Snorkel hole cutting

[Bowhunter]

So where would I go to get the hole cut in my guard to fit my snorkel?

Has anyone here had it done on the Gold Coast?

It will be a custom snorkel...

cheers,

Luke

[Slunnie]

Bunnings to buy the holesaw.

Thats what I used at least.

[Bowhunter]

Cheers mate, makes sense

I'm just a bit hesitant to go chopping up my fourbie having never done that sort of work before Wouldnt mind taking it somewhere for a pro's advice at least...or if there's anyone here who lives nearby with the experience to help me out?

Luke

[Timmeh]

Fitting a snorkel isn't a hard job to do, just stick by the old rules, measure twice, cut once!! where ever you are getting the custom snorkel made should be able to help you out in the holesaw side of things, other than that, maby pop down to your local 4x4 shop and conveniently have a 6 pack and ask them very nicely. damn lot cheaper than buying a holesaw that big.

Tim

[Grasshopper]

I had the same dilemma as you. I puchased a snorkel off OL and had no template. The local ARB shop (Moorebank NSW) put masking tape on the guard and marked the hole, using their template all for $20. I cut the hole too small using a jigsaw and filed it out to suit. Rustproofed the guard and fitted the snorkel.
Dave HZJ105 Turbo

[Bowhunter]

Thanks boys!

So, what sort of rust proofing did you undertake Grasshopper?

Luke

[ludacris]

I find an air hacksaw is better than a hole saw.

LudaCris

[klrevo]

dont use a drill....

and do measure twice....

pretty much, dont do what i did

dean

[dogbreath_48]

dont use a drill....

and do measure twice....

pretty much, dont do what i did

dean

I used a jigsaw - farked it right up!

[ausoops]

Thanks boys!

So, what sort of rust proofing did you undertake Grasshopper?

Luke

use some coldgal

[HotFourOk]

Umm what is your snorkel made out of?

If it has a mandrel bend, the hole will need to be a teardrop shape, and not a circle.

If you cut out a circle, the pipe will sit a few cms from your guard, and looks crappy.

I masked it up, drew it in pencil, and drilled small holes all the way around the hole, then finished it off with a dremel. Worked sweet as.

I got pics if you need any ideas

[LuxyBoy]

I thought the easiest way would be to buy an extra peice of angle and cut it according to how far out you want your piping to sit from the guards.
So your snorkel looks fitted from the outside but no hole.
Then use the cut surface created as a template to mask up against the guard.
Then once hole is there put the uncut peice of angle through it

Does that sound stupid or not By angle i meant the rubber type

[chunderlicious]

use tin snips, very accurate, not very forgiving and easy to use

[Bowhunter]

Luxyboy, that makes perfect sense...

HotfourOK, mate, I'd greatly appreciate any pics you might be able to send my way

Would you be able to email them mate?

cheers,

Luke

[evanstaniland]

i had mandrel bent and it was a circle not tear drop shape...

i got a scrap cut of 3" pipe from the exhaust place...put clear contact on the pannel and traced it then drilled holes al the way around the sketched circle then cold chiseled the hols together to get a rough hole then grinded it down with a diamond grinding bit that fitted into my drill then to give it a tight fit i baught a rubber strip stuff from clark rubber (similar to the stuff used on window gutters on ya car) then fitted it and then had to lub it up to slip the snorkle through!!

evan..

[familybus]

sounds like you got a decent equiped truck dude! doesnt seem like youve tried to save much pennies in buying stuff! why not save a few more bucs and get a snorkal suplied and fitted instead of trying to make your own, i know youll save sum bucs but looks like you got a nice rig so maybe its worth gettin a propper one!

[HotFourOk]

sounds like you got a decent equiped truck dude! doesnt seem like youve tried to save much pennies in buying stuff! why not save a few more bucs and get a snorkal suplied and fitted instead of trying to make your own, i know youll save sum bucs but looks like you got a nice rig so maybe its worth gettin a propper one!

