Introducing The "Gopher Grille"

[FalcoColumbarius]

After much deliberation regarding that ominous space between the lower skid plate between the front wheels and the "breast plate", where you can see the oil & engine rads, hoses &c...
I present to you....

The Gopher Grille.

Gopher Grille IV.jpg (64.86 KiB) Viewed 6520 times

I figured that not much would go up there in the way of rocks and the like. However, I felt that branches and marmots could be a serious threat. What are the odds? Not a lot. How far is the walk out of the toollies should this situation potentially occur? Hmmm.... What are the chances of retrieving my van if I left her in there, unattended for a couple of weeks, or however long it takes to retrieve her? Hmmmmm......

Gopher Grille I.jpg (153.83 KiB) Viewed 6516 times

You know..... some of the places I go are only an hour or two drive into the bush... at a rough average of 50 KMH ~ and that alone is a long walk out... What about the trips that are 100 miles into the bush (yes, they do exist).......

Gopher Grille II.jpg (93.2 KiB) Viewed 6520 times

One can only prepare so much... One should not mentally live in a plastic bubble but having seen the posting by (I think) Sasquatch Hunter about the jeep with the branch through the floor boards ~ I thought more about it.

Gopher Grille III.jpg (94.98 KiB) Viewed 6516 times

The Grille is attached so that it springs if it is hit, there is about 3/4s of an inch of gap between the top of the grille and the bottom of the breast plate worth of give. It is 1/4 inch steel, cut on a plasma cutter, the tongues are bent in a press, 3/4 inch expanded metal grille is welded into place. I primed it with an anti-rust primer, painted the tongues in flat black to hide them and painted the grille itself in flat orange (because I wanted to make a fashion statement). I decided not to powder coat it because (a) I couldn't justify the cost, (b) I will be painting it again.... and again.

Falco.

P.S.: Sorry about the photo quality, I only had my phone with me at the time...... That sounds weird.[/color]

[after oil]

thats sweet! i already got a branch in the little rad thats part of the a/c system, but thankfully no puncture. would you be into making more of those for sale or barter?

[FalcoColumbarius]

thats sweet! i already got a branch in the little rad thats part of the a/c system, but thankfully no puncture. would you be into making more of those for sale or barter?

Those rads are well protected, too.

The place that I get to do my fabrications is called "Syncro Metal Works", they are in North Vancouver ( http://www.syncrometalworks.com ).

Falco.

[delicat]

Well done Falco, very stylish!

I'm sure the 1st one cost you more but the next ones should be cheaper as the CAD design is slowly getting paid back.

It should work great with your set up but not sure if you'd need extra coverage for those folks that don't have the Chamonix skid plate?

Good work!
David

[FalcoColumbarius]

Thank you, Delicat. This model of the "Gopher Grille" definitely requires the "Breast Plate". The design of the grille can be manipulated for individualistic purposes. How much time to design on the CAD programme will define the price of the project ~ but having done one already ~ well, talk to Shawn about that.

After Oil..... Nice ride, mate. She's a pretty one, if I do say so, myself. Do you have a name for her yet?

Falco.

[after oil]

Thank you, Delicat. This model of the "Gopher Grille" definitely requires the "Breast Plate". The design of the grille can be manipulated for individualistic purposes. How much time to design on the CAD programme will define the price of the project ~ but having done one already ~ well, talk to Shawn about that.

After Oil..... Nice ride, mate. She's a pretty one, if I do say so, myself. Do you have a name for her yet?

Falco.

my ride is known as "the space antelope" after trey anastasio's first band. he was the guitar player for "phish"

[nvanadm]

Bringing back an old thread...

Falco, i'm surprised there aren't too many of these around. Actually I think your ride is the only one i've personally seen one on. It's such a great idea and i've wanted one for a while.

I know we've had a few "group buys" with snorkels, hubs, skid plates "breat plates", etc...

Would anyone be interested in getting some of these done up?

Falco, do you remember the cost? If you don't mind sharing of course.

Would it be best to get them done at the N.Van shop where Falco had it done, or get whoever made those few batches of skid plates to do them? I'm not sure.

I would head this up, but now living in Ontario i'm a bit far to organize this. I would be interested in one (depending on cost of course).
Let's see who's interested and go from there.

[nxski]

That's a good looking mod! Just today I found a piece of bone dry construction paper in that area while replacing the sway bar bushings (a work in progress as I wasn't sent all the parts and the parts I was sent were incorrect). I still have no idea how it was sheltered from the elements but it goes to show that junk does end up in there.

[FalcoColumbarius]

I had originally gone on a sortie with a few Delicas ~ TardisDeli, Mitsushi, Adrock, Coaxial, Patty, Le Grisoux, Frisch and we explored the West Harrison FSR system. We went down to Ten Mile Bay and in the process of doing so we had to cross through a great big puddle that was around eighteen inches deep. As the Delicas went through the puddle they also moved the muddy water and at one point I saw this root sticking out and a little up when the thought occurred to me "what if that root got caught in the lower intake and it guided the root up to the radiator & condenser? What about all those hoses?" I ford water and some of it is not clear. That was my initial inspiration for the Gopher Grille. The great thing is when it gets hit by something it makes a very unique boing sound that you can clearly hear in the cockpit.

See: Friday March 28th-Sunday March 30th Harrison FSR Round Deux

As far as the price I would have to check my log book. As far as the design ~ that one is uniquely the Miss Lil' Bitchi's Spitfire motif but we could come up with designs to fit different needs and tastes, I'll look into it.



Falco.

[RichD]

Its cool, snazzy and original, and does serve a function but I would rather something that had more complete coverage and could accept a fine screen for offroading, to minimize seeds and other crud particles getting into the radiator fins.

[Dingus]

Great idea, and it looks really professional as well. No use placing substance over style when you can have both!