I emphatically, whole heartedly, exuberantly support the idea for machined aluminum replacements for the plastic silver shifter-surrounding trim. How is that for a suggestion? God I hate that silver plastic...

Badges would also be great. My vote is #1.

I have a manual Tranny....so i don't mind taking a crack at the plastic trim housing for the MT shifter (I think the AT is a little different).....but so far I haven't heard back from AG....i can draw as complicated of a part - we just gotta make sure his CNC machine can actually make the part. I have a bit of knowledge for machining parts, so if AG says it's hard to do because of the smallest Mill radius or whatever...i can always make it to be more machinable.

Either way, I have a list of projects of my own in which are less of replicating existing stuff, rather things that are not made yet which i'm sure a lot of people would want dips in it. So stay tune...

I like both #1 and #2. I would most likely put #1 on the front and #2 on the rear with color match around the "Z"

I like #1 but why can't you get rid of the middle bar and have the "Z" laying on top the circle?

Awesome, I truly hope you guys keep those parts in mind. I'd KILL to replace my POS silver plastic pieces on my 6MT.

Wow Kevin you've out done yourself with the badges. I really like your Z It looks a lot closer to the OEM than I could have done. I had to look over your posts and designs several times, hell I even took notes.

I want to start off by addressing your first and last posts concerning future projects such as brake ducts, under body bracing and the shifter surround; The brake ducts sound to me like a job which is out of my area of expertise. What I am picturing in my head is basically a funnel with a tube that channels air from the front of the car to the brakes. Parts like these are not cost efficent to make via machining. I am not a fabricator, I can not weld or bend sheet metal/ metal tube in a precise manor, although I do know people who can. I would be happy to provide any machined parts necessary, and participate in the project in any way that I can be helpful.

I'm not exactly clear on what is meant by under body bracing but again if it requires welding or bending, we'll have to talk to West Coast Fab about that.

The shifter surround will be a tricky bastard. The compound radii/angle of the two tabs that house the S-mode and hazard light buttons will require me to use a technique known as ball nose milling. This is not a problem, in fact it is the style of machining I will use to make the badges, how ever it is quite time consuming on a larger part such as this. ( basically I will trace the entire surface of the part in linear passes with a .125 diameter ball nose endmill, moving the tool up and down to follow the contours of the part, stepping over .005 inches each time. ) Work holding while machining the back side will also be complicated/problematic. BUT do not think that I am backing down from this challenge, it can and will be done. I just want to take this one project at a time, no need to get ahead of our selves.

That said I must step away from the computer for a short while and will return later this evening to comment on your wonderful badge designs... I took notes remember?

#2 ftw!

Thanks for the update. As for the brake ducts, which i'm aware is a very popular mod that everyone's waiting for. I'm thinking even if we don't have anything weld together such as bent sheet metal (scoop) to duct air into the brakes/ rotor, I was thinking about taking a look at some of the existing attachment bolt holes I could use to bolt something (bracket which i'll design) that can hold those off the shelf flexible hose (used for brake ducts) and all we'd have to do is have it plug right into the bracket and we'd just have to use a hose collar clamp to wrap over the hose to the bracket. And similarly, any attachment points that need a bracket to hold the hose or route the hose, I could look into also creating something. Similarly, the front bumper...where the shark fins located...I've taken my bumper apart to take a good look at it awhile back and maybe I can also create something that attaches to where the cover lids located next to the shark fins.....just a thought.

It'll also be a challenge to draw, but I'm also up for the challenge...but I can tell you right away that there's a reason people injection mold parts that has that much contours, it's typically hell of expensive to machine. I haven't taken my shifter plastic trim apart yet....is it attached to the fake leather boot?

Number 2 is the best of those 3, but I still like the earlier ones that didn't have any filler the most . I'd shave my bumpers if I had to to make it work. Maybe offer 2 designs???

I think the best option is #2. Regardless, people are going to have to paint if they want the emblem to stay like it is. I think it would be easier to paint an already flat surface of the emblem then to have to cut the nubs off and sand them and paint them. Like I said before, you can paint to match, you can go black, or just leave it machined. If you know a good paint shop you could get them painted in bulk in different colors to. That way you can offer them ready to install. Just charge more obviously for painted to match. Also, having it all one piece would make for a better surface area to mount the emblem with 3M double sided tape. This is perfect so far.

Won't be long now and I will be sending my $$$ for a set!

I like 1 and 2!

1 and 2 :tup:

Damn those nubs. The first badge (not listed 1,2,or 3 but the badge that doesn't cover the nubs) I'm almost willing to shave my bumper it looks so good. (j/k that's not the road I want to go down) I cant believe this badge doesn't come stock on the car. Damn those nubs. But alas we must work around Nissan's decision.

