Thread: The Fabrication Has Started On My Zpc

Originally Posted by Altimat

And I wouldn't worry about the heat sink falling off that seems unlikely

Shock and vibration can cause stress fractures where the heat sync mounts...again...if the hs is a hefty booger. I've seen this happen with regular pc towers and no shock or vibration due to hot chips weakening the board.

might consider a sturdier wood like MDF or a solid particleboard over plywood.

I picked the wood due to the weight. I know its not a big difference but MDF is 2 times the weight. Plus the place the box is going the structure of the car ads strength to the box. Not to mention if altimat keeps boosting my ego I may end up fiber glassing the whole thing and spraying it body color.

I have already started thinking of ways to strengthen the sink mount.

Altimat what do I need to do to consider FG this thing.

Radius the corners first. You need a layer of fiberglass mat over the exposed surface you want to paint. I recommend a repair kit with a quart of resin, hardener, and some mat. Then follow with a skim coat of filler, and primer until smooth. Pay someone to spray it, and maybe prime it too.

Altimat,
I was lookig at the system you did in the back of that Z again. would I have to fiber it if I just want the conture to be flat. Couldn't I just use filler to smooth it out like you did with the beauty board.

Originally Posted by zmann

Altimat,
I was looking at the system you did in the back of that Z again. would I have to fiber it if I just want the conture to be flat. Couldn't I just use filler to smooth it out like you did with the beauty board.

Yes you could. We were in a hurry and should have glassed that panel too, but we were out of glass, the Z had to go back to MD, and we had an appt. for paint at the body shop, so we had to cut that corner. Fiberglassing it is just better because it forms a good barrier layer between the finish and the wood. Filler needs to be a consistent thickness across the entire panel otherwise, and in our case some grain did show through and need to be buffed out later. Our whole problem was that we were going to vinyl the front panel which is why it was plywood and not MDF, but then Dave decided to paint it. It all looks great painted, and your white panel will look even better. Its a pain and you have to be more careful with it, but it really adds a professional show quality touch to any ICE install IMO and definitely worth some extra effort and $$.