yamaha_snopro
New member
anyone ever try and break there own tunnel, thinking about trying to make my own. going to measure the old one and try and build one out of cardboard to see if i can get it close. any imput would be much great. 
ModMMax
New member
Getting the width exact to fit the bulkhead is going to be a challenge. Your only as good as your tools and finding a press that will give you predicatble back to back bend distances may be tough. Running board cooling is just a great feature. Keeps the snow off and stiffens the running boards. Adding RBC's to a homebuilt and making them look good will not be easy. There are so many good looking tunnels available that I would rather pay the G and know I was going to end up with something really "head turner" when finished. Just my .02.
yamaha_snopro
New member
well i have acess to central michigans million dollar metal lab with some cnc metal break. i was thinking of grabing some running board coolers off a fire cat and using them.
i always wondered why people dont use stainless to build a tunnel with. i know it would be heavier but it couldnt be more than a few lbs. even if it was ten the look and extra strength would be worth that tiny bit of weight.
BETHEVIPER said:
You and me both! SS is the way to go if your going to do a brand new bend from scratch.
yamaha_snopro
New member
you guys think stainless and not aluminum?
Yup no doubt.
Like BTV said a lot stronger but a little heavier.
Nice and shiny and minimal oxidation.
If your going to go to the trouble go first class!
Like BTV said a lot stronger but a little heavier.
Nice and shiny and minimal oxidation.
If your going to go to the trouble go first class!
yamaha_snopro
New member
guess i'll have to look into that if the weight penlty isnt too much i may do that. strenght is a big thing that im looking for, its going to be a 121 jumper so that could be an option. is stainless harder to bend that aluminum. its probably a little more expensive?
n2oiroc
New member
i think stainless would be 30+ lbs heavier.
insaneSXR
New member
stainless will be a bit heavier. but it is alot stronger sou you would probably be able to use stainless that is thinner than your stock alluminum tunnel
stainless is way, way harder to form than aluminum.
if your going to do one, let me know, i might be interested in another at the same time
if your going to do one, let me know, i might be interested in another at the same time
8vo fan
New member
I don't believe the weight would be that much different. strenth would be awesome! the price would not be good!
yamaha_snopro
New member
yeah for sure, i think i may try one out of alumnimum first and see how it goes, stainless could be an option for the second.
aSRX600guy
New member
stainless will be easier to weld, if its needed, but the area around the weld will rust.
Go diamond plate!
maybe chrome it too.
Go diamond plate!
maybe chrome it too.
info on bending/breaking sheet metal
I use a book at work just about every day that helps me make engineering decisions which would be of great help to you for determining pre-bend distances for the material, material thickness and bend radius you are going to use. It can even help you determine the optimum bend radius to use.
It is called “Machinery’s Handbook”. It has everything from fastener specs to machining, mathematics to material science, ANSI to European standards and more. Just about anything that is covered in the engineering world is in this book. It is a great desk reference for anyone especially gear-heads that like to work on their own stuff.
The ISBN # on my 24th edition is: 0-8311-2492-X. Any good book store can use this number to order the book for you. I think they are going for about $50 now. I got mine in college about ten years ago for about half that.
Mills
I use a book at work just about every day that helps me make engineering decisions which would be of great help to you for determining pre-bend distances for the material, material thickness and bend radius you are going to use. It can even help you determine the optimum bend radius to use.
It is called “Machinery’s Handbook”. It has everything from fastener specs to machining, mathematics to material science, ANSI to European standards and more. Just about anything that is covered in the engineering world is in this book. It is a great desk reference for anyone especially gear-heads that like to work on their own stuff.
The ISBN # on my 24th edition is: 0-8311-2492-X. Any good book store can use this number to order the book for you. I think they are going for about $50 now. I got mine in college about ten years ago for about half that.
Mills
sxviper32
New member
i hear ya mills on the machinery's... thing is really useful but the professors make it a pain in the ars while in college!!!
Srxspec
Your #1 performance shop!
Machinery's handbook is great, but it's even better when your design software predetermines bend radius, etc for you!!!
Srxspec
Your #1 performance shop!
yamaha_snopro
New member
well i got the first part of my tunnel today. i got two running board cooler for a firecat. im going to cut the sides of the tunnel to make them fit. i want to run the running board coolers and try a reverse U cooler in the back off a ski doo. does any one know if you can by pass the front cooler and remove it completly? i dont see why you couldnt. do you think it will be enough cooling? ill try and post some pics later.