New Spoolfool contest for new product. Need ideas.

[Hotfoot]

And I say this with the utmost respect........

Congratulations on the win!!!!!!!!

what he's saying is they are number 1 in his eyes

 

[Hahny]

Very nice pics everyone.
I'll be honest, I'm very interested in the under carriage frame rail covers / trim pieces. I too have always preferred the smoothed look vs the unsightly and rusty frame rails glaring back at me. NY's solution looks perfect IMO. Both side and back.

Since we're talking about new product ideals, here's one more to the list.
How about a properly fitting, full a-pillar gauge pod? Options for single, dual and triple 2 1/16" gauges. I've run Lotek's for years, but, as others have said, they don't fit worth a dern. Looks good on the inside, but the gap on the outside of the pillar is terrible, as well as the bolt holes not lining up.
What say ye Spool?
You can dooo ittttt!!!

I'm with you on the frame rail covers/ground effects for our cars. I saw this GN a while back and I'm not sure who it belongs to, but this is the look I'm trying to achieve with my GN in regards to the frame rail covers.

 

[T- Type Tim]

Am I looking at something like a ground effect kit?

 

[Hahny]

Am I looking at something like a ground effect kit?

I was thinking about buying a kit from Lauren Engineering, but I believe they are out of business now. It would be nice if Mike could make us something for the rails.

 

[T-CHRGD]

I was thinking about buying a kit from Lauren Engineering, but I believe they are out of business now.

When did that happen ??

 

[NY Twin Turbo]

I'm with you on the frame rail covers/ground effects for our cars. I saw this GN a while back and I'm not sure who it belongs to, but this is the look I'm trying to achieve with my GN in regards to the frame rail covers. View attachment 325786

Am I looking at something like a ground effect kit?

I was thinking about buying a kit from Lauren Engineering, but I believe they are out of business now. It would be nice if Mike could make us something for the rails.

Although the TR pictured above doesn't look that bad at all, I'm afraid I disagree with you guys on this one.

I believe a frame rail cover should do just about only that. It should be simple and subtle, and not really be any kind of major "stand out" design feature. This was my biggest hate feature factor in me not ordering the kit from Lauren Engineering.

The factory sheet metal crimps and spot welds, along with the ugly frame rails can certainly use a little hiding. Also, I think the crimped-spot weld along with the poorly matched-up line under the rear quarter panel to bumper filler NEEDS to be addressed just as much! It's worse when your car isn't black.

For these reasons, I put the effort into making my own skirt kit. I did experiment with the width of the material. And in my personal opinion, If its too wide, it just looks plain ghetto.

But maybe that's just me I guess.

 

[SPOOLFOOL2]

Agreed.

I think it should lay back under at a 45 Degree angle. Not go straight down like a Bonneville car.
It would be nice to have clips to clip into the pinch weld. Not sure if I'd want to do self tapping screws. Might be a potential rust issue in some areas. I will crawl under my car tonight (one hour) when I get home and report back ideas.

 

[TurboTGuy]

No offence, but the pic looks a bit like the guy used vinyl base board that he turned upside down to cover the frame rails.

Maybe it's just me. Not that it looks bad... not saying that.

 

[NY Twin Turbo]

No offence, but the pic looks a bit like the guy used vinyl base board that he turned upside down to cover the frame rails.

Maybe it's just me. Not that it looks bad... not saying that.

Hey!!

That's what I did!

 

[TurboTGuy]

Hey!!

That's what I did!

Well, like I said....... Not that it looks bad.

 

[T-CHRGD]

My next project will have a Hellwig Frame FX frame boxing kit. Added some extra plate front and back to give a nice squared off edge the entire length. Like a built-in skirt.

 

[SPOOLFOOL2]

Well,

Got home, poured myself a drink, (fresh OJ off my tree and some Tito's) rolled under the car and here's what I'm thinking.
An semi- "V" shaped piece. It would overlap the body and be held to the pinchweld by a spring steel "Z" clip.
Thoughts?

 

[SPOOLFOOL2]

It would only need to hang down about two inches to hide all the crap under the car.
From the side profile, I don't think anyone would pick it up as aftermarket. They'd just think it was a clean car.

 

[NY Twin Turbo]

Well, like I said....... Not that it looks bad.

Ouch.

Well, it takes a lot of work not to make it look super duper cheesy.

But I cheated a little. If you look closely below, you will see that this TR has a slim aluminum trim strip under the body roll just above the frame. I aquired these pieces years ago from a junk plain-jane Regal. I painted them black and installed them on my T. I have had them on my car for years. And when I finally got sick of looking at my frame rail, I removed these pieces and used them to secure the vinyl.

I cut, trimmed and shaped the vinyl just so. I applied a thin ridged piece of extruded aluminum to the back side of the vinyl so it wouldn't have any waves in it. I installed the vinyl so that it would slightly curve under the car and not stick strait down like a sheet of plywood. And then I reinstalled these factory moldings over the vinyl to tightly secure it.

 

[TurboTGuy]

Ouch.

Well, it takes a lot of work not to make it look super duper cheesy.

But I cheated a little. If you look closely below, you will see that this TR has a slim aluminum trim strip under the body roll just above the frame. I aquired these pieces years ago from a junk plain-jane Regal. I painted them black and installed them on my T. I have had them on my car for years. And when I finally got sick of looking at my frame rail, I removed these pieces and used them to secure the vinyl.

I cut, trimmed and shaped the vinyl just so. I applied a thin ridged piece of extruded aluminum to the back side of the vinyl so it wouldn't have any waves in it. I installed the vinyl so that it would slightly curve under the car and not stick strait down like a sheet of plywood. And then I reinstalled these factory moldings over the vinyl to tightly secure it.

I know all about the chrome trim strip...... Don't get me wrong. Your car looks great!

 

[NY Twin Turbo]

I know all about the chrome trim strip...... Don't get me wrong. Your car looks great!

I know all about the chrome trim strip...... Don't get me wrong. Your car looks great!

Thanks. I kinda knew you would know what and how I did it.

But I thought a little description of my fabrication process might help explain a little to others who have seen the previously posted photos of mt car.

 

[Hahny]

When did that happen ??

I friend of mine said that the last he heard they were, but I just checked their website and it's up and running.

 

[T- Type Tim]

i wish my idea would have gained some traction in this thread

 

[Hahny]

i wish my idea would have gained some traction in this thread

Yeah, I liked your idea of a new console design.

 

[SPOOLFOOL2]

I liked the idea of the new console. Trust me. It got the wheels in my head turning.
Not sure how big of a market it would be. Also, good mark just came out with a stock replacement that looks very nice and is selling for only a couple hundred bucks.

On a side note, with all the stuff coming from China getting taxed higher, this may open up the marketability of some new USA made products. Time will tell...