EOI: Radiator support bar replacement

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Wed Mar 06, 2019 12:39 pm

For those who are interested in efficiently ducting their cars, replacing the OEM radiator support bar with a slimmer one makes ducting simpler and MUCH more efficient since you don't have a massive flat plate of metal blocking off 40% of the flow.

A MT.net member is now producing these for US$150:
https://www.miataturbo.net/miata-parts-sale-trade-5/radiator-support-bars-more-airflow-cooling-99508/

It is made out of 1"x1" box tube and weighs in at only 5.5lbs (2.5kg)

Would anyone be interested in a mini-Group Buy of 4 of these to keep it under the A$1,000 import duty limit?

Alternatively, anyone interested in making these locally?

MX5NBpsi · Postby **MX5NBpsi** » Wed Mar 06, 2019 3:19 pm

that wouldn't be a hard thing to have made here i made something similar for my Toyota Chaser

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Wed Mar 06, 2019 3:49 pm

I've queried Dann on it since, due to the size, I fear S&H would be about the same price as the bar itself.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Wed Mar 06, 2019 3:53 pm

Just make it yourself. The picture is clear enough so just buy some tube and plate and get a shop to weld it for you.

MX5NBpsi · Postby **MX5NBpsi** » Wed Mar 06, 2019 3:55 pm

i tried to post this before doesn't look like it came through that would of cost me maybe $100-$150 in materials and it was strong i could stand on it

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Wed Mar 06, 2019 4:06 pm

I doubt Dann would be inerested in making such a low value item.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Wed Mar 06, 2019 4:51 pm

As mentioned above, it's not a complex piece.

It's two flat pieces, which can easily be made at home with a grinder and drill.
Even a hacksaw if you're keen.

Most complex piece is the bent box section in the middle.
but even that would be a pretty easy job for a shop with a bender (and you could prob just use round pipe rather than box section so that a pipe bender would do it no problem)

MX5NBpsi · Postby **MX5NBpsi** » Wed Mar 06, 2019 5:00 pm

You can buy 90 and 45 degree bends in 20mm tube just join it all together with some straight and your ready to go

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Wed Mar 06, 2019 10:38 pm

Agreed that it's not a complex piece if you have all the tools needed and can weld yourself.

I don't have a bending machine nor welding equipment so it's not something I'm prepared to spend time on and still need to outsource the welding.

US$150 is ~ A$212 which should be bumped up a bit if manufactured in Australia since raw materials and labour are more expensive.

A$250 is a price I'd be happy to pay for an Aussie assembled version (manufacturer needs to make some profit otherwise it's not worth their time).

Anyone else care to chime in on this? (I'm hoping someone will volunteer to make them, once a decent template is created, using it to create additional one should be easy - figuring out the initial bar bends is probably the most time consuming part).

Postby **NitroDann** » Thu Mar 07, 2019 9:21 am

Ill get the end plates laser cut, and the tube bent and welded, supply the bolts and post them to Simon (Lokiel) so he can distribute them for a very competitive price if you guys want a few.

It is an easy job, and I am keen to make it happen if there are enough people to justify a short production run.

Here is a couple of photos of similar work we have done.

Dann

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Thu Mar 07, 2019 10:02 am

Well there you go, we have a potential manufacturer, now we just need to come up with the price and numbers for the short production run.

Dann, can you guesstimate an item cost?
What's the minimum you'd consider for a short production run?
Are there any NA/NB differences (I'm guessing not)?

One thing to keep in mind with limited production run items is that they tend to be very infrequent and many end up being once-off runs only.
ie. If you're thinking about improving your cooling "one day" but not just yet, consider purchasing it and storing it away until you're ready to use it, otherwise it may not be available. You can always sell it later if it's not wanted because someone is always going to want to improve their cooling/ducting (you'll probably even make a profit if there are no further production runs).

Please add your name and state to the list if you're interested.
If there's enough interest, it would be nice to arrange orders based on state so that they could be shipped directly to the destination state for distribution from a buyer rather than from Dann to me in QLD , then to the final destination.

1. Lokiel (QLD, NB)
2.
3.
4.
5.

I'd consider purchasing an extra 2 for subsequent sale to make this happen.