Help with fitting a snorkel - who/where?

[Bagheera]

I managed to pick up a snorkel kit cheaply off eBay, and it looks the goods compared to others I've seen.

My problem is when it comes time to drill dirty big holes in a perfectly good guard, I turn into a little girl. Plus I would also need to buy a couple of big holesaws and the silicone to do the job, which starts to add up for a single install.

Who have you used/would you recommend to install a snorkel? I'm out in Kellyville (Sydney's north west) so I have an ARB store in Wentworthville (who haven't seemed helpful so far unless I want to give them buckets of money), Macquarie 4X4 in McGraths Hill that I haven't tried yet, or any number of panel & paint shops in the Riverstone and Windsor industrial areas. Then, of course, there are the forum members here who may like to earn some cash for their efforts...

Open to suggestions, and also after some idea of the cost. I also need to get pyro & boost sensors fitted, which I might be able to roll up into a single job (already fitted gauges and run the cables into the engine bay, it's just drilling and tapping, or welding bungs on).

[Woof]

Sorry mate but I cannot help you, someone will be along soon hopefully to assist you

[AB]

Hi mate,

Have a read of this thread for DIY pyro and boost gauges. Very easy DIY job. http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/showthread.php?5483-How-to-install-Pyro-and-Boost-gauges-to-a-GQ

As far as the snorkel goes, can you get your hands on a nibbler to cut the hole? They are easy to use and as long as you go slow you can't go wrong.

Unfortunately a lot of shops want the sale of a snorkel along with the installation so many people would be reluctant to just install one that you give them due to the only money they make would be in labour and they would most likely charge you a bit more.

Installing a snorkel is easy, only "hard" part would be the location of the holes and cutting them. Best way would be to try and find the stencil to trace on your panel. See if you can find a stencil to download for whatever brand the snorkel is. If no joy then put a new post up here asking if anyone has the stencil for that brand of snorkel.

Here's my DIY thread about making your own snorkel but will give you some ideas..http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/showthread.php?3502-How-to-make-your-own-4-quot-stainless-steel-snorkel&highlight=stainless+steel+snorkel

Here's a pic of a nibbler too...

http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2011/09/23.jpg

[Bagheera]

I saw the thread on the boost and pyro gauges - I already have the gauges fitted up in a pillar pod with power, and all the cabling pulled through to the engine bay. Just need to drill the dump pipe (after getting the damn heat shield off!) for the pyro, which looks pretty straightforward. For the boost gauge I wanted to get the pipe between the turbo and intercooler drilled and tapped to take the 1/4" BSP adaptor I have. It shouldn't be hard to find a workshop to do the drill & tap for me once I pull the pipe, so this isn't a major concern. If the same workshop that fitted the snorkel could do it, even better.

I have the complete snorkel kit, including the template, etc. It's actually a TRV snorkel as installed (but for a ZD30 - slight difference in the airbox fitting). I priced up the two holesaws today at Bunnings and that was going to cost ~$100 before I started. A quick eBay check shows electric nibblers from ~$129 (not sure the cheap ~$70 drill versions can handle guard thickness - 1.8mm max thickness for steel is the quoted spec - how thick is a guard?) which puts them at a similar cost.

Was really hoping I could find someone to do the fitting for ~$200 or so, but I might just have to bite the bullet and buy the holesaws.

[Finly Owner]

You can hire your nibblers from Kennards Hire about $25 for 4 hours, tell them Tim from Springwood branch in Qld quoted you, and if they have a problem call me and tell them to let me know you are a forum member and I will confirm my quote. Our nibblers are not drill attachments. They are a proper Makita hand tool (electric), and make sure they don't offer you shears, they are no good for this job.



Tim

[AB]

Good question about the thickness, no idea, probably around the 1.8mm range...haha.

Hopefully someone else in your area sees this and gives you some places that could do it.

If you plan on using a holesaw then mask the area around just in case you slip. I'm not sure about the quality of the Ebay ones but couldn't see why the cheapo ones wouldn't cut through the panels.

EDIT: there you go, nice work Tim!

[Bagheera]

Awesome - thanks Tim. Hadn't even thought of Kennards for the tools (even though I used them for everything during our reno).

[Finly Owner]

Good to hear you know us.


Tim