240z Series-1 Hatch Duct Clips - $50/set

[Hardway]

For sale is a set of 4 clips that hold the duct work to the backside of the hatch sheet metal and provide the location for the barrel clip that holds the vent grille on.  Also known as a Tailgate Ventilator Clip.  Please reference Nissan part# 90829-E4100 and the link below.  These have been NLA for years and I discovered a personal need for a set.  With the help of others I had a local sheet metal fabrication company produce a run of 100 clips which equals 25 sets.  I needed a set myself and I am keeping an extra as a spare thus making 23 sets available.  The clips are made of spring steel just like the originals and are clear zinc plated to protect against corrosion.  Each set is $50.00 US shipped w/insurance & tracking to anywhere in the continental US.  Shipping to Canada should not be too much more but reach out to me for a specific quote.  There is a $5.00 discount for each set after the first if you purchase 2 or more sets at one time.  Meaning 1 set = $50, 2 sets = $95, 3 sets = $140.

Please review all of the pictures below.  The clip in black is an original that was used to model the new clips off of.  The new clips hold the duct work nice and tight to the under side sheet metal and fit very well in to the recess of the plastic chrome vent grille.  Please ask all questions prior to purchasing.  Payment accepted via Paypal and I will only ship to the Paypal address.  Please DO NOT use the friends and family method.  PM me for my Paypal email address or mailing address as check is welcome as well.  I will ship out each set within 2 business days of payment being received.  

Original link - http://www.classiczcars.com/topic/57001-series-1-hatch-vent-duct-clips-restoration-info-needed/ 

 

[Hardway]

Since I was not getting anymore orders from here I put the remaining 18 sets on Ebay.  You can find them here if you would like a set.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/112366651557?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

Thank you!

 

[loudoun]

Thanks Hardway, I purchased a set.

