Help with an idea - fabricate a front-boot

[havoc]

I'm trying to create more storage space in the NSX, and without the spare wheel there's an irregular space between the radiator fan and the battery/bulkhead, with minium dimensions 14cm x 36cm x 45cm (possibly a little deeper than 14, but would need to drop the 45 to ~43 and create some sort of 'footpad' for it). Not huge, but enough to fit some odd car-kit for a holiday (tyre weld, oil, small tool-kit, first-aid kit, etc.), take the pressure off packing stuff in the boot.

Now my idea is this:-
- Take a plastic or mesh waste-paper bin with floor dimensions close to 14x36
- Cut the top down as necessary
- Drill a hole for the screw-retaining bracket
- Fit some rubber 'feet'/'backing' to make sure it doesn't move or vibrate when screwed into place.
- (Optionally) line it to avoid stuff rattling around too much.


I'm having two problems at the moment
- the critical one is finding a bin of the right dimensions - our friend the internet isn't helping much. Anyone got anything suitable, and if so where did you buy it?
- the second one is knowing whether I'll be blocking too much airflow from exiting the radiator - has anyone done anything like this before, and how did you get on???

Any other suggestions/comments?

Cheers,

Martin.

[egomeister]

Got a pic of the proposed location?

My initial reaction would be that it's a bad idea if it is an area which could affect cooling performance...

[havoc]

I'll take a pic later/tomorrow and post it up.

I take your point about cooling, but my thoughts are so long as I don't physically blank-off the rad-fan exit, then it shouldn't be too bad...the car doesn't spend much time in traffic anyway!

[KILL SWITCH]

havoc said:

Any other suggestions/comments?

[Deluded]

tape off the area you want to make a boot out of and fibreglass it. Much like making a fibreglass sub box (search for a tutorial on google).

This will give you the "bin" which will be the exact shape of the hole.

[havoc]

Deluded said:

tape off the area you want to make a boot out of and fibreglass it. Much like making a fibreglass sub box (search for a tutorial on google).

This will give you the "bin" which will be the exact shape of the hole.

Not a bad idea...


Oh...Killswitch, you are a sick man!

[williamp]

Another idea: chicken wire (be careful of scratching paint, plastic trim etc) but this can be made into a shape.

Removed this,a dn you will have a mould of the shape. From this, you can fibergalss it away from the car.

[havoc]

Right, finally took some photos and uploaded them (took them at the weekend then house-selling/buying stuff kicked off and now have time to breathe), which are below.

I've found a kitchen-type storage box with a hinged lid that, while not huge, will take all the car-stuff we need (if it was a little deeper you could fit 3-4 bottles of wine in a row) - about the same dimensions as the ammo box, probably a little taller. It fits just between the two hoses and is about 2/3 the depth of the metal footplate. So likely to go with that, unless anyone has another suggestion.

[mat13]

Couldn't you weld a couple of tie down points in and just strap a small removable case in whenever your going away somewhere?

[Engineer1]

You may want to check that anything you put in doesn't affect the airflow through the radiator and fan, so a wire cage with stuff in waterproof containers.

[thinfourth2]

Google a company called soft bits for sevens

They will be able to make you a soft bag that will be waterproof and will fit perfectly

[vrooom]

That bay need a clean with good rust rubbing down.

[havoc]

Engineer1 said:

You may want to check that anything you put in doesn't affect the airflow through the radiator and fan, so a wire cage with stuff in waterproof containers.

Already thought about that - I'm avoiding filling in more than 2/3 of the front-to-back depth to make sure the air can still flow to some degree.

Bespoke bag - nice idea, probably too £££ - I'd rather fibreglass it (which I may still do if it becomes a long-term keeper).

[Ian974]

Depending on the size of stuff you want to fit, I'd agree with the tie down straps, the big bracket just looks ideal for that.
If it was originally for a spare, then unless you were putting something fairly big in I wouldn't imagine you'd have any cooling issues, the wheel would have restricted things to a degree anyway?

[Engineer1]

How about a wheel/tyre bag? like this:
ebay
should sit in the same space as the removed wheel.

[PeteG]

vrooom said:

That bay need a clean with good rust rubbing down.

Quite.