Custom Aluminum engine bay mounts

I wanted to upgrade my portable compressor unit to a ARB twin onboard. I wanted to mount it on the passenger side engine compartment but I didn't like the options on the market from some feedback I've read about the mounts rattling or ripping out fender nuts so I decided to make my own. The compressor mount uses 3 bolts on the fender, 2 nuts on the inner wheel well and is made from 1/2" 6061-plate so it's rock solid. I also cut a notch in it to relocate the factory wiring harness clip from the fender to the bottom of the bracket and tapped two holes on the end to mount the ARB manifold.

IMG_2323 by EricT4R, on Flickr

IMG_2325 by EricT4R, on Flickr

IMG_2342 by EricT4R, on Flickr


Next I wanted to make a mount for the Blue Sea Safety Hub 150. I don't see myself running enough lights etc. to justify buying a Switch Pros so I figured this would give me a nice place to tie in a few accessories using relays with the factory style pushbuttons. The panels I found on the market all seemed pretty large to mount multiple items and covered portions of the factory fuse boxes. My truck is a 2017 so I don't have that secondary relay box the newer models do so this is not blocking anything that I would need periodic access to.

IMG_2339 by EricT4R, on Flickr

IMG_2340 by EricT4R, on Flickr

And last but not least I made a new battery hold down strap that would also let me mount a Blue Sea series 285 surface mount breaker to protect the wiring to the safety hub.

IMG_2333 by EricT4R, on Flickr

IMG_2334 by EricT4R, on Flickr

IMG_2343 by EricT4R, on Flickr

 

Very nice work!

 

You got skills.

 

sssoooo when is your online store opening up?

 

That looks fantastic! Somewhere there's a great big pile of aluminum shavings.

 

Thanks fellas! My buddies are making fun of me for having the most over engineered mounts. I own a machine shop and had all the Aluminum plate laying around so I was able to justify it in my own mind lol.

 

That's very impressive. What kinda mill did you use? I see you even tapped it. Very nice.

 

Lol right?!?!?!?!?!

 

I would most likely just get it for the wow factor. Look very well done.

 

HAAS VF2SS

 

Awesome workmanship on those pieces.

 

I just came to show off what I made for my own truck, I'd be a little ways off from making these for sale.

• I'm not a site vendor so I'd need to get that sorted out first.
• These would be the most expensive mounts on the market as a function of the material costs and manufacturing process.
• I haven't fit them or planned any drill locations for any accessories accept the exact ones I used.
• I'd also want to test on a few other trucks (local to St. Johns, FL) to see how the factory tolerances are on the fender mounting locations before I took a bunch of peoples money.
• Probably need 20-30 people interested to make it worthwhile to run and send them out for anodize, etc.

I don't have an online store but I do have a legitimate business and can send out invoices to be paid online so it's not out of the question.

Throwing out some rough numbers of $200 for compressor mount, $150 for the Safety hub mount and $150 for the battery hold down who would be interested?

If you're interested post up which mount(s) you'd want. If there is enough to justify going through the above I can start to nail down some firm pricing and go through the vendor setup process.

 

One other thing I forgot that I did was tap all the holes metric. It pisses me off to no end when aftermarket companies use SAE hardware on a Japanese truck! I don't want to have to pack & carry inch & metric tools out on the trail.

 

You did this at work right?

 

I have two jobs. By day I manage a machine shop for a company that does industrial valve automation for power plants, etc. Nights & weekends I run my own machine shop out of my detached garage that I do prototype and one-off custom parts mostly for other industrial applications. This was all done at my home shop. I don't think the original builder ever planned for a VF2 in the garage with 7' doors lol.

IMG_0029 by EricT4R, on Flickr

 

Wow. Looks like you win for most bad ass tools in the garage.

 

Here's some other less exciting stuff I've made. Next I am going to try my hand at some Aluminum upper control arms for the rear, I already have Metal Cloak joints for them as well. I'm going to try a dogleg shaped arm to gain extra clearance around the gas tank at full droop. After that I'm looking toward a custom rear sway bar that will allow for more travel without binding. I already have the front sway bar removed and want to keep the rear.

Aluminum mount that replaces the cigarette lighter hole with a flanged 1/4"-20 tapped hole to mount a Ram ball. I hate electronics in my line of site or blocking the A/C vents so I wanted it down low.

IMG_1636[1] by EricT4R, on Flickr

IMG_3236 by EricT4R, on Flickr

Mounts for my Tred Pros to Gobi rack

IMG_1652 by EricT4R, on Flickr

IMG_1655 by EricT4R, on Flickr

IMG_1656 by EricT4R, on Flickr

Lower trailing arms with Metal Cloak joints offset at axle side to allow for more droop.

IMG_1837[1] by EricT4R, on Flickr

IMG_1842[1] by EricT4R, on Flickr

 

When all you have is a milling machine, welder, etc, then every problem looks like a beautifully crafted NASA grade accessory with perfect tolerances.


very nice work!