Dang Bumper Tabs! Again?!? Permanent Solution Time

http://hackaday.com/2016/09/12/wazer-the-waterjet-for-your-garage/

 

Trust me, I know all about that. Its on my radar, but I dont have the $4500-$6000 to buy one.

 

My hope is that @Maisonvi can mass produce this for Pu's as an alternative option, if needed. And him making a few bucks off of making manufacturing arrangements/assembling kits/shipping/etc. would be awesome because he's basically doing me a huge favor by donating his time/expertise and coordinating me getting a set custom fabbed. SO appreciative to him. If he can make some money for all his hard work toward the end of helping other Pu owners, all the better. Rewarding kindness like his is a good thing.

 

Think this is the start of our plan.

 

Hey man, I don't mind helping out one bit. I'm just sorry it took so long to get you the design/parts

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

No worries at all!

 

Initial Results (just relative to driver’s side, since that’s all we’ve worked with)

1. The left slot (side nearest the front of the car) looks perfect. With the adjustment range built in with the slots, I should be able to get the stud exactly where I need it:


2. The slot nearer the wheel, however, needs moved ~1/4” to the right. I’d normally just hog out the latch mounting hole more, but I’ve already done so and am dangerously close to the threshold around the latch not fully covering the drilled hole, I have it set all the way to the very bottom-right of the slot, and there’s still not quite enough room:



Because of this, we may need to add a little extra material for strength, like this (@Maisonvi would know much better than me):

Also, I think adding a bottom reinforcement tab identical to the top one would be a good idea, since I’ll be using the lower-most range of the slot for the stud nearest the tire on this side.

No clearance issues with the studs anymore, and with only 3 shims:


Excited for the next step and more updates!

 

Just got v2! Thanks, @Maisonvi He added the same reinforcement bar to the other side too, but due to 3D printing overhang constraints, the mock-ups only have it on the one side; the finals will have it on both, which should be great for rigidity. Now, I gotta test-fit them. Fingers crossed that this will be the final version and the next step will be to have the actual brackets cut/shaped out of SS and sent to me

 

Looking forward to the end cost

 

@Maisonvi was telling me that for my one-offs, I'd probably be looking at ~$100, but we'll see for sure. Now if there is group interest and the manufacturer isn't doing all the prep/setup/etc., for just a single pair, I'm sure some group-buying power would lower this. Then, you'd have to get the studs/latches, but those aren't too much. Maybe Maisonvi would consider adding this to his manufacturing line-up, assembling kits, and selling them to help all us Pu folks out, and also to earn an honest buck. He's been amazing in helping me with all of this essentially out of the goodness of his heart. Like I've said before, I'd love to see him personally, directly benefit from his hard work.

Bottom line, it'll easily be a LOT less than the ~$250 I spend for a supposedly "complete" kit was was flimsy and impossible to install according to their directions without significant modifications.

 

I'd be in for one of the kits if @Maisonvi is going to do a run. The front bumper needs to come off anyway to get repainted and touched up after an unfortunate trailer loading incident and all the crap that's been kicked up in the desert and pitted the thing. I figure I'm going to break the tabs anyway sooner or later.

 

Same

 

Final word from Maisonvi is design is done, but he's checking out manufacturing pricing options. Pretty sure he'll be talking to Raider about it soon to maybe get group buy pricing. Should be very strong/high quality.

 

http://mazdaspeeds.org/index.php?th...for-the-upper-headlight-area-discussion.3383/


Possible bracket group buy for the GenPu bumper fitment fix for the headlight area.