somewhat small area you can use a vise but go SLOW. you can make it look really well even with the vise method. to do the cutout for the latch measure the size and use a pencil to etch it onto the metal and use a dremel to cut inside the box you drew for the latch. then use the dremel to finish the edges to the appropriate length/width/size.

 

Maybe something like this:

 

Flirtin, almost just like that.

The only differences would be :

Would cover only where origional plastic piece in nose area was, not extend over the headlight brackets.

would extend up over the radiator, and integrate the radiator support / hose holder with it as in picture 1 at the beginning of this topic.

Where'd you have that done?
it looks great! thats the closest to what Im asking yet.


Thanks Sparty on the info. I just gotta find a place that sells aluminum i guess near me.

-steve

 

I know the area you are talking about are you planning to keep it flat all the way across, or do you plan on folliwing every vally like the plastic piece is . I started to measure mine I am going to transfer it to autocad. This piece will be for a firebird though and I am not sure how difference there is in this.

I going to hydef cut mine at work out of 304ss. This not a fast project for me so should take about a month as i fit other projects in at work. I be willing to give youa dxf file of the part.
what you could do with this is take it to a fab shop and have it lasered. The dxf will have complete dimension and where if I do brake lines with degrees offsets and etc.

The other project I am screwing around with , kinda contiplating if I can do it. I have a broken fog light on my firebird and was thinking of making a custom ducting(double snorkle from the foglight area) . Then I would cover the fog light area with custom screens. I am not sure on the clearance cause I haven't taken a closer look yet. This one might not pan out.


Dynodan

 

DynoDan,

You are exaclty right, you know exactly the area i was talking about. Unfortunately i think that the Firebird/ta and the camaro's dont use the same peices here. Yes, I wanted to contour it just like the factory one was. I think it woudl be real cool to have done that. I dont know how to go about getting it done like your talking about but thats what i'd want to do. If you can do all that you may have found you a market to exploit and make some money!! I'd gladly pay for mine if i could find someone who produces them!

Your idea on the ducting sounds interesting. Would this be for air intake or brake cooling?
-steve

 

it would be to hard to have all of the bends and stuff on it. a strait piece of metal would work better for you.

 

To make a sheet of aluminum contour to all the bends required to not only fill in the front area but also go up and over the rad you'd almost have to make it out of multiple pieces. That blown orange camaro's shroud looks sweet though, really clean :hail: .

 

Yea after taking a look at mine on the firebird. I will be making a straight piece like flrtin1 did thats nice work . In order for any body to make a piece to follow all them contours would require a stamping die . The cost of the die probably run you about $20,000 alone . The piece flrtin1 did is nice though I have made some modifactions to the one I am working on. I been thinking I might throw on the cutter on work and cutout the word (firebird) and the symbol of the bird also. Then I would cover the back side of the cut with colored plexiglass, then light the area up. So that everytime that the hood is lifted at night or such that it will light it all up. What ya think?


Dynodan

 

I made one for my car Purple 92. My plastic part was a mess, so I decided to remove it. I made a carboard pattern, to make sure I wouldn't ruin the aluminum.

I used a homemade brake, to make the couple bends the part has. I cut it out with some shears, and filed the edges to make them smooth.

I drilled the necessary holes, then rubbed it out with a scotchbrite pad for a nice even satin finish. I then sprayed it with a matte sealer, to preserve the finish. I fastened the part with phillips head stainless steel bolts and washers. The pic is not that great, but the finished piece looks good. Took about 3 hours to make.

I also fabbed aluminum strut bars to support the hood, because the oem gaslifts were shot, and didn't want the expense of original parts. Also, I'm planning to install a fiberglass hood, and the gaslifts are too strong, so they could bend and crack the lightweight hood at the middle.

Cheers,

 

Thunderboy! That is what I am almost trying to get at. I like yours alot, but I want to continue where you stopped with the bends, and combine it with what matheius had posted at the top of this thread.

Does that make sense?

your's looks great, makes me real jealous!

-steve