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| Blooze Own: An F355 Six Speed N* Build Thread (Page 117/126) |
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Will
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DEC 14, 05:08 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Bloozberry:
They came with a "mounting" package, although I'm not a big fan (pun intended) of mounting the fan to the radiator using zip-ties through the fins.
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Yeah... don't do that
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ccfiero350
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DEC 15, 10:13 AM
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85-308
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DEC 15, 10:16 AM
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Nice find! I might be able to use these too! Certainly will keep the website on file. I assume they're steel; didn't see where it said but can contact them of course.
Steel would be more durable inside a wheelwell anyway.
Thx for posting!
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Bloozberry
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DEC 15, 01:18 PM
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Indeed... nice find ccfiero. I would never have thought to look for pre-stamped, raw panels. I'll have to look into some more as well.
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QUIKRIDE86
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DEC 16, 09:40 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by 85-308:
Nice find! I might be able to use these too! Certainly will keep the website on file. I assume they're steel; didn't see where it said but can contact them of course.
Steel would be more durable inside a wheelwell anyway.
Thx for posting! |
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According to the ebay listing they are steel. "These are made from 20ga cold roll steel". Oh, also says they make custom panels in aluminum as well! Good to know, thanks ccfiero350.[This message has been edited by QUIKRIDE86 (edited 12-16-2014).]
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Bloozberry
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DEC 20, 09:32 PM
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I found some time to sort out how I was going to mount the fans to my radiators. The monkey-wrench in the spokes was that the threaded bungs on the radiators were on the wrong side for the fans, so in essence, I needed customized channels to bridge the thickness of the radiator. After playing around with a couple cardboard templates I came up with a solution for the bottom mounts first, since they were the least complicated:
I used the same homemade 90 degree sheet metal bender in my 12 ton press that I used to make my engine mounts earlier in my thread. It does wonderful bends:
I used a bi-metal hole saw in my drill press to cut out the lightening holes. Here's how it bracket mounts to the fan bosses on the backside:
I needed to make a clearance notch in the return flange to avoid interference with the drain plug, but otherwise the bracket was pretty straight-forward once I knew what I needed to do:
This final view shows the clearance I gave myself between the bottom of the radiator and the bracket. I didn't want the steel bracket touching any part of the aluminum radiator in order to avoid vibration induced wear:
The upper fan mount was a fair bit more challenging because of all the additional hardware in the way. Getting the right measurements in 3D was the most time consuming part. Here's the upper mount template and first mount:
It sort of looks like a piece of Swiss cheese but once you see it mounted you'll understand why.
On the top I had to make allowances for the radiator cap neck and an aluminum post to stick through (the post is presumably used with a mounting grommet in some other application...)
Then, on the backside I needed to clear the upper rad hose tube and the overflow nipple on the fill neck...
...all the while keeping the four mounting holes aligned with each other and to maintain minimal contact between the aluminum rad and the steel mount:
I'm pretty happy with the way they turned out. Now to make them for the other radiator...
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X-Body
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DEC 20, 10:42 PM
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I like that you took the time to cut the 'race holes' as well as round the whole thing, of course I expected nothing less from you on a bracket no one will ever see once mounted in the car! Nice work as always, hope the finger is holding up.
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Bloozberry
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DEC 21, 08:19 AM
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Thanks X-Body! The "racing" or lightening holes and the rounded contours dropped the weight of the brackets considerably... probably as much as 30% - 40%. Not that it matters much but it really doesn't take that much more time to do, and like you said, it improves the appearance of quality for anyone who does look. 
(The finger is holding up, though still very stiff and uncomfortably swollen.  )
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ccfiero350
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DEC 21, 08:47 AM
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85-308
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DEC 21, 08:52 AM
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Nice, nice work, as is your signature! What material is that? Obviously your press is using a set of dies you made up; I like the radiussed bends vs creased.
I've got a sheet metal bender on my list of things to make up/fix but it will be more 'folded' than rolled/radiussed as you have. Look forward to more posts;
They really help me get motivated!
Edit: "To push it over the top how about flaring the holes!"
- I did not know Summit had stuff like this! Nice post. A full set is a bit pricey but if you were going to 'standardize' on one or two they look good! Would add strength, too. Maybe 3/4 or 1" and then 1.5 or 2" sizes. I suppose you simply use a draw bolt thru the dies, grease up the threads and hope your impact gun is rated as high as the package says! Thx for posting!
GP[This message has been edited by 85-308 (edited 12-21-2014).]
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