Man, i wish we COULD buy them... I wouldn't have went custom if I could buy one from a 4x4 shop!!

We Hatsu drivers are not as lucky as you other Nissan/Yota drovers parts-wise

[droopypete]

Just a tip if you do end up using a holesaw yourself, replace the pilot drill bit in the arbor with a straight piece of rod of the same diametre (grind a point on the end of the rod), mark the center and lightly centre punch it (don't dent the panel) drill a pilot hole with a small drill and finish with a sniffter smaller than the rod size (use a step drill if you have one), lube the rod and cut, cut, cut.
be carfull when you break through not to drill a hole in your battery or similar and use a sharp hole saw.
Peter.

[shakes]

plently of innox if your using a hole saw

[Bowhunter]

Ok, so what's the go with rust proofing inside the panel and what do I do about water build up inside?

thanks for all the replies!

Luke

[Bowhunter]

sounds like you got a decent equiped truck dude! doesnt seem like youve tried to save much pennies in buying stuff! why not save a few more bucs and get a snorkal suplied and fitted instead of trying to make your own, i know youll save sum bucs but looks like you got a nice rig so maybe its worth gettin a propper one!

Even if I could get one off the shelf mate, aren't they dearer to buy than to make up custom?

I mean, I'm looking at perhaps $150 (give or take) tops for a custom jobbie...wish I could get a stocko off the shelfer for that price!

Luke

[familybus]

send TINY a pm on here and hell tell you if you can them them and what there worth!

[Bowhunter]

PM sent to TINY...but until I hear back I'll go on with researching doing a custom job.

So, as well as wondering what to do with rust proofing the guard etc... I was looking at snorkel heads and had a squiz at Qld Diesel Spares' website.

I was wondering about the sizings of heads listed here:

http://www.qlddieselspares.com.au/air%2 ... ets_13.htm

Do the different sizes refer to the diameter of the "out" piping at the bottom of the head? If not what do they refer to?

Also, what diameter stainless do people recommend using?

thanks for all the help!

Luke 8)

[justinC]

If you can, get / borrow a stepped drill set. I fit a few snorks, and when we drill Landrover ally panels, the only way to stop them distorting etc is use a stepped drill. I bought a set of 3, will do ANy size you need for the mounting holes, some are at least 5/8", for about $60.00. After drilling the mounting holes etc, we just use a air hacksaw (Second favourite tool after the Gas axe and Mig...)

JC

[HotFourOk]

Yeah, the sizing refers to the outlet size

TJM heads come in 76mm and ~90mm... the 76mm (3") one is $65. Which is what I bought.
A Safari one i priced at OpLock was $95 for the 3" inlet.

Truck ones are fairly cheap... some people have picked them up for around $30 or so... I didnt even think of buying a truck one...

[Bowhunter]

Thanks HotFour

[suzuki boy]

I got a custom one for free off a mate. When fitting i just held it up and marked around with texta. Made sure it was in the right spot and before i gould get the guts to cut the hole my dad was all readdy half way through! Probably not the best way to do it but it worked purfectly. Probably a fluke but hey it came up well!

[jcclures]

On the couple I have fitted I cut the hole slightly smaller, then filed it to the exact shape of the pipe going through. I have only ever made my own snorkels and I like to put a seal around the pipe in the hole in the mudguard, you can buy this at any rubber shop. It makes a very good finish to the job.

[smiley_smoke]

sounds like the smart way to go jcclures. can you lob up a pic or two? or email me samianderson@westnet.com.au

[sambo]

Just be carefull about where the hose goes through from behind the panel into the engine bay. Me and a mate of mine installed a snorkel on his hilux a few years back and all seemed fine, except this july when we crossed the simpson we discovered cracks above and below the hole above the wheel arch inside the engine bay. The next day they were even bigger. Not sure how you could prevent it without welding it to strengthen it or rolling the edge of the hole in to forme a lip. But just worth having in the back of your mind.

Cheers
Sam