Thought I'd have a go at making a sump guard for the white 4x4 and Barbara's 4x4.

The frame on the white one needed refurbing anyway........



It was a little bent and rusty

The sump guard will be made from 4mm alloy sheet, not really thick enough for serious offroading but fine for mild use/looking the part.

The frame is now cleaned and powder coated and I'm ready to design the sump guard itself......

Make holes in it, to remove sand and mud, accumulated during off-roading. They should be big enough to insert a hand inside.

Sutjeska

sutjeska said:

Make holes in it, to remove sand and mud, accumulated during off-roading. They should be big enough to insert a hand inside.

Sutjeska

Click to expand...

More work.

Thanks for that, it is a good tip and I will try to include some holes in the final design.

I have made a cardboard copy so that I can experiment with different hole patterns in the front and now have a final design...........



I've copied the holes in the bumper, plus it extends up high enough to mount the no. plate on it.

Neither of mine will be used off road so the extra holes aren't really necessary, but I can produce copies for anyone that wants one, so if the holes are there they can use it for more serious use. It can be made with 6mm plate too.

ohh this reminds me, i need to sort out my sump guard its done its job as it has a huge dent in it heh. i chucked it down the garden behind the shed and totally forgot about it till now.

i plan on doing the same kinda thing. use some ally checker plate to fill in the gaps underneath... and of course.. paint the frame yellow

ill look forward to seeing your progress dude

Just testing the water here, but is there anyone else that may be interested in a sump guard. I know you can't say for sure without seeing the finished product but a maybe will do for now.

It's just that some of the work is being carried out for me and the more they can do the cheaper each unit becomes. If I get 5 to 10 maybe's I can go to them for a price.

Gavin, yours is already counted.

Mine are made from 4mm alloy, powder coated (one white, one silver), all holes made, and supplied with fixing brackets so will be ready to bolt straight on (about a ten minute job).

I like the sump guard with round holes, look at my trekking:

The engineering Guys I'm using brought round a 2mm think mock up today to check that the bends were in the right place and at the right angles. They also needed to mark the position of three holes as Sutjeska suggested.





A couple of adjustments were noted and off they went to make the first proper one. They're doing a run of five but one is going on to Gavin's Sisley, and as he has a bull bar fitted to it I'm having to make alterations myself to allow it to fit. They're done now so the engineers can have it for bending. By lunchtime tomorrow I should have two sump guards ready for powder coating.

The other three won't be cut until I've marked the holes for the mounting blocks, then they can be punched out in the same place on the other three along with the rest of the contours/holes.

I was hoping to use some off the shelf saddle clamps to fit the shield to the frame but there was nothing around suitable so I'm having some custom made, 20 to be exact, four for each sump guard. They won't be finished until next week so I've got to wait a few days more before I can have the job finished.

Bartpanda said:

I like the sump guard with round holes, look at my trekking:

Click to expand...

I'm going for spot lights too!

yeah, that looks reet nice that does. hmmmmm

Liking the numberplate protector - can't damage it, or if you do, can't see it

Picked up the sump guard all bent and ready for powder coating.......



Spotted some interesting tubing when I picked up the guard, has me thinking of other things I can make :idea:

.... so mr VmanC.. how much was it?

i like. me gusta.

Well if I'd just gone for one it would have cost me about £500

That would have been one sheet of 4mm marine grade alloy, shaped, hole punched, bent and powder coated. Four alloy clamps with fixings.

By having an initial batch of five the price each works out at £200. If I have another three made the unit price comes down to £175. Powder coating accounts for £40 of this and could be replaced by painting with a rattle can I suppose. The clamps are £50 for four so it may be possible to make a cheaper way to attach it, even just screw it into the frame if you don't mind making holes in it, I didn't want to do this as it may introduce rust.

So, for just the finished plate you're looking at £110, 85 if I order 3 more.

hmmm.. i am quite interested, however i have to get my priority's right.
i have to get mine on the road, MOT, TAX and Insure it.

i guess the deal would be off by the time i get to the taxing stage of my car though.
time will tell i guess.

Yeah, those things are more important without doubt.

I should now be able to have further ones made at any time in the future, as long as I do three at a time those prices should hold. The engineers have computerised equipment which now has the patterns in it's memory.

A one off in the future would cost about £15 more because of the cost of buying a small piece of alloy compared to a sheet I can get three from.

It is a lot of money to spend on a Panda though so I'm not expecting a rush .

This update is a repeat of stuff in my members motors thread ( https://www.fiatforum.com/members-motors/304368-my-white-88-4x4.html ) to help with future searches.

So, Powder coating has now been done..........






The silver one is slightly narrower to fit a Panda with bull bars.

The clamps are finished too, four for each sumpguard..........




The central hole was bored out slightly oversize to allow room for a rubber sleeve to protect the frame.

A couple of pics of the finished job..........

Lets pretend the Cross one isn't plastic.

What are the dimensions of that 4mm alloy sheet you used to make the sump guard?

Paul MuadDib said:

What are the dimensions of that 4mm alloy sheet you used to make the sump guard?

Click to expand...

Shaped from a sheet 1000mm x 700mm.