question on underbody plastics

[Iroke17]

so i got a vielside replica front bumper well the plastics underneth are not even close to matching up so i was wondering i can get 4x6 sheets of aluminum dimond plate sheets at work to make to new panels that cover the entire bottom on engine will this hurt anything like should i put air holes in it anywhere.
i plan on starting it tomorrow night so faster awsners the better.
thanks in advance.

[sc2jz]

why dont u just throw them away??? get you some flat steal and bolt into the frame to the bottom of the bumper and your good to go?

[Iroke17]

im not putting the plastics back on i want to make an aluminum dimond plate panel

[Iroke17]

i dont want it all exposed...

[sc2jz]

RICE = dimond plate why dont u go to lowes and get a sheet of stainless and cut it with a sawzall to the shape you need cuz a 4X6 is not just gonna fit your going to need to cut and trim it

also i got this for you http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/1549/ricebowl.jpg (http://img72.imageshack.us/i/ricebowl.jpg/)

[Shizuma]

^ It's on the bottom of the car so I'm not sure anyone will see it :gap:.

Anyway, other than being a bit on the heavy side (depending on the gauge you're talking about) you shouldn't have any real problems. I can't remember if the stock underbody plastics have any holes directly behind the radiator or not, if they don't I wouldn't worry about it. First make some cardboard templates (cardboard is a helluva lot cheaper and easier to work with than aluminum) and mock everything up. Also keep them for when (not if) you rip one of the aluminum pieces off. I'd also look into beefing up the supports and attaching the actual plates with something more sturdy than the POS plastic retainers Toyota provided.

[jameseshepherd]

I have a solid 1/4" sheet of aluminum (skid plate for rally car) under the rad and engine and no overheating problems so I don't see any need for holes, etc unless you are wanting to access your oil

[yodaddyguido]

the only holes are near the wheel wells. the panels dont seal the engine in just guide the air into the radiator, through the bay, and out by where the midpipe meets the headers from what i can see. they do improve cooling efficiency though. my car ran considerably warmer (fan kicked on a LOT more and temp rose quicker) when the panels werent installed.

[Iroke17]

ok its not rice i just want aluminum it dosent rust... and its on the bottom of the dam car no one is looking down there. and yea i know i have to fab it thus the frabication forum... im putting it up on the lift and making it on there. so i should make a path for air to the radiator. and its thin so its not heavy or hard to cut by any means.

[Iroke17]

You greatly affend sea side graphics (NOT SPEAKING FOR THEM its just in their gallery)
http://www.newcelica.org/photopost/data/500/5474our_car_for_new_celica_8.jpg
here some rice dimond plate for ya, ya slut.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh316/squeegeeninja4183/IMG00065.jpg

[Aznboi812]

buy the beatrush underpanel. problem solved

[sc2jz]

You greatly affend sea side graphics (NOT SPEAKING FOR THEM its just in their gallery)
http://www.newcelica.org/photopost/data/500/5474our_car_for_new_celica_8.jpg
here some rice dimond plate for ya, ya slut.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh316/squeegeeninja4183/IMG00065.jpg

EWWWWW ^^^^ yeh RICE

[vegeta4ss]

buy the beatrush underpanel. problem solved
that panel only covers 85% of the engine bay but that's a huge start. There's still some plastic side paneling that has to fold on top. This person would still have to fab up the side panels if they wanted it all aluminum under there. I plan on making those side panels eventually for my underpanel.

[igaveSC2jz.aidz]

ehhhhh, im gonna have to agree. the rice factor on that idea is at 100%
you might be better off doing something like this

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll261/mightymanitoba/diamondplatetruck.jpg haha

[DopeCelicaGT]

Just get the Beatrush AL panel and you will be fine. This is all I have on my car and everything is great. The fenderwells and everything are still there and just fine without the other plastics being involved. I understand your concern with the whole thing not being covered as I was the same way, but you should be fine. The most important thing to protect IMO is the oil pan and this panel does that as well as protect most everything else down there. The only thing you might have to worry about is your engine bay getting dirtier or getting dirtier faster but other than that you should be just fine with just the panel alone. If a dirty engine bay bothers you then just detail it more often. Back in the day cars did not have all of these underpanels and whatnot. They had one little piece located a little behind the front bumper that was to help direct air towards the radiator, but other than that there wasn't anything protecting anything other than the actual frame of the car.

