Bandit Runner's Custom Snorkel Build

[Bandit Runner]

So first of all, I guess I need to change the title of this thread to "Bandit Runner's Chimney Build", because my wife keeps calling the snorkel a chimney.

Wife voice:
"Why are you putting a chimney on your truck?"
"You're not working on that chimney again, are you?"
"Are you done with that chimney yet?"

My response:
"Dammit HoneyBunny! Its a snorkel, Not a chimney!"

I'm just kidding. She knows what it is, and is supportive. (But she does jokingly call it a chimney.)

-----------------------------------------

Anyway I've been making some pretty good progress on it. I have all the pieces epoxied together, except the head. I drilled the mounting holes in the fender, but not the large airpath opening yet. I located and drilled holes in the A-pillar for the support bracket. I even started making the A-pillar bracket. I'll try to get some pics of all these things tonight.

In the meantime, here are some pics of the snorkel head.
Just a bunch of pieces:

Put the puzzle together:

The bottom side:

The goals for this coming weekend are:
- Epoxy the head pieces together.
- Finish fabbing the A-pillar bracket.
- Coat the tubing parts in fiberglass resin.
- Dry assemble everything for one last test fit.

After that its just:
- Wait for gasket material to come from McMaster-Carr.
- Cut a big hole in the fender.
- Lots of sanding to smooth everything out. (I suck at bodywork type stuff)
- Paint
- Final assembly.

 

[THEREALTOR1]

lmao, "Honey, snorkels are for breathing in, chimneys are for breathing out"

Awesome thread Bandit. I do like the idea of the rubber gasket/flange at the fender opening. If anybody's ever "licked and sticked" one of those dent pullers to the side of someone's car, they know that a proper flange like that can create a ton of seal, and you're running screws/bolts through it anyway so it should be fine. Good stuff!

 

[josh.bunch]

As I have said before, great work. This makes my 4runner pants go crazy.

 

[Hepar]

:lmao: It's definitely a good sign when your significant other really knows how to mess with you.

Progress is looking great. That head piece alone looks ridiculously nice.

 

[Bandit Runner]

Thanks guys. Here's a few more pics I took this evening.

This shows the mounting holes. The blue tape represents the size/location of the large opening that I still need to cut out.

Here are the holes in the A-pillar for the bracket. I will be using rubber well nuts in them.

Here's the back of the outer piece. Its showing my mockup gasket.

Here's a shot with the main tube setting in place. It may be a little crooked, because it is just sitting there, but not bolted fully to the fender.

Another angle:

This shows it with the head in place.

A side view with the head:

And a front view with the head:

 

[the great him]

looks good man! great work

 

[GottaBeTRD]

wow that is amazing, These are skills i just wish i had! I mean it looks professional, It looks like a part i could buy. Wow you put me in aww today man!

BTW what do you use to paint the plastic? or did i miss something where this is just a mold?

 

[SQ.MD]

if I was a snorkel manufacturer, I would break into your garage and steal your chimney to prevent decline in sales. You are going to sell some of these badboys aren't you?

 

[Bandit Runner]

wow that is amazing, These are skills i just wish i had! I mean it looks professional, It looks like a part i could buy. Wow you put me in aww today man!

BTW what do you use to paint the plastic? or did i miss something where this is just a mold?

Thanks for the compliments. None of the plastic has been painted yet. All of the plastic pieces will be covered in a few layers of fiberglass resin to seal them, and then sanded smooth. Then paint will be put on that. I will probably just brush on Rustoleum semi-gloss black enamel.

if I was a snorkel manufacturer, I would break into your garage and steal your chimney to prevent decline in sales. You are going to sell some of these badboys aren't you?

Thanks, but sorry, it was not designed to be mass-produced. It is a one-off custom piece.

 

[jmt2404]

You sir are an amazing fabricator. YOu have made almost everything on your rig and this chimeny takes the cake. Great job.


I do have a question for you though. Does your snorkel have a way to seperate rain and other water from the air that gets into the snorkel through the mouth? It may not be a big concern where you are at but from the very wet PNW it was a concern of mine.


You can see on my airflow snorkel it has slots cut in the bottom of the head to seperate the air and water. It has 4 slots total, 1 on each side. Also the tube actually goes up into the head a little bit to limit the water draining straight into the tube.

Not sure if you have covered it in your build, I may have missed it. Just thought i'ld ask.

 

[Bandit Runner]

You sir are an amazing fabricator. YOu have made almost everything on your rig and this chimeny takes the cake. Great job.

I do have a question for you though. Does your snorkel have a way to seperate rain and other water from the air that gets into the snorkel through the mouth? It may not be a big concern where you are at but from the very wet PNW it was a concern of mine.

Thanks and great question, I was wondering if anyone would ask about this. I spent A LOT of time thinking about this when I was designing the head. I went through several design versions and iterations, trying to get this just right.

I finally came up with a design that I think will work very well. The head has several features that will help separate any rain water from the airflow path. Like the ARB, I also set the tube up into the head, so it sets higher than the floor of the head. There is a splitter that directs air and water around the tube to the back of the head, so it has no direct path into the front of the tube. I also have a series of baffles and angled surfaces that funnel any water through two drain holes at the rear of the head.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[jmt2404]

right on. I think I see them in some of your pics above. Sounds like you have taken care of it completely.

Where did you get the rubber well nuts?

 

[Bandit Runner]

Where did you get the rubber well nuts?

You can pick them up at most any hardware store. I got mine from Lowes for like $1 each. They are #10-24 thread size. I drilled 3/8" holes for them. They seal up nice and tight.

 

[BrianSD_42]

very awesome work!

 

[blcktpgsr]

I like it man, I like it alot..but I don't like you because you're not mass producing it.:rockthrow:

 

[Bandit Runner]

Well, I got the A-pillar bracket finished today. Also did a bunch of sanding on the lower outer part.

The bracket:

Bracket with tubing attached:

Everything bolted together:

This is the first time I've had everything completely bolted together. It all fit great. I was impressed, because it was VERY sturdy. I thought there would be more movement, but it was very solid.

Next step is coating everything with several layers of fiberglass resin. Then lots of sanding, and finally paint.

 

[dgoll75]

I dont even have a 4wd and absolutely no use for a snorkel, but I am obsessed with the amazing job you did creating this snorkel. Well done sir!

 

[4Running Daily]

You will sell this. You WILL sell this.

 

[Bandit Runner]

Small update: I finished sanding everything down, and cleaned up the parts so they are all ready for paint. I also cut out the inner and outer gaskets. I still need to cut out the big hole in the fender. I'll probably do that tonight.

If I can get everything painted this week, I should be able to install the snorkel this weekend.

Sorry, no pics today. Maybe I'll grab few tonight.

 

[ttran]

Nice..... In for pics!