Vent Gauge Holders

[salsheikh]

Guys, I have seen many Focus' in magazines that have the gauges in the vents but I cant find these anywhere, can someone point me in the right direction? I might try and make one...although my dash gauge kit from an ST (like what Lenny has fitted in his car) still needs fitting or selling!

[Lenny]

Guys, I have seen many Focus' in magazines that have the gauges in the vents but I cant find these anywhere, can someone point me in the right direction? I might try and make one...although my dash gauge kit from an ST (like what Lenny has fitted in his car) still needs fitting or selling!

of course i would say this but:

if i was you mate id keep the vents as they are,

and fit the st pod.

or purchase a tripple gauge pod and fit it upside down in glove box,

screw it to the roof of the glove box inside and face the gauges the correct way around.

nice and discreet.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Pod-Gauge-Holder-52mm-Oil-Temp-Kit-Car-Boost-/320664937330?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4aa91ea372

[salsheikh]

might have to the ST pod way...btwLenny, i managed to bag an RS rear roof spoiler....just waiting for delivery.

Have the skirts delivered but not had a chance to look at them yet. All that would remain is lowering the car but only after I sort out the frontdrivers side arch rubbing the outer tyre wall ever so slightly.

[Lenny]

might have to the ST pod way...btwLenny, i managed to bag an RS rear roof spoiler....just waiting for delivery.

Have the skirts delivered but not had a chance to look at them yet. All that would remain is lowering the car but only after I sort out the frontdrivers side arch rubbing the outer tyre wall ever so slightly.

nice one mate,

it will look sweet when fitted and will go nicely along with your duplex exhaust system mate,

im due to have the Zs kit fitted next saturday really looking foward to that too.

[salsheikh]

i bet you cant wait Lenny, yours is gonna look ace. thinking about buying the RS bonnet vents from RSParts off eBay - £45 delivered. will have to cut the bonnet to fit. should i be wary of water gremlins?

fitting guide here: http://www.focusstoc.com/forums/topic/108640-rs-vents-and-balls/

[Lenny]

i bet you cant wait Lenny, yours is gonna look ace. thinking about buying the RS bonnet vents from RSParts off ebay - £45 delivered. will have to cut the bonnet to fit. should i be wary of water gremlins?

fitting guide here: http://www.focusstoc...ents-and-balls/

yours will look better IMO mate,

i like your blue colour the focus is, and it will look ace with the RS spoiler and bonnet vents,

also like the job you done of the front lip makes the front grill look bigger mate,

and regarding the vents, once their not fitted above the top of the engine, you should be fine,

because the rain will just drip on to the exhaust manifold and run down the exhaust bend and on to the ground,

the only problem you may have is a puddle appering under the car causing you to think you have an oil leak when you look underneath lol but you will get used to that, and the vents would be well worth it mate.

nice find on the guide too. but i need to become a member to view it lol

[salsheikh]

from the page:

Here's a how to:

Fitting RS vents to your bonnet

Making a template

1. Take a piece of thin cardboard (a breakfast serial box) and measure the vents (the louvered parts) and cut out a hole the size that will have to be cut in the bonnet for the louvers to go through. Make sure this hole is smaller than the outside of the vents so they don’t fall through and you have enough area to bond to the bonnet.
   
2. One the underside of your bonnet place a piece of plain paper in to the area the vents will be fitted into and run round the edge with your finger making an indentation the shape of the hole the vent will be fitted in to.
   
3. Cut the paper template out so you replicate the size and shape you have to mount the vent into.
   

Here you have a choice, you can mount the vents straight down like the RS or at an angle. As there right or wrong you’ll have to make your own mind up what you want.

1. Place the paper template on to the cardboard template where you want the vent hole to be cut and then mark round the paper template, cut out the line you just made.
   

You now have a template that if you flip it over you can use for both sides so they are the same.

Marking and cutting the holes in the bonnet

1. Using masking tape cover the underside of the bonnet in the space where the vent is going (the same space you used to make the paper template). Then place the template in to the hole and mark round the hole you need to cut.
   
2. Flip the template over and repeat the other side.
   
3. Very important, check that you are happy with where the vents are going and you have the hole the correct way (remember you’re working under the bonnet, so everything is back to front). I found it useful to have the vent to hand to check. Measure the corners of the holes to the same part of the bonnet each side to check they are the same each side.
   
4. Before you cut or drill anything cover the engine bay, I used the bonnet insulation and an old curtain, but what every you use make sure no debris goes in to the engine bay because at best the small bits of metal will rust.
   
5. Using a small drill bit make a pilot hole in each corner of the hole you have marked, just to the inside as you ‘ll make the hole bigger in the next step.
   
