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Titanium skid plates installed!

Discussion in '348/355' started by UConn Husky, Aug 12, 2007.

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  1. UConn Husky

    UConn Husky F1 Rookie

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    #1 UConn Husky, Aug 12, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Made these up myself, wanted something thinner than the big aluminum ones I see on Ebay. The issue is I don't want to increase that thickness any more than needed because it will just bottom out more often. Install was easy, just line the plates up and drill some holes through. Recommend wearing gloves, hands are itchy now from the fiberglass. I used through bolts with extra large washers and lock nuts on top.

    now I just can't wait to skid off something!
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  2. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 PAP 348, Aug 12, 2007
    That looks awesome Jay :)

    How difficult was it to drill though the titanium?
     
  3. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
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    #3 Ricambi America, Aug 12, 2007
    Jay -

    They look nice! Raw titanium is so expensive these days we only get the Hill Engineering Titanium plates by special order -- so I can appreciate how cool those are!! Any idea on the weight (without hardware) of those skids?

    When you bolted them up, did you use a cross brace inside the bumper to secure the two bolts together, or simply nut them down? Personally, I'd suggest a cross brace to add additional strength, just like Hill does on theirs.


    Kudos!


    -d
     
  4. CavalloRosso

    CavalloRosso Formula 3

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    #4 CavalloRosso, Aug 12, 2007
    I don't know how difficult it was for Jay, but generally titanium is VERY easy to drill through. It's such a soft metal. I do it at work all the time.
     
  5. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    #5 PAP 348, Aug 12, 2007
    Thanks for that, I thought it would be harder to work with, my brother has a set of 'titanium coated drill bits' somewhere in his shed so I was thinking that the material was harder to work with that steel, wonder why they bother to coat the tips of the drill bit now? Must be a good selling point :p
     
  6. CavalloRosso

    CavalloRosso Formula 3

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    #6 CavalloRosso, Aug 12, 2007
    I honestly thing you're dead-on...it's a selling point. It always makes me laugh when people buy titanium wedding bands because they think it's are harder than gold! Titanium can be sawed through, drilled through, and scratches quite easily. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE the look of titanium and it's very light. I think it's perfect for a skid plate, but I would never use it for a drill bit!
     
  7. CavalloRosso

    CavalloRosso Formula 3

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    #7 CavalloRosso, Aug 12, 2007
    By the way Jay, gorgeous skid plates. Beautiful job!
     
  8. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #8 285ferrari, Aug 12, 2007
    HAHAHAHA!!!! I did mine last week. Did the left side first---Fingers and hands itched like crazy. I learned my lesson and used latex glaoves for the right side as I drilled..I know exactly what you felt!!!! :D
     
  9. UConn Husky

    UConn Husky F1 Rookie

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    #9 UConn Husky, Aug 12, 2007
    Thanks for the compliments guys, I'll post here how they hold up (good or bad)...

    Cavallo - I'm certainly no machinist but in my experience Ti is much tougher to machine than aluminum. It has a lower thermal conductivity so heat tends to build up fast. Luckily I was able to stamp these holes out and just countersink.

    Pap, there is actually something to the Ti coated tools. It's not actually Ti but titanium nitride (gold color). Very thin, super hard coating. The problem is once you wear through that layer, it's useless.

    Daniel, I didn't use a tie bar. Instead just used very large washers, I think those will give plenty of surface area. If anything these will mostly be in compression or shear when I scrape bottom. Not sure on weight, forgot to check beforehand. But I know the thickness and area so if I get a chance I'll calculate it.
     
  10. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

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    #10 gothspeed, Aug 12, 2007
    Ti can be drilled with Hi-speed drill steel bits. Just keep it cool...... :)!!!
     

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