Help with an idea - fabricate a front-boot

[havoc]

I'm trying to create more storage space in the NSX for when we go to France, and without the spare wheel there's an irregular space between the radiator fan and the battery/bulkhead, with minium dimensions 14cm x 36cm x 45cm (larger than 14cm front-to-back if I drop the height a little, but would need to fabricate some sort of 'footpad' for it then). Not huge, but enough to fit some odd car-kit for a holiday (tyre weld, oil, small tool-kit, first-aid kit, etc.), take the pressure off packing stuff in the boot.

Now my idea is this:-
- Take a plastic or mesh waste-paper bin with floor dimensions close to 14x36
- Cut the top down as necessary
- Drill a hole for the screw-retaining bracket
- Fit some rubber 'feet'/'backing' to make sure it doesn't move or vibrate when screwed into place.
- (Optionally) line it to avoid stuff rattling around too much.


I'm having two problems at the moment
- the critical one is finding a bin of the right dimensions - our friend the internet isn't helping much. Anyone got anything suitable, and if so where did you buy it?
- the second one is knowing whether I'll be blocking too much airflow from exiting the radiator - has anyone done anything like this before, and how did you get on???

Any other suggestions/comments?

Cheers,

Martin.

[Sudesh]

I wouldnt worry about air flow too much, when moving forward your getting plenty of air flow, when sitting still and the fan kicks in, its blowing air against the rad, people have added this duct to NSX's which would have the a similar affect as adding you temporary storage pod

If you cant find a bin of the right dimensions, what about looking at something like a flower container? or water container?

http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/testvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=3270&d=1202951400

[NSXGB]

I wouldnt worry about air flow too much, when moving forward your getting plenty of air flow, when sitting still and the fan kicks in, its blowing air against the rad, people have added this duct to NSX's which would have the a similar affect as adding you temporary storage pod


Surely you mean sucks air through the rad...

Not sure you are going to gain enough storage to make it worthwhile. I personally would prefer as much space as poss round the rad.

So, it's either a roofrack or leave the wife at home. :)

[Sudesh]

Sorry yeah your right!

The roof box seem a better idea, I wonder was there any OEM setup in the parts catalogue?

I have one with pics of OEM snow chains, bumper corner protection/strips, lock nuts for the wheel, car cover, luggage, keyless entry etc.




Surely you mean sucks air through the rad...

Not sure you are going to gain enough storage to make it worthwhile. I personally would prefer as much space as poss round the rad.

So, it's either a roofrack or leave the wife at home. :)

[TheSebringOne]

I can't see how a roof box would be secured to the roof especially as the gap is so tight between the door glass and the roof line. Plus I can't imagine an option was available for a supercar?

[Sudesh]

Sen them on Lambos and ferraris.

http://www.thecartorialist.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/lamborghini_murcielago_lp_640_angle_front_skibox_s mall.jpg

http://www.thecartorialist.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/lamborghini_gallardo_angle_side_ski_box.jpg

[img]


I can't see how a roof box would be secured to the roof especially as the gap is so tight between the door glass and the roof line. Plus I can't imagine an option was available for a supercar?

[AR]

Well glad to see we are getting back to NSX!

RM Racing had one in the good ole US of A a few years back.

IMNSHO a .50 cal ammo box is the perfect thing and is waterproof to boot.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ammo-Box-Ex-Army-Ideal-Storage-/200469957273?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item2eacf0ca99

Paint it a suitable colour to avoid causing the wrong impression!!!

You heard it here first. :)

Cheers,

AR

[Senninha]

I can only imagine you would use the space for soft luggage ... in which case why not tuck it close to the passenger seat in the footwell?

Other option if passenger not to tall or long legged, move passenger and seat forward and pack behind the seat ...

regards, Paul

[havoc]

Cheers guys.

Paul - we were already using behind-the-seats for coats and a disklok. No, we can't travel light! :D

Roofbox - erm, no! ;) (WTF is going on with those Lambos???)


Ammo box...possible, very possible...but steel and 2kg?!? Then again, the spare isn't exactly light...

[AR]

Ammo box...possible, very possible...but steel and 2kg?!? Then again, the spare isn't exactly light...

Neither is the OEM battery!

For the money there is nothing that can beat it in terms of durability.

[Nick Graves]

Honda sell a fishnet bag with a backing board, which hangs behind the seat of the S2000 on hooks.

Your best bet would be to obtain one of those (or two!) and use them instead. Being irregular and holey (amen) they oughtn't interfere with your cooling too much.

If you stuck nasty halfords window tint over the cupola for security and to avoid hassle from the blue meanies over visibility, isn't that a built-in roof box?

EDIT: I think my fingers are pissed.

[mutley]

I was thinking along teh same lines a while ago, as it is wasted space and the spare wheel is just front end ballast for me. Pondering going down the ammo tin route for a "built in" tool box.

