Replica TRD Fuel Lid

[03TigerCelica]

Before anyone gets too excited, I haven't fabricated one, just wondering if anyone has put a lot of thought into it and would it be that difficult to reproduce. I know a lot of people are interested in these, but the $250+ is a steep price tag. I think I read somewhere that a guy with an xB tried to make them. Not sure if he had any success.

[2KGTrd]

I've considered it, but it would look very raw and more race status. you could make a mold and make something nice. HELL I might start that.

[Jsnake513]

Do it.

[Jsnake513]

http://i822.photobucket.com/albums/zz146/mrkevindshore/IMAG0081.jpg

plexiglass?

[2KGTrd]

If i did it, the replica would be make from a mold so its a complete factory match swap like the trd one. and rivets would be used to secure it to the original system

[2gracer]

strangely the plexi doesn't look bad to me...I'd need to see shots from farther away...but ya you think you'd find nice knock offs from hong kong on ebay for super cheap....seems easy enough....if we only had ACCESS!!!!

[Muirner]

plexiglass?

You could get smoked plexy to boot.

[RWCustoms]

i was thinking of making one (not plexiglass). Still deciding. doesn't seem too hard

[horty222]

Guess what we are getting at work? A new plasma table..... I will be able to cut just about any material....... but ill skip on this for now.
The plexi smoked would look nice... they also make them in various colors.

[Joey03_VVT-I]

:thumbup:-Interesting. Good luck!

[R I C H I E]

Do it!!!

[johny123456]

I took a look at mine and it seems possible.

[Muirner]

A new plasma table

Really! That could be interesting if you decide to produce some

[2gracer]

I will be able to cut just about any material....... but ill skip on this for now.

ya skip on this, you're supposed to be making a full underbody panel that connects into the fender liners, has a hole for oil changes, adds 15 hp and 6 mpg, is less than $50 (shipped!), tunes the ecu and has a nice low sound on the outside but can't be heard inside the cabin! If I remember correctly it's gonna be done next week too so you should focus on that if you ask me :eat pop:

now get to work!!! :whip:

:chuckles: ok maybe we're asking too much... hahaha

[horty222]

Wow, lol
The yes: oil change door, connect to wheel liners, possible add ons for more panels.

The no: hp gains? $50 shipped lol, completed next week damn.

[Koolsilver]

I'm sure if someone made this lid and it turned out nice many people including myself would jump on it.

[2KGTrd]

In the process of designing this as you type

[03TigerCelica]

In the process of designing this as you type

I'm glad I started this thread. I will most definitely be a customer if the price is right.:D

[Muirner]

I'm glad I started this thread. I will most definitely be a customer if the price is right.:D

+1, cant wait to see your final product.

[Blue Bomber]

Clear epoxy + a mold could work, though you'd need to retrofit the OEM hinge onto it unless you have connections.

[horty222]

Looked at it today, the plexiglass will not work. There is a slight curveature to the lid. unless plexi glass can be formed? Doubt it though

[2KGTrd]

Molds are drying. Hoping to make a prototype tomorrow :)
If I can keep the cost down it will come with a custom bracket similar to the TRD so you can show off your fuel cap.

[03TigerCelica]

Molds are drying. Hoping to make a prototype tomorrow
If I can keep the cost down it will come with a custom bracket similar to the TRD so you can show off your fuel cap.
_____________

:king:

[horty222]

Nice!!!! good job...

[gt-s02]

kool... Let us know the results....

[Koolsilver]

Wow quick progress can't wait to see. Only issue is with this we'll just be showing off our ugly plastic caps.

[03TigerCelica]

Only issue is with this we'll just be showing off our ugly plastic caps.

Good point. We need a solution to this problem. :laugh:

[2KGTrd]

^That's why you pick up the trd fuel cap.

[03TigerCelica]

^I've been doing a quick search for them. Not having much luck, other than the cover that goes over the stock cap.

[faded]

i need one asap...my **** fell off....
i was wondering do you drill out the old hinges?

[Pool Playen Bob]

take a punch and knock out the center part of the rivet. then drill out the rivet connected to the body with a drill bit slightly larger then the hole you just punched through.