6. Close the bonnet, but prop it open with some wood and a cloth (so you don’t damage anything), make sure there’s sufficient clearance between the underside of the bonnet and the engine etc.
   
7. Using making tape cover the area around the holes and draw lines on the tape between the holes, these are the lines you’ll cut along. Make sure you tape around the outside of the hole to protect the paint for the jigsaw.
   
8. Now using a drill bit the size of the jigsaw blade make the holes bigger. Hold the drill steady and take your time, let it cut and don’t force it, using a new bit is advisable.
   
9. Time for the jigsaw to come out, before you use it make sure you have a metal blade fitted and I tape over the “foot” so it didn’t mark the car.
   
10. Place the jigsaw in to a hole and cut along one long side first, then ensure the blade has stopped moving before you take the saw out of the hole. Do the same the other long side.
    
11. Using gaffer tape, tape along the cuts to steady the material as you don’t want it flapping about. Then cut the short sides.
    
12. You have now cut the holes, well done.
    

Fitting the vents

1. Trial fit the vents, if your template was correct and you cut the holes correctly then they will fit, if not file away any excess material a little at a time. Brush any filings off the bonnet with a soft brush.
   
2. This is important, once you have removed the masking tape from both sides of the bonnet you’ll need to paint the raw edges so no bare metal shows.
   
3. Once you’re happy that the previous stages are completed then it’s time to stick the vents in using Tiger Seal. On the underside of the vent apply a 5-7mm bead of sealant and place the vent in the hole.
   
4. Despite what you may believe Tiger Seal takes around 6 hours to grip so you’ll need to hold the vent in place. I covered the vents and bonnet with the curtain I used to cover the engine bay and then some heavy objects.
   
5. Check that the sides of the vents are down against the bonnet, if not use some thin pieces of wood under the heavy objects to concentrate the pressure.
   
6. After 24 hours your vents should be sealed in for ever.
   

Tools needed

1. Drill and a small bit and a bit the size of the jigsaw blade
   
2. Jigsaw and metal cutting blade
   
3. Masking tape
   
4. Tiger Seal
   
5. Block of wood
   
6. Cover (curtain)
   

Time needed

1. Allow as much time as you need to make the templates (get it right!)
   
2. Allow 2 hours to cut and fit the vents
   
3. Allow 24 hours before you use the car
   

[Lenny]

nice one mate,

you may be able to modify the bonnet insulation too,

so you can keep most of it on the bonnet and cut the sections for the vents out of the bonnet insulation too, because it is a fairly sturdy sheet it wouldnt flap down on the engine if you were to cut two squares out of it,

[salsheikh]

mmm, i could flap about but i have self adhesive velcro that i can use to try and stop the flapping issue. ordered the vents btw!

[Lenny]

mmm, i could flap about but i have self adhesive velcro that i can use to try and stop the flapping issue. ordered the vents btw!

look foward to the results mate,

would be ideal if ford supplied some vynil sections to fit the size of the indent in the under side of the bonnet,

and markings printed on them for cutting the section within the indented area.

may be easier to remove the bonnet and place it on the garden for cutting mate,

as the blood will run from your arms very quickly when working at that sort of angle the way it currently is.

and what are you cutting it out with?

single duvet's are very cheap in ikea,

if you have a store near by id purchase one of them and lye the bonnet down on top of it in the garden or kitchen,

would make it alot easier to mark out twice and cut once.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170805746325?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp4712.m570.l1313%26_nkw%3D170805746325%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1

and if your cutting the bonnet to fit the vents mate,

then you will have no problem cutting the dash to fit the pod.

i wouldnt have the balls to cut the bonnet personally mate, fair play B)

[Wayne Brian Pearsall]

these would look wicked on my car lol, shame you cant get them "for show" and not have to cut... lol...

== edit

wow, ask and thou shalt receive...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Focus-RS-style-ABS-plastic-bonnet-vents-/170807757952?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item27c4ef8c80

prepped for painting... -- recon they would look on just bonded? after painting

[Stoney871]

I reckon they'll look pretty good at a casual glance and less risky than cutting the bonnet.

[Stoney871]

I reckon they'll look pretty good at a casual glance and less risky than cutting the bonnet.

[salsheikh]

dunno what happened to my post, so typing it again. apologies if it duplicates.

The bonnet cutting is easy, done it before on my Golf GTI using Nissan Bluebird rear wing vents. Plenty of measurements and preperation and then patience when cutting.

Not too keen on the vents mentioned above as the are too rectangular for me.

Question is do I paint them Black or Blue?

[Stoney871]

Just match the colour of the car.

[Lenny]

id go with gloss black mate, and carbon wrap the chrome bonnet lip to match,

followed by removing the front grills and doing them in gloss black too, leaving the front matching the rs rear spoiler and diffuser.