Aluminium Heater vents

[black11s]

I'm looking to replace the black plastic vents for the heater and fresh air with aluminium ones as part of a cabin re-trim.
Can anyone help me source these?

I have spoken to a trimmer who has recently done an Audi R8 (apparently the same vents) who said that customer had them machined as bespoke items.
I clearly don't want to go down this particularly expensive route. I can't believe I'm the only person ever to think that ally ones would look better...

All suggestions gratefully received...

[alex_gray255]

Interesting idea... Hmm, I can't think of a company that do them as such. You will probably have to go the bespoke route or find another car make that has them and is compatible.

Another idea might be to chrome the existing ones. You can chrome plastic unless you really want the brushed ally effect.

Maybe someone else has some other ideas as well.

Just had a quick look around and although ally ones exist as aftermarket for various cars, they look crap. They should not be too difficult to make up though. Get the specs to a local engineering company and get them to cost it for you.

Chrome is best I can find http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/mobile/product/Eyeball_...

You'll need to make sure the sizes work.

Did some more digging and found a few threads that raised this question before but with no result. However, found this site which might be useful but again, you would need to match sizes.

http://www.summitracing.com/search/Part-Type/Inter...

Yeah, I know the above is slightly out of synch with your post, but it's late and I'm tired

Edited by alex_gray255 on Thursday 24th May 02:42

[black11s]

alex_gray255 said:

Did some more digging and found a few threads that raised this question before but with no result. However, found this site which might be useful but again, you would need to match sizes.

http://www.summitracing.com/search/Part-Type/Inter...

Yeah, I know the above is slightly out of synch with your post, but it's late and I'm tired

Edited by alex_gray255 on Thursday 24th May 02:42

Alex,

This site looks excellent! There's some pretty cool stuff here.
I quite like this one:
http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/prod/...

Thanks for your help.

[alex_gray255]

Yes, that was the one that caught my eye.

Not sure how it would look on the top vents, but the side vents...

Might do some more research into this as it is an interesting area to look at.

The ally would work as existing fixtures are ally anyway, so would not look out of place...

I haven't got access to my Sag at the moment, so if the dimensions are correct, could you let me know. Thanks!

[sidpinup]

alex_gray255 said:

Yes, that was the one that caught my eye.

Not sure how it would look on the top vents, but the side vents...

Might do some more research into this as it is an interesting area to look at.

The ally would work as existing fixtures are ally anyway, so would not look out of place...

I agree Alex, they look really nice. I don't see why they wouldn't work on the top. I really don't like the standard ones, cheap looking and one of mine has broken. Are they a standard size?

[alex_gray255]

alex_gray255 said:

I haven't got access to my Sag at the moment, so if the dimensions are correct, could you let me know. Thanks!

If someone can measure them up and check they are the right size, then please let me know

[black11s]

alex_gray255 said:

If someone can measure them up and check they are the right size, then please let me know

I think they'd look good on the top too.
The idea is the ally would match nicely with all the other bits.
The only concern I have is that it becomes a loose fit and doesn't hold its position, but we won't know that until they arrive and are fitted.

If there are a few people interested I am happy to negotiate a bulk order for us all (as they are coming from the US and are $70 each!).

[alex_gray255]

I would be in. However, I think we should check the dimensions as best as we can before ordering. And it wouldn't matter too much if the top ones are loose - not like they are going to fall out! (At least, IMHO)

2 for the top
2 for the side vents

Use this one for the under vents (*2)

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/VTA-49393-VUL/

Edited by alex_gray255 on Thursday 24th May 13:14

[V8 GRF]

Obviously different vents but I've been trying to create alloy versions of the ones found in Griffith and Chimaeras.

I've modelled them in CAD and had quotes from people to recreate them but the prices have come out at a non viable level iro £250 to £300 each so those alloy ones from the states are not bad value.

[alex_gray255]

I thought Leven used to do ally vents for the older cars? But tbh, when I saw the pics, I wasn't that impressed... (with the Leven ones that is)

[V8 GRF]

alex_gray255 said:

I thought Leven used to do ally vents for the older cars? But tbh, when I saw the pics, I wasn't that impressed... (with the Leven ones that is)

I'm talking about recreating the whole vent and replacing the nasty plastic inserts, not just the surrounds.

[alex_gray255]

Ah, I only saw pics of what looked like a rectangle so that is probably it.

[RedSpike66]

I think they would be best to stay 'flush fitting' - the domed ones that look like a throttle butterly would spoil the dash top imho.... Group Buy would be good, if there's a design that people all keep saying they like... but need to obtain indicative price for bulk purchase of say, 200 (4 per car). Possibly Sag, T350, Tamora all the same size ??

Perhaps we should look a little closer at what exotic cars have in them like Fezza, Lambo etc 'cos maybe able to just buy from a parts outlet then ??

By the way, my plastic ones rattle about in the top dash, and lift 5mm out of the socket under full fan !!! Aluminium ones would make a right noise if they don't fit properly !!!!

Edited by RedSpike66 on Thursday 24th May 18:13

Edited by RedSpike66 on Thursday 24th May 18:13

[alex_gray255]

RedSpike66 said:

I think they would to stay 'flush fitting' - the domed ones that look like a throttle butterly would spoil the dash top imho.... Group Buy would be good, if there's a design that people all keep saying they like... but need to obtain indicative price for bulk purchase of say, 200 (4 per car). Possibly Sag, T350, Tamora all the same size ??

Perhaps we should look a little closer at what exotic cars have in them like Fezza, Lambo etc 'cos maybe able to just buy from a parts outlet then ??

Edited by RedSpike66 on Thursday 24th May 18:07

There is another smaller version which has the same arrangement as the current one which might be better for the top, but that is in black with ally trimming. I was thinking about that one as a possibility instead myself.

Still reviewing that possibilities for the top and under dash. As long as the dimensions are the same, there is quite a choice.

[RedSpike66]

I'll go measure with my vernier calipers, which I've never used since buying 2 years ago!!

[alex_gray255]

RedSpike66 said:

I'll go measure with my vernier calipers, which I've never used since buying 2 years ago!!

[black11s]

RedSpike66 said:

I'll go measure with my vernier calipers, which I've never used since buying 2 years ago!!

With my bog standard Wickes tape measure, and a torch I reckon they are between 79 and 80mm.
Which in A. Merrycane is about 3 inches and 2 sixteenths...

[alex_gray255]

3.11 inches. Too wide then. That means it would need some inset or filler ring to hold fill the 0.26in gap around it. Or another vent source.

Open to ideas.

[RedSpike66]

Hmmm, well the aluminium cowling on top of my dash is 69/70mm diameter, 2.75inches, using my non-Wickes vernier calipers... is it possible that a Sag and T350 dash could be so different ???

[alex_gray255]

Possible. The vents widths on the site are 2.875 as a standard, so too wide for a Sag potentially.

Unless that extra 0.1 is workable with... ?