Hot Rods Anyone know how to get something custom cast in aluminum?

Yeah, website sez they are unavailable for 60 to 90 days. You could try their contact info to see about a back in stock date.....if you have interest. This is what they look like in a dual configuration.

 

Unless you can do most of the work on this project yourself i can see this getting real expensive quickly. With the cost of having a pattern made, finding a foundry willing to pour the castings, cost of the castings, machine work even minimal to make them fit the carbs the cost will add up quickly. Most likely who ever makes the pattern will require a 3D model which is another cost unless you find someone who has a lot of time and just enjoys doing the old fashion pattern making.

I will probably get lit up for saying this. However, ***uming you or someone else creates a Solid Works 3D model it might be cheaper to have the parts CNC machined from a block of 6061 aluminum. No, no, no don’t say the word “billet” now you’ve done it.

 

i prefer wolk design of the stellings and hellings on a dual quad intake

 

Not quite the same thing but close, these are from Roadster supply. HRP
Brand: Roadster Supply Company
PART NUMBER: RSC-64014 Vintage style, finned ' mohawk' frog mouth air cleaner with specialty made bug screen that stops the dirt and dust.

 

If you can find a good foundry it's not too pricey. I have used a couple. The one @alchemy set me onto just recently quit doing small batch work. Kris Elmer aka @loudpedal might be a person to talk to. He does a ton of casting

 

I’m aware of this process being used to reproduce a very rare Air Cooled Radial Aircraft Cylinder Head many years ago now. It required a pretty sophisticated 3D model that took into account, draft, parting lines, shrinkage, gating, etc. it also took a very long time to print sand molds However for just a very few castings saved many thousands of dollars compared to have even temporarily tooling made. At the time this was very cutting edge technology but I’m sure as most technologies go has gotten much more cost effective now.

 

That kinda eliminates off the shelf tubing, I’d think.

 

I had plans to cast some DB spindle caps. This was a good 25 years ago when newsgroups were popular, I was told (and did) to find “The metal casters bible” or similar name.
Not sure where that book went, but it went into a lot of detail about castings.
But these days the info is probably on the ‘Net to get you the information needed.

 

i had some 38 chevy truck headlight stands cast but the guy ended up evasive and i ended up making 2 /200 mile trips before i had the stands.not good

 

Danny, OP is looking for something that will fit a 4bbl carb.

 

5.125" ID is an odd size for tubing. But 5" ID and 5.25" ID is not uncommon and could be made to fit, I think.

 

youtube videos tell you all you need to know to do it yourself at home for very little cost

 

I remember when my T5 conversion kit sales were rocking in the late 90's before the Chinese parts started flowing I went to a foundry I think was in Northers Ill with my sample and got something like a price of $20K to make the Mahogany pattern with a minimum of a 100 per pour making the per piece $35 per bell housing before machining. They would not amortize the pattern, everything was up front. At that time I thought it was out of my ballpark. Looking back I should have borrowed the money and proceeded.

 

Tubing is measured on the outside. Pipe is measured on the inside.

 

Not quite true. The only consistent dimension of pipe is the OD. The size is nominal and not true to the stated size on the ID. Take 2" pipe for example. The OD is 2.375" but the ID will vary based on the wall thickness or schedule. IOW, Sch 5, Sch 10, Sch 40, Sch 80, etc have different wall thicknesses and therefore different inside diameters, but the OD in every case will be 2.375", and none of them will measure 2" on the ID.

5" Sch 40 pipe has an ID of 5.047" theoretically. The actual will be slightly larger because manufacturers use the thickness tolerance to minimize the amount of material. If I wanted something unique, I'd look at using a 5" short radius aluminum weld ell as a start point. Saw it in half to make a pair of 45's. Bore one end of each to 5.125" to fit the carb. Shape the mouth end to whatever I think looks good. Polish the result. Fair bit of work, but not a big bunch of money

 

Thanks for all the info, guys. I have to relly think this through. There just aren't many options for the 4bbl other than multiple variations of the Hilborn type scoop, which I really don't want. I have time, I'll have to keep noodling this. I think casting my own is just too much of a pain in the neck to really pursue further.

 

****. I can't get away with anything around here.
Let's see... how can I weasel out of this one?

This might work...
"I knew that. But I'm old, and I had a senior moment."

How 'bout...
"That's not how it's measured in my country."

last resort...
"I hear my mommy calling."

 

I'll throw a monkey wrench in......tubing can be ordered in pipe sizes

 

Quit it out.

 

This would be a good place to look on the 'net for practical DIY casting information. http://prometheus-foundry.com/tutorial.html

This book is quite old, but it still has relevant information, I used it when I set up my home foundry 40 years ago. https://www.ebay.com/itm/394667842719

 

Then DOM tube can be almost anything you want both inside and outside.

 

Don't remember where I saw these, but there are - or were, a neat solution for very tight-radius tubing bends, called "doughnuts". Or at least that was the slang for them. They literally looked like a metal doughnut, & I think they were hydro-formed halves, then welded together, giving you the option of near-any radius needed. Came in different tubing diameters. Might be a good start if you can find them.
Marcus...

 

Might be worth contacting these guys in NZ. They did a couple small simple castings for me a while back. I’ve also got a set of their Mercury script valve covers. Nice people to work with. Communication takes a while since they’re half a world away.

https://acecustoms.co.nz/

 

Maybe you could get a couple of old no name finned valve covers and some 1/8" aluminum and make something like these. Cut the ends off to the length you want and cut one side off each end then weld them together for the width to make the top. Trim the bottom of the sides to get the height. Make the bottom out of the aluminum and roll a tube out of a strip of the aluminum to fit the carb. If you want to run an air cleaner, make the bottom fit parallel to the top and weld some tabs far enough up into the top so you can bolt the bottom into the top and hide the bolts. Three or so tabs tacked onto the bottom would keep the air cleaner in place.

 

Try Angeles Aluminum Foundry on Pico Bl in East L.A. You'll have to give then a mold pattern or pay them to make one.

 

That thing is pretty cool!!

 

Maybe this guy can help.

https://carpyscaferacers.com/shop/shop-our-store/hot-rod-parts-accessories/mouth-finned-scoops/

 

Cattail foundry in PA does small batch casting. They are acclaimed in the machine tool restoration hobby circles.