Finally the Snorkel begins

[Pete38]

Well with Rupert looking at my BECM I decided it was time for the guard to come off and begin the snorkel.

I'm quite happy with the forming of the pipe in the guard. Loses some section of the 75mm PVC but its nice and smooth and better than what I first thought it was going to be. I used the BBQ and it's warming rack to get a consistently softened state as it worked better than the heatgun.

Looks like the wheel arch guard is almost in the same spot as it's meant to be so minimal reworking of that.

So next step is to form the Snorkel periscope part. Thinking of giving PVC a go again as it's easy to form and can be formed to change shape a little as it comes through the bonnet and guard. I'll spray plastic primer on it and then find a lightly textured paint in the hope it looks the goods.

But 75mm PVC is hard to source (the piece I got I found at work after trying 3 places who's websites say the have it... but supposedly not) as 80mm is more readily available. The 75mm appears to be thin walled storm water is what I want as it fits in the 76mm ID silicon pieces easily and while it's is less in OD than the thicker walled 80mm its likely similar inner sectional area. But work only had like a 1.5m length so not enough. The quest continues.

[davidsonsm]

Looks great. It'll be great. Keep on truckin.

[Keithy P38]

That looks the goods!

[Pete38]

Thanks guys.

So I have removed the inner restricter pipe/tube bit that slides into the tube part of the airbox from the late model airbox. Yeh could have described that clearer ha ha.

And it looks like the 76mm ID silicon bend (intercooler stuff) fits through the inner guard hole perfectly. Trimmed the silicon pipe so it only just goes through the inner guard and gonna silicon the silicon pipe round the outside on both sides of the inner guard and silicon the airbox trumpet to the inside of the inner guard if that makes sense. So should be sealed on both sides of the inner guard. Hope the bond is enough to hold the silicon pipe sealed (Silicon to painted metal should be good I think, and assume silicon to silicon pipes should be good.

Got to buy clamps for silicon hoses to PVC pipe as I don't want to rely on only silicon as it doesn't bond that well to pvc I've read (roughened though).

And the hardest part of all, source some 75mm OD stormwater pipe. 80mm won't be as tidy to get through the outer guard (hole cut) and the bonnet and harder to fit in the silicon bends (although I guess I could lathe it down for the joints worst case (not that easy to setup in the lathe though)

[bee utey]

Someone in a plumbers supply shop once told me that 75mm stormwater pipe was mainly sold in SA, the other states get heavier rain and use 90mm. I've got it all over the place at home and it's still available new. Mind you, I'd hesitate to use it for an external air duct as any decent impact on a cold day would shatter it. I'd use 3" exhaust tube instead.

[Pete38]

Someone in a plumbers supply shop once told me that 75mm stormwater pipe was mainly sold in SA, the other states get heavier rain and use 90mm. I've got it all over the place at home and it's still available new. Mind you, I'd hesitate to use it for an external air duct as any decent impact on a cold day would shatter it. I'd use 3" exhaust tube instead.

The thought had crossed my mind, but truth be told I figured that seeing the snorkel is up the pillar then if I'm hitting something up there thats hard I'll be less concerned about the snorkel. And if the snorkel periscope breaks then it's no biggy as the car is still drivable. And I can make another one at a cost of a few hours work and $10.

But in saying that, I might still consider a stainless 3 inch pipe further down the track.

[Pete38]

Snorkel molded/bent but some of the bends don't look perfect so have bought some plastibond that I will mould and sand to make it look smoother. Seems to bond well to the pvc (slightly roughened) but time will tell if it stays on during vibrations and any flexing.

Also bought some textured spray paint (hammered) so it doesn't look as smooth as PVC does.

[finallyrangie]

watching this with great interest, internals look really good and I am looking forward to seeing the finished article, well done

[TheTree]

Hi Pete

Did you ever get this finished?

For the "under the guard" bit I am looking at using either modelling foam or expanding foam in a garbage bag to create a positive mould i can then fibreglass over to create a tube which fills the space

Then I am going to get a stainless snorkel fabricated to go into the guard.

That's my current thinking anyway

Steve