Skid Plates and Hood Inserts

As some of you have read in the thread, Update on Accessories for your VX from Kuwait, I have purchased the molds for the Skid Plates from myamy22 in Kuwait. I think, or hope they arrived today (12/8/08) in New York. It will be a few weeks before I even see them since I and tysamigo, who had ordered a complete set of plates combining the order to share the shipping cost, which was shocking. It will be shipped to him first, then the molds will be forwarded onto me. And being the holiday season am sure it will be delayed even more.

I will be making these skid plates out of fiberglass, not plastic. I also plan on adding a faux carbon fiber hood insert at a later date.

Now, I am only just getting things organized and am in NO position to accept orders or requests yet. Also, I will not be accepting pre-orders or payments until I am ready to make your set. So if you have the money, put it in the bank and draw some interest.

I will be placing a thread under the miscellaneous section of the parts and accessories category at a later date with prices and instructions.

Any estimate on timeframe?
Month, 2, 3, year?
:)
thanks!
Looking very forward to doing business with you.

Thanks silverbullet75, am hoping for just couple of months lead time.

I'm stoked. Tyler, (tysamigo) call me and said our package arrived at his place today from Kuwait. He will be sending me the molds in the next few days, then I can start playing.

saweet!

Just finish placing a order for I hope everything I will need, well, most everything to start the ball rolling. Would be nice to find a faux carbon fiber hood insert under the Christmas tree, Wait, I already have a real one thanks to newthings.

let me know if you get the carbon fiber hood going...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pbkid

let me know if you get the carbon fiber hood going...

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am planning on doing that right away, but it isn't carbon fiber, it is a black fiberglass that looks just like carbon fiber. CF is to hard to work with and 4 times as expensive.

Will they have the hoodscoop molded into them ?

Well, that might come later. Right now I just want to see if I can produce an acceptable insert.

Thought this might be a good time to upload a photo of the plates from Kuwait that tysamigo bought.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSCF1566.JPG

Those look GREAT!:dance:

I'm still game for at least a front plate (raw), once you get the 'factory' up and running.

Are you planning to try a painted option, or will you be leaving that to the customer? (Proton is pretty distinctive and straight-forward, and might suggests an easier match than say, Foxfire, with just the right mix of metallic).

Either way, I still plan to get an un-painted one and have it painted locally, so as to hold them accountable for an acceptable match.

Thanks for this Christmas present, Rowhard. Keep us updated as to the pricing so we (I) can start saving our (my) pennies.:p

workmeistra, you warm the cockles of my heart. Soon my friend, very soon and the price will be very affordable. I will be able to do either primed or painted,.... but of course for a additional charge.

I am hoping to offer the hood inserts for around 300, the fronts for 275, the rears for 250 and the sides for 225 a pair. but that is a wag, but a very close wag, and a high wag at that.

Nice, I’ll be up for some side skids in about 3 months.

Hi roward i'm also interested in those skid plates.

That sounds good,cant wait to see them or buy them

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brian Drinks

That sounds good,cant wait to see them or buy them

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Hey brian are you up for the meeting next year around july ?

PA.NY.NJ.CT vx'ers are invited.

There's a thread for this planned meet;look for the tri-state meeting

Carbon fiber look would be fine with me. Would prefer a scoop but I suppose we will look at that later. My vote would be a 4runner style scoop. I think a scoop like that would match the curves of our car perfectly

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rowhard

Thought this might be a good time to upload a photo of the plates from Kuwait that tysamigo bought.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSCF1566.JPG

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NO WAY!!! Those look CGI... AWESOME!!!

I want a hood insert with a scoop... what pbkid said... (EXCEPT I want primered cause I want to paint mine)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pbkid

Carbon fiber look would be fine with me. Would prefer a scoop but I suppose we will look at that later. My vote would be a 4runner style scoop. I think a scoop like that would match the curves of our car perfectly

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scoop... scoop... scOOP.... SCOOP... SCOOP... SCOOP!!!






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AWESOME:eek:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gussie2000

Hey brian are you up for the meeting next year around july ?

PA.NY.NJ.CT vx'ers are invited.

There's a thread for this planned meet;look for the tri-state meeting

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Sound like a plan can't waint to meet keep me informed thanks.

Wow, totally missed this thread. Very cool. Keep us updated. Think I might be interested in sideskirts and rear plate. :)

Cheers!

Those actually look pretty nice. I might even consider a front skid plate just so I can run without a front license plate. :)

Bart

I'm wetting myself in anticipation...:bgwo:

Well, I can breath a sigh of relief, I have the molds, (arrived today) and most of the supplies needed to start. Just missing a few items like the duratec primer and hi gloss gel coat additive. The molds are a bit rough, so will have to work them to gold plate them and make them glass smooth. Will then make a master set of plugs and molds to set aside. As far as the hood insert go, am working with a local supplier to source the mounting hardware. Want to duplicate the OEM mounting as close as I can since they have already done the engineering on it. Anyway, that is where it stands for now.:)

You are doing an awesome favor for the club. Thank you
You have to "gold plate" the molds?
Please don't forget the hood fangs...unless I am the only person wanting them.
Have a nice Holiday!!

