gil7247
VIP Member
I added a rear heat exchanger to my Viper and found the protectors hard to find. So, I decided to make my own.
My total cost for both guards is about 4 bucks! Here's what I did.
1) I used 2- 5 1/2" pieces of old hyfax (free) that I was gonna throw away anyway.
2- 9"pieces of 3/4" by 12ga flatstock (36" piece was $4.99 at ACE)
10) 3/16" pop rivets.
1) old metal coathanger used to make the pattern. (lots easier)
First I used the coathanger and bent it to shape and cut it to length. Then you lay the hanger on the edge of the flatstock and mark your bend points. I then took my demel with a thin grinding disc and scored the inside of the bends. You could use the edge of a file if you don't have the dremel.
Next I bent the stock to match the hanger. Use 2 sets of pliers one on each side of your mark to support the stock and go slow so you don't bend anymore then you have to. (you know what happens to a piece of metal when you bend it back and forth)
Then I drilled the stock on the ends where it will mount to the sled. Now you hold it in place and mark and drill the mount points on the sled. (Remove the seat) and pop rivet the brackets in place.
Last, I cut the hyfax material to the desired length and drilled thru the hyfax and brackets and pop riveted them in place.
If you want you could attach the hyfax off the sled before you pop riveted them on. If not, be sure to put something between the bracket and your exchanger when you drill your hole so when the drill bit breaks through you don't punch a hole in your new exchanger!
The finished product may not be as pretty as OEM, but they will do the same thing and you can't beat the price.
I haven't figured out how to resize my pics yet. Maybe Super1c can throw up the ones I sent him.
Gil
My total cost for both guards is about 4 bucks! Here's what I did.
1) I used 2- 5 1/2" pieces of old hyfax (free) that I was gonna throw away anyway.
2- 9"pieces of 3/4" by 12ga flatstock (36" piece was $4.99 at ACE)
10) 3/16" pop rivets.
1) old metal coathanger used to make the pattern. (lots easier)
First I used the coathanger and bent it to shape and cut it to length. Then you lay the hanger on the edge of the flatstock and mark your bend points. I then took my demel with a thin grinding disc and scored the inside of the bends. You could use the edge of a file if you don't have the dremel.
Next I bent the stock to match the hanger. Use 2 sets of pliers one on each side of your mark to support the stock and go slow so you don't bend anymore then you have to. (you know what happens to a piece of metal when you bend it back and forth)
Then I drilled the stock on the ends where it will mount to the sled. Now you hold it in place and mark and drill the mount points on the sled. (Remove the seat) and pop rivet the brackets in place.
Last, I cut the hyfax material to the desired length and drilled thru the hyfax and brackets and pop riveted them in place.
If you want you could attach the hyfax off the sled before you pop riveted them on. If not, be sure to put something between the bracket and your exchanger when you drill your hole so when the drill bit breaks through you don't punch a hole in your new exchanger!
The finished product may not be as pretty as OEM, but they will do the same thing and you can't beat the price.
I haven't figured out how to resize my pics yet. Maybe Super1c can throw up the ones I sent him.
Gil
super1c
Super Moderator
gil7247
VIP Member
Thanks Chris!
FJViper
New member
Nice job Gil! Cheap money and very servicable. "Necessity is the mother of invention" right? 
Sweet! Pretty beefy lookin.
sleddineinar
VIP Member
Good job!
rx1jim
New member
Nice job, they should be very effective!
I love seeing people use a little ingenuity.. looks great!