Ammo tins are fairly easy to come by (well there has to be some perks to my job!)

Jim

[havoc]

One last thought...how easy will it be to drill through the ammo-box to enable the retaining-bolt from the spare-wheel to keep it in place?

(i.e. how thick is the steel, and is it tempered in any way?)


Edit: One suggestion from Pistonheads is to masking-tape up the hole I want it to fill and then make a fibreglass 'bucket' the exact size/shape. That way I could put some card in the way before starting to make some clear exit-routes for the radiator air...

[mutley]

Ammo tins are nothing special, we use old ones for all sorts of things, easy enough to drill through.

Jim

[AR]

Ammo tins are nothing special, we use old ones for all sorts of things, easy enough to drill through.

Jim

Jim fill them with sand and they make good targets. :)

[Nick Graves]

Put something in the ammo box; I recently read on NSX prime that the spare wheel is steel and is part of the deformation-management, like the engine would be on a normal Honda. Basically, once the heavy engine's stopped going forwards, a lot of the car's kinetic energy is lost and it also spreads the loadings of point impacts across the bulkhead/toeboard. This in obviously a major problem for mid-engined designs...

I understand the spare rim does the same (like an old Daf/Renault/Lloyd etc!) and one is therefore supposed to keep it in there at all times.

Obviously I hope no-one ever proves me right (or wrong!) but so long as you are aware...

[havoc]

Interesting thought.

A mate turns out to have a 50-cal box lying around (as you do...), so I'm off to his on Saturday with the NSX (plus a little plastic kitchen-container a similar size I found) to see what works best.

He also knows someone who works with fibreglass for their job, so we may have a chat to him, too...I've decided I'm not creative/skilled/co-ordinated enough to try fibreglass on my own!

[markc]

Put something in the ammo box; I recently read on NSX prime that the spare wheel is steel and is part of the deformation-management, like the engine would be on a normal Honda. Basically, once the heavy engine's stopped going forwards, a lot of the car's kinetic energy is lost and it also spreads the loadings of point impacts across the bulkhead/toeboard. This in obviously a major problem for mid-engined designs...

I understand the spare rim does the same (like an old Daf/Renault/Lloyd etc!) and one is therefore supposed to keep it in there at all times.

Obviously I hope no-one ever proves me right (or wrong!) but so long as you are aware...

A similar myth has been circulating the Porsche world for many years. In most rational peoples opinion it's classic F.U.D (Fear Uncertainty and Doubt) nonsense spread by those folk who love conspiracy theory's in general. No doubt Elvis conducted the crash tests on the moon landing "set" in Area 51 under the supervision of Alien beings :)

Cheers

Mark

[Nick Graves]

Oh, entirely possible, Mark.

As Stuart Sutherland demonstrated in his excellent book "Irrationality", even the most rational sometimes fail to grasp the difference between empirical evidence and supposition/confirmation bias.

Guess we'll just have to wait for the aliens who accidentally left their NSX behind in 1990 to revisit once we've evolved a bit and provide us with the correct data. Bloody Japanese gov't and their conspiracies...

;)

[havoc]

Right, finally took some photos and uploaded them (took them at the weekend then house-selling/buying stuff kicked off and now have time to breathe), which are below.

I've found a kitchen-type storage box with a hinged lid that, while not huge, will take all the car-stuff we need (if it was a little deeper you could fit 3-4 bottles of wine in a row) - about the same dimensions as the ammo box, probably a little taller. It fits just between the two hoses and is about 2/3 the depth of the metal footplate. So likely to go with that, unless anyone has another suggestion.

PS - yes, I know I need to sort the battery-retaining bracket - on my list to do before France.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m54/martin-w/My%20cars/NSXfront4.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m54/martin-w/My%20cars/NSXfront3.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m54/martin-w/My%20cars/NSXfront1.jpg

[dan the man]

u thought about using the parcel shelf???? under the glass? Ok no rear view but doable

[havoc]

u thought about using the parcel shelf???? under the glass? Ok no rear view but doable
Hi Dan,

Interesting idea, but it would probably cook anything under there, plus would lose rear-view for the whole journey down and back. I did have the same thought very briefly to start with, but was quickly dismissed.

[sassthathoopie]

My brother and I I managed 2 weeks camping during our euro road trip. Plates, pots, stove, tent, stools, sleeping bags, bedrolls, and walking gear.

It's a case of adapting the way you pack the car. Pack it like a rucsac and you can fit in a remarkable amount of kit. The space behind the seats is very generous unless you're a giant.

I have two soft bags designed for the rear deck of my MX5 that fit nicely behind my seat. 2 bed rolls unrolled fitted behind the passenger one. I think the sleeping bags went in there too. Cool bag went in the passenger footwell.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/gavinprint/Austria075edit-1.jpg
Camping on the Stelvio Pass

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/gavinprint/Austria089edit.jpg
Austria

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j135/gavinprint/Austria018edit.jpg
Camping amongst relic foxholes just above Foy (Bastogne - site of the Battle of the Bulge)

Was an awesome trip :)

Best of luck with yours, I'll be interested to see how the front boot comes off. I've wondered about using the space as well. At the moment all I keep there is the tyreweld.