[igaveSC2jz.aidz]

Just get the Beatrush AL panel and you will be fine. This is all I have on my car and everything is great. The fenderwells and everything are still there and just fine without the other plastics being involved. I understand your concern with the whole thing not being covered as I was the same way, but you should be fine. The most important thing to protect IMO is the oil pan and this panel does that as well as protect most everything else down there. The only thing you might have to worry about is your engine bay getting dirtier or getting dirtier faster but other than that you should be just fine with just the panel alone. If a dirty engine bay bothers you then just detail it more often. Back in the day cars did not have all of these underpanels and whatnot. They had one little piece located a little behind the front bumper that was to help direct air towards the radiator, but other than that there wasn't anything protecting anything other than the actual frame of the car.

+1

[sc2jz]

^^^ +2

[celicajonz]

+3

[edg3h_91]

4+

[Iroke17]

wow you all can add lol i want it because in indiana where i live we have alot of **** on the roads in the back country lol.. how much is the beatrush panel i dont have much money for things these days. thats why i was going to make my own cheeper. i can get 2 4x6 sheets for 80 bucks and cutting and fitting is no problem i do it all the time saves me tons on my 4runner... as to the truck up top it looks photoshoped....

[flcelica02]

$200 not including shipping from kamispeed

[Iroke17]

see thats kinda outa my price range... alot of money when i can make my own for a 1/4 of cost.

[Pool Playen Bob]

do it up! make your own. if anything your gonna gain experience. just put the diamonds face down. and build it to the way you want. i thought about doing this myself.
don't let these guys talk you out of it. most of these guys couldn't build a card house let alone doing something and calling it there own.

more power to you. post picks when your done. and maybe look into a non diamond plate in the future for when you want to perfect this panel. maybe make it so that if you ever decide to change that front bumper again you can just swap out a front section instead of removing and making a whole panel. would be an idea :shrugs:

[Iroke17]

oh there not talking me out of it all i wanted to know is if to make holes for air... ill defiantly post picks i plan on making it to it go under the bumper bottom for more strength in case i hit an animal or something also might put a square that is removable with out taking whole thing off to access the oil bolt and filter.
question what is different from diamond plate to normal i think the diamonds would hold up better from stones. and you would see small dents in it if someone looks at it.

[Pool Playen Bob]

eh. stones or not. its just and under panel. not alot is gonna get underneath it. just make it how you like it. and if you feel you need to add slots/holes/vents you can later down the road. id concentrate more on getting it to fit and bolt up then anything right now. then you can cut slits and make your own vents to it. maybe bend the slits out to get some good flow. but that'll be later down the road. concentrate on getting to fit. then function.

[Iroke17]

ok its not a problem i can get it done in a few hours i was thinking making slits and bending them down to catch more air and push it up to the radiator?

[Pool Playen Bob]

thats kinda what i was thinking. how thick is it? should be easy enough to bend and manipulate around.

[Iroke17]

yea its not thick at all make 1/8 or so not sure exatly

[Iroke17]

i can bend it with my hands if i try hard enough

[Shizuma]

ok its not a problem i can get it done in a few hours i was thinking making slits and bending them down to catch more air and push it up to the radiator?

You mean louvers? I wouldn't even bother for two reasons:

1) It's going to be easier to make if it's simple. And if it's easier to make it will turn out better.
2) By putting this panel on you'll be ducting air to the radiator from the front bumper anyway. Cutting holes before the air reaches the radiator will just give the air somewhere to escape from before you force it through the radiator.

[igaveSC2jz.aidz]

hahaha, +4, hot damn! i mean, if you live in bum f_ck then i suppose it makes sense, but then again, if i lived in bum f_ck i probably wouldnt be driving a celly. good luck! and that truck may be photoshopped, idk. whether it is or isnt. looks like ridiculousness on wheels.

[SouthrnMudslngR]

ya'll are dumbasses....i'm not one for "rice" but its on the underneath!!!! If any of ya'll see the car on the road u would most likely not be able to tell he even has it on there. So what does it matter? He just wants something practical and cheap at the same time.

And Iroke when ur done u can come down to Texas and help me make one for my car!! lol.