[Joey03_VVT-I]

:popcorn::eatpop:

[ateens4]

ok

[faded]

then insert and re revit?
how deep do i drill...
and i wont hit my gas tank or lines right?

[Blue Bomber]

Looked at it today, the plexiglass will not work. There is a slight curveature to the lid. unless plexi glass can be formed? Doubt it thoughYou can. Just need to heat it evenly, and have something to form it over.

[trdmsprts27]

That's why you pick up the trd fuel cap.

those are discontinued

[2KGTrd]

So how would ya'll prefer this work I have two options when it comes to the hinge.

option one:
Use the OE hinge on the body side.
This will work by removing the hinge pin to take the fuel door off instead of drilling out the rivets.
You then use the same hinge pin to connect the new door.

**this way involves the least amount of power tools.

option two:
A complete new hinge and mounting bracket. will require drilling of the old rivets and new rivets with a custom hinge.

**this way will raise the price and me more involved.


give me your thoughts

[03TigerCelica]

I like option 1 for the easier install.

[03TigerCelica]

Do you have a ballpark estimate of the price of each option? I know with custom fabrication there are unexpected problems that may come up and increase cost, just curious.

[2KGTrd]

For option two I'm estimating $150 shipped. $130 shipped for option one. These prices are now set yet and could change

There will also be an option for your door to be tinted or clear.
The tinted ones will be an extra $10

[03TigerCelica]

Post up some pics of the prototype when you get around to it. I can't wait to see it.

[hekickedmydog]

I can't wait to see how these will turn out! Sounds like a reasonable price too :thumbup:

[2KGTrd]

link to new thread. GO VOTE!
http://www.newcelica.org/forums/showthread.php?t=333310

[Jsnake513]

http://www.clubxb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24781

[03TigerCelica]

I think I read somewhere that a guy with an xB tried to make them. Not sure if he had any success.

http://www.clubxb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24781 (http://www.clubxb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24781)

So I see he had some success then. Thanks for doing the research.

[2KGTrd]

prototype came out great! my mold needs a little more work though :marky:

[RWCustoms]

option two:
A complete new hinge and mounting bracket. will require drilling of the old rivets and new rivets with a custom hinge.

**this way will raise the price and me more involved.

i like option 2 because my hinge need replacing anyways and id use bolts/screws rather than rivets

[Pool Playen Bob]

yeah, hinges always rust out and fall of in like 4 years. if you dd yours snow, rain and all.

faded you'll have to check out youtube to get a full grasp of how it works. or a visual.

but take something that will fit in the middle hole. knock out the center part. then take a drill bit just larger then the hole you punched through. you'll drill it until the head actually drills itself off the stud. then take a punch and punch out the rest of the stud.

really is like a 2 second job if you have the tools. if i end up picking up one of these lids being made i'll make a video just to clear it up. some of these videos don't show anything. i just spent like 20 minutes looking for a video of this application. not alot.

anyway's you'll need new rivets and a rivet gun to install the new fuel door. so if you don't have on it might be worth the 20 bucks to have a shop do it for you. or invest and learn.

[2KGTrd]

FML. just when i was getting a move on this I hit a sink hole in my buddies club cart and broke his rack n pinion...so i gotta buy his cheap ass a new one. hopefully this wont slow **** down.

[Pool Playen Bob]

im sure people don't mind man. time and money is everything. even if it takes longer. its not an easy task to produce these in masses.

[blitzceli]

What are you making it out of? If your using epoxy, I cant imagine you getting a clear lid without voids. Unless your degassing it. Even then it will be brittle.

Horty plexy or clear polycarbonate can be formed. Its actually quite easy. You have a vac set funnel from a board with 100s of tiny holes drilled in it. Around the edge you have some for of rubber. You put the poly in a over with it sandwiched between a frame. When it started to sag, pull it out and fli the vac switch and press the frame to the base. The vac will pull the poly around your mold. Let dry and trim. I helped do some mr2 flush mounts and a etched plexi trim part for James Stewarts navigator. Look at vacuforming. Some vids are on youtube.