Sorry, gold plate is an expression we use to use in the Air Force when prepping the F-111 for alert duty, 'making it perfect'

Well, things are progressing nicely. I bought a little over 2 grand worth of supplies which have arrived. Have been getting the workshop sorted. Next week, since I have some time, will start getting some work surfaces sorted and mold holders, maybe even gold plate one or two of the molds.

Get'in close, get'in excited.

Really want to see what a faux carbon fiber skid plate looks like, maybe even one in a silver glitterflake like a bass boat if anyone wants a little bling :bwgy:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rowhard

workmeistra, you warm the cockles of my heart. Soon my friend, very soon and the price will be very affordable. I will be able to do either primed or painted,.... but of course for a additional charge.

I am hoping to offer the hood inserts for around 300, the fronts for 275, the rears for 250 and the sides for 225 a pair. but that is a wag, but a very close wag, and a high wag at that.

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this what you are still thinking for price??

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Originally Posted by pbkid

this what you are still thinking for price??

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Well, you know, that was ballparking. I hope I can do it for that if not less. My labor is cheap. Of course I will have to pass on the shipping and handling. It's a case of breaking down the cost of material per part, then figuring in some of Kentucky's finest as overhead and going from there. (Tysamigo can explain 'Kentucky's finest' to you if you don't understand). Hope to maybe be making parts within a month. Of course I have to deal with a flooding workshop about then. Washington, the evergreen state, cause it is all moldy from the friggen rain

sounds good....any hope on doing something like a 4runner hood scoop on the insert??

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pbkid

sounds good....any hope on doing something like a 4runner hood scoop on the insert??

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Count ME in!:bwgy:

Skid plates look great! I'm down for front and sides.

Regarding the hood inserts, is the entire insert made of CF or has anyone simply put an adhesive over the original? I've seen some, but I wonder if the curve of the adhesive would be a problem. I'm sure the adhesive is faux CF though I think i saw a website that claimed it to be real.

Well, I un-packed the molds today since I now have my workshop in working order, can't say the same about me. For sure, they are going to need some work and TLC, they are rough. But that's okay since I still have some time off thanks to fine management where I work. Getting them perfect will be the easy, but time consuming part. Just a case of fill and sand, once they are right will lay a tooling gelcoat on them so I can produce a master set of plugs, then a master set of molds from the new master plugs. As far as the hood insert, still haven't been able to source the mounting hardware. Have a local hardware provider working on that, but no news in 2 weeks. If anyone out there can help me with this, it would be greatly appricated.:)

well would it just be a matter of ordering a fiberglass or plastic insert and then create a mold of it as part of the cladding??

Quan. Part # Description Price
(1) 76181-35901 (Hood Scoop Insert) $82.09
(1) 76182-35020 (Guide) $ 9.77
(1) 76192-35010 (Plate) $ 9.49
(2) 90269-04054 (Rivet) $ .43 (x2 = $ .86)
(4) 75567-21030 (Protector) $ .77 (x4 = $3.08)
(1) 90167-45005 (Screw) $ .52
(1) 76187-35010 (Retainer) $ .64
(4) 76183-12030 (Protector) $ .52 (x4 = $2.08)
(2) 76184-12020 (Protector) $ .52 (x2 = $1.04)
(1) 76185-35010 (Protector) $ 5.04

is something like that helpful?? these are part numbers from toyota
got it from here-
http://www.yotatech.com/f12/wtb-4run...-insert-96001/

let me know if that helps at all...

I'll help finance the hood scoop project, let me know.

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Originally Posted by CrzyFool

I'll help finance the hood scoop project, let me know.

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I would be too, I would rather have a functional molded hood insert vice cutting a hole in my insert, but that is on my list before I go to Moab, the engine bay of the Vx is incredibly hot compared to other vehicles. I would rather have the rear facing scoop, to avoid pushing all kinds of junk into the engine bay. A little screen can only stop so much, I am more interested in letting hot air out than pushing cooler air in. My intake temperature is ridiculous, 20-30 degrees higher than ambient. My expedition is within 3-4 degrees of ambient. (per scan gage) The skid plates look sweet, but certainly not functional as any kind of trail protection?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nfntruth79

I would be too, I would rather have a functional molded hood insert vice cutting a hole in my insert, but that is on my list before I go to Moab, the engine bay of the Vx is incredibly hot compared to other vehicles. I would rather have the rear facing scoop, to avoid pushing all kinds of junk into the engine bay. A little screen can only stop so much, I am more interested in letting hot air out than pushing cooler air in. My intake temperature is ridiculous, 20-30 degrees higher than ambient. My expedition is within 3-4 degrees of ambient. (per scan gage) The skid plates look sweet, but certainly not functional as any kind of trail protection?

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no protection from the plates, they are made of fiberglass...

tomdietrying takes his off in moab every year and leaves them in his tent till he goes to drive home...then he bolts them back on...that way he doesnt screw em up and he can have the look all around the year except for that week in moab...

thats what im planning on doing with them..

Well, after today, I can understand why Ron said,... you know what. It ain't worth it.