I remember seeing a photo on this forum of a PW with the front badge removed. I seem to remember that the nubs stick up much higher on the front bumper than the rear . Thus in design #2 the thickness of the blacked out area will have to accommodate. I could be wrong, but I think its worth finding a picture so we can know that were dealing with. I've tried searching for it but haven't found it yet maybe one of the members following this thread could be of assistance.

I'm not able to access the soldworks files tonight because my home computer edition is only 2005, and since you have a newer version it will not let me view the files, but I will be checking them out the first spare moment I get tomorrow at the shop.

As the designs stand right now I'd have to say that I like #2 the best. It looks real good, and it takes care of our nub problem. It's gets away from the burger look a bit, and its got that big fat Z right where every one wants to see it. Machining will be moderately difficult but nothing to worry about.

#1 is practical and attractive. It's a clean look and it does remove the word Nissan from the front and rear of the car. However, its just not different enough for my taste personally. It looks a lot better than the stock badge that's for sure, But it think its a bit too subtle to go to all this trouble for. Not that I'd be opposed to making it if people like it, just wouldn't choose it for my car.

In my opinion #3 has the most potential. Its sleek lines rival those of the Z it self. I like the shell or dome look to the blackout area. Unfortunately the dome will make this part considerably more time consuming to produce but I'm definitely not ruling it out because of this. I like the oval inside the circle. However if I may critique your design just a bit I think it may be improved by slightly decreasing the diameter of the oval, in effect making the ring thicker and filling out more of the black area. I also like how the side tabs (or all beef patty if you will) are minimized in this design. I wouldn't mind seeing a similar concept applied to badge #2.


long post...will continue with discussion of allowed radii for ease of machining

I'll send you the Parasolid format instead, you should be able to open it even in 2005, it'll just be converted into a Part file in 2005.....check your e-mail in a minute.

Also, I took your advice and reduced the size of the circle in the middle for the 3rd option...let me know what you think.
http://www.the370z.com/members/scruf...3-modified.jpg

You can paint the filler to match your car or paint it black. It will be easier to do than shaving the bumper. Plus, if all goes well, we might be able to get them color matched in bulk:tup:

Right now I'm working on the wheel hub cap emblems....it'll be just like number 2 except better because it's a circle and hopefully there's nothing that restricts me to have to cover or work around. Does anyone know on top of their head if the Emblem on the hub cap is together with the hub cap? or does the emblem come off by itself?

ok received the files and Im checking them out, I will get back to you tomorrow, gotta get up at 5am to make that money

Wheel Hub Cap
 

Here's what I have for the wheel hub cap emblem...I this one we can do without the background fill-in.

http://www.the370z.com/members/scruf...p-z-emblem.jpg

Hey AG, I actually know of a place in SF bay area that could do 3D printing of these parts.....check out www.protocafe.com

I use them for prototyping for work...but the way the make these prototype (for fitting purposes of course) it's like 3D printing and it only takes a couple of days or less turn around time to make these models. But if we're making it out of machining, going this path does necessary mean we can machine it.

PS> I sent you the file for the Wheel Hub Cap Emblem too...it's a draft

Looks good!

Shifter Boot Trim
 

Now wouldn't this be sick?
http://www.the370z.com/members/scruf...-boot-trim.jpg

Dude your sick man. All this stuff looks great!

that's awesome!!

:tup:

whoa, badass.

Of those I really like #2. This is some fantastic stuff! +1 rep, good sir!!!

The shifter surround is fantastic!

I will buy those shifter surrounds and emblems IMMEDIATELY if/when they are made. Will the shifter surround be a brushed aluminum finish with a polished 'Z' logo? Also I assume this will be ok if you have an auto?

Although I put the shifter surround together as one piece with the Z emblem, the "Z" emblem may (or may not) have to 2 piece depending if AG can actually machine that small of an emblem on top of the curved surface, but the idea is to replace the plastic trim with whatever metal material that's easy to machine and looks good....in this case, Aluminum is preferable. I still gotta check for dimensions for this part...i think i should get some fillet gauges to verify my work since this is a little bit more of a complicated part and how nicely it fits is pretty important as well. I'll keep you guys posted.

excellent work, if these parts could be made, you have my money.

Shifter surround is on point.

That shifter trim is epic.

Wow! I am late to the party.

Is anybody else worried about Nissan putting the kibosh on selling these to other members (even at cost) since they undoubtedly own the "Z" trademark?

wow, im really liking #2. matching set for front/rear/center caps would be fantastic.

Ssshh!

here's for you...

http://thm-a01.yimg.com/nimage/d6b60981ac527dc6

Those Z badges never look good while the remainder of the rectangular hamburger wings bit is still there. Half arsed at best.

I know it's a pain to do, but why don't people fill out the hole and do a proper, more simple round Z logo instead?

Not that I'm going to be wanting any mods, but replacing all the tacky fake metal on the interior with real metal would get my vote.

The body filling could eventually lead to cracking.

in for a shifter surround, if it gets made.