[Senna88]

Did you get anywhere with this in the end Havoc? I'm looking to do the same, need to fit 2 months worth in the car....though I was thinking of just using bungee cords and rope to keep the box in place rather than needing to remove the spare wheel holder and drill something...

[Problem Child]

I can't see how a roof box would be secured to the roof especially as the gap is so tight between the door glass and the roof line. Plus I can't imagine an option was available for a supercar?

Roof boxes...on an NSX...whatever next....tow bars and Caravans???

[TheSebringOne]

I think this has got to be the ultimate roof box!

http://blog.campingequipmentshop.co.uk/reviews/product-review/thule-lightning-roofbox/attachment/koenigsegg_agera_r-thule_lightning-ashx/ (http://blog.campingequipmentshop.co.uk/reviews/product-review/thule-lightning-roofbox/attachment/koenigsegg_agera_r-thule_lightning-ashx/)

[STEVEW]

Just a thought. How about something like a drum case. Similar diameter to the spare wheel. Then fabricate fixing device in same area as removed spare. Or any case for that matter that is similarly sized to spare.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=drum+case&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=HNptUfalIIOd0QW22oHYAw&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=633#imgrc=T6dDgMV3sJZ4xM%3A%3Bn4fmwOF3Jum_2M%3 Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.hardcase.com%252Fmyfiles%2 52Fimage%252FTom-drum-case-group.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.hardcase.com%25 2Findex.php%253Fmain_page%253Dindex%2526cPath%253D 7%3B430%3B519

[Senna88]

I think drum cases will generally be too wide to fit in, I do have a bike pannier which is waterproof obviously so might give that a go.

Steve YHM by the way.

[Senna88]

11744

Just in case anyone's interested, the bike pannier bag fit quite well, its close to the radiator fan (touching in fact) but the fan itself doesn't foul the bag so I think it'll be ok. Obviously there's less airflow going around now but can't see that being a problem?

[TheSebringOne]

I wonder if there will be any heat issues? Just thinking when we get the odd bit of sunshine in the Summer &
there is no air circulating around?

[Sudesh]

I think this has got to be the ultimate roof box!

http://blog.campingequipmentshop.co.uk/reviews/product-review/thule-lightning-roofbox/attachment/koenigsegg_agera_r-thule_lightning-ashx/ (http://blog.campingequipmentshop.co.uk/reviews/product-review/thule-lightning-roofbox/attachment/koenigsegg_agera_r-thule_lightning-ashx/)

Now that is stunning!

A nice roof box would be the way to go.

[Senna88]

I wonder if there will be any heat issues? Just thinking when we get the odd bit of sunshine in the Summer &
there is no air circulating around?

I was a bit wary that it might affect cooling too, but did a lap of the Nurburgring with the bag in and the ambient temp was 24deg C with no problems (except a very slow lap as I have no knowledge of the corners!). Done over 1000 miles with the bag in situ now (including a few 140mph runs on the autobahns) and the car's been flawless so I'm happy with it.

[havoc]

Did you get anywhere with this in the end Havoc? I'm looking to do the same, need to fit 2 months worth in the car....though I was thinking of just using bungee cords and rope to keep the box in place rather than needing to remove the spare wheel holder and drill something...

Sorry chap, just seen this post - not been around much this year.

I did - a heath-robinson plastic kitchen-container with a lid, which I drilled a hole in for the spare-wheel retainer to go through (packed with a handful of repair washers between it and the spare-wheel bracket), and some foam 'feet' glued to the bottom to prevent vibration when sitting on the bottom of the spare-wheel bracket.

In terms of keeping stuff in without rattling, it worked well enough, except for two things:-
- In order to preserve airflow behind the rad, it was only about 4in deep front-to-back. (and about 15in square from front-on)
- It still cooked the stuff inside - a spare 750ml Vittel bottle of screenwash warped on the journey down, and my mini socket-set was a little warm too...
...so we didn't bother the following year for Italy.

So, lessons learned:-
- Reflective foil at the front of whatever you use
- Keep away from the radiator fan, or at least some sort of profile to deflect air around the compartment
- It'll still be pretty small...unless you remove the spare-wheel bracket and fabricate some other type of fixing/support, but then note where the battery is and how easy it might be to get to if you need to.


Just seen your solution - looks better, I should probably have gone the same way, but was concerned about airflow/cooling same as you - pleasantly surprised it wasn't a problem! Cote d'Azur ambient temps were a little higher than N'ring though...not sure I'd do that to the Med in summer.

[marknsx]

Did anyone develop a front boot option?