In search of the great white whale - kidney vents | FerrariChat
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In search of the great white whale - kidney vents

Discussion in '308/328' started by duh_weasel, Feb 20, 2015.

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  1. duh_weasel

    duh_weasel Rookie

    Jul 27, 2005
    42
    Charlotte, NC
    Full Name:
    Reece
    #1 duh_weasel, Feb 20, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Hello everyone,

    I've been in search for a random part for quite some time now. It is the kidney shaped vent on both sides of the 308. (On the attached diagram it's part # 8). I've contacted several people that have had them in the past, and they said their mold had broken. Does anyone know of a salvaged 308 or another company that I may be able to get these vents from?

    Cheers,
    Reece
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  2. hoverland

    hoverland Formula Junior

    Aug 14, 2010
    265
    Norway
    Full Name:
    Harald Ø
    #2 hoverland, Feb 20, 2015
  3. duh_weasel

    duh_weasel Rookie

    Jul 27, 2005
    42
    Charlotte, NC
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    Reece
    #3 duh_weasel, Feb 20, 2015
    Hi Hover. Thank you for responding.

    I've already contacted Verrell - he said that his mold broke. :( The search continues...
     
  4. wildcat326

    wildcat326 Formula 3

    Dec 10, 2012
    1,803
    Chicago, IL
    Full Name:
    Justin
    #4 wildcat326, Feb 20, 2015
    If you read down that thread, there was another forumer here making them for $195/pair:
    [email protected]
     
  5. Ferraridoc

    Ferraridoc F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 20, 2012
    17,220
    Gold Coast, Aust.
    Full Name:
    Patrick
    #5 Ferraridoc, Feb 20, 2015
    I snapped off some of my posts removing the dash, despite being aware of the danger, the dash flexed a bit and pop, pop.

    Admittedly, I still had one or two left, but I put a small bead of black silicone around the edge from the inside. If it's only your retaining posts that are broken, try carefully gluing them in.
     
  6. obertRo

    obertRo Formula Junior
    Owner

    Dec 20, 2014
    343
    Holland, Michigan
    Full Name:
    Robert Clark
    #6 obertRo, Feb 20, 2015
    How many of these are needed in a year's time?
    I can make these if I can get a very nice original to go from...but it's a bad deal if only a few people per year need them.

    Robert
     
  7. duh_weasel

    duh_weasel Rookie

    Jul 27, 2005
    42
    Charlotte, NC
    Full Name:
    Reece
    #7 duh_weasel, Feb 20, 2015
    I wouldn't be surprised if you could sell at least 10 per year. I've met a few people with 308's that have them crack... The OEM just doesn't hold up to the heat under the sun! $100/piece or $200/set is a fair price.
     
  8. Verell

    Verell F1 Veteran
    Consultant Owner

    May 5, 2001
    7,022
    Groton, MA
    Full Name:
    Verell Boaen
    #8 Verell, Feb 25, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2015
    I also said I"d have a new mold in a few weeks.

    Unobtainium has been making these since 2009, and plans to continue to do so.

    BTW, sales rate has been low, only 3 to 5/year. A mold is good for about 30 pieces or so, then must be replaced. My 1st mold recently gave up the ghost.

    We have a pair of NOS vents and are in the process of making a new mold. Production will resume in 3 to 4 weeks.

    The vents will have our improvements: Threaded mounting studs, all but invisible cross braces. The braces really work!!! We've never had a customer report reaking a louver on one of Unobtainium's kidney vents. See this thread:

    http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/308-328/251642-unobtainium-supplies-kidney-shaped-308-328-corner-dash-vents.html
     
  9. obertRo

    obertRo Formula Junior
    Owner

    Dec 20, 2014
    343
    Holland, Michigan
    Full Name:
    Robert Clark
    #9 obertRo, Feb 25, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2015
    Glad to hear that, Verell. Market is Way too small to have two people making the same thing!
     
  10. stonker

    stonker Formula Junior

    Jul 14, 2012
    420
    Surrey UK
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    Stonker
    #10 stonker, Feb 25, 2015
    Please put me down for a pair when they're ready thanks.

     
  11. Verell

    Verell F1 Veteran
    Consultant Owner

    May 5, 2001
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    Verell Boaen
    #11 Verell, Feb 26, 2015
    Please send me eMAIL, I"ll file it in the to be notified folder for them:
    [email protected]
     
  12. ztarum

    ztarum Formula 3

    Mar 30, 2008
    1,302
    South Jersey, USA
    #12 ztarum, Feb 26, 2015
    Just curious, but why do the molds not last? What are they made of?
     
  13. Verell

    Verell F1 Veteran
    Consultant Owner

    May 5, 2001
    7,022
    Groton, MA
    Full Name:
    Verell Boaen
    #13 Verell, Feb 27, 2015
    The molds are silicone rubber developed for rapid prototyping & low volume production of plastic & low temp metal parts.
    Given the low volume of these parts it's the only cost effective way of making them. Eventually small amounts of resin penetrate the mold's surface, then at some point enough accumulates so that a part bonds to the mold & rips part of the mold's surface out.

    On the plus side, the silicone molds faithfully reproduce the part in exact detail. To the point that if a fingerprint is accidently left on the part being used as a pattern the reproductions will have fingerprints!
     

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