Another concern. I think the lid is actually glass. They do not stress crack like the headlights (polycarbonate). I have yet to see one do this so Im leaning toward saying it is glass. Toyota is making alot of the higher end cars lights out of glass, they even switched to glass in 98 for the supra. So they did have the machinery to make them in 00.

[03TigerCelica]

We need to see if they have good fuel cap covers anywhere so we won't be showing off our stock cap. I've tried searching and haven't found anything spectacular. Anybody else find anything good?

[darkshadowceli]

this looks like your only option.
http://www.boomplustoys.net/trd_harrier.shtml

[trd_gts]

Is there any way u can have the door a darker shade tint around the door and less in the center. pretty much like the trd one, focusing on the cap window.

[2KGTrd]

yes its doable but the reason its lighter is because the frame isnt in the center.

[03TigerCelica]

Progress? Pictures?

[2KGTrd]

Mold I have makes too big of a door. so yet again I have to update my molds.

I'll add a pic of the best prototype in a few

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nzd4OEZJ-U4/TiX_xD-C9eI/AAAAAAAABlY/_TlDO5qjrms/s640/IMG_20110719_180459.jpg

[RWCustoms]

keep it up!

[hekickedmydog]

Almost there man, it looks great!!! :)

[2KGTrd]

The hardest part is shaping the edge so that it curves back really sharp like the OE door. That one took three heat cycles and started to bubble bc it got so hot.

[Blue Bomber]

Make the shape, then cast it in epoxy resin. There are UV stable ones out there that can be tinted.

[03TigerCelica]

How are things coming?

[Iwritetickets]

That looks cool.

[2KGTrd]

No progress as of recent. I've been trying to figure out what to do about my molds.

[Joey03_VVT-I]

:eatpop:-Update?

[2KGTrd]

Talking with shops about molds that wont melt with the 250 degree stock.
Also considering a urethane sport m lip replica.

[bman365]

How did you plan on doing the hinge and catch for the latch?

[Xtra Big Kahuna]

Hey just out of curiosity what are you using to make the door? I need something similar to make a custom piece for the interior and what you are using looks like it would work well.

[2KGTrd]

i'll conversate that over a pm until i finish the item.
I planned on making the hinge out of aluminum and very similar to the OE style.
But it looks as if i'll have to make an entire assembly because when i was taking it apart you have to bend the metal and some ppl's could break.
Then they'd be in some real ****. so i'm just gonna include a whole hinge.

[bman365]

The lid is the easy part to make..hinge seems a little difficult. I was thinking of snatching the hinge off an old fuel lid and gluing it to the plexi lid.

[2KGTrd]

ill do like toyota did and rivet everything together with black rivets

[bman365]

Only thing is..if you aren't careful acrylic will crack if it pulls too tight.

[Pool Playen Bob]

could mold in a washer. help eliminate that risk. with the diameter the size of the rivet head.

[2KGTrd]

i'll do a lof of testing in it first

[Muirner]

If you need a tester let me know ;)

[2KGTrd]

^
I'll keep that in mind.
I've got a few FL guys who I want testing first.
RI's weather is much nicer than FL though, and I really wanna push the test doors through hell first.

[03TigerCelica]

Any news?

[guateracer1]

^
I'll keep that in mind.
I've got a few FL guys who I want testing first.
RI's weather is much nicer than FL though, and I really wanna push the test doors through hell first.

You mean worse right:chuckles: at least you have a nice warm climate through out the year

[2KGTrd]

^Working on adapting the OE hinge...Its not looking good.

[I am Anonymous]

florida has felt like 100 every day this week, i thought it was suposed to be fall. also it is always raining and storming here, and it is usualy very humid. but thats summer the rest of the year is pretty good. one of the rings on my hinge broke. it was fixed, but just by welding on something similar, but its not a perfect fit, so it rattles with the bass. i put sound deadening and some foam to stop the rattle.

[ginobendezu]

how are things coming? also interested in the underbody panel

[2KGTrd]

it hasnt lately. Sorry. I'll try and work on it more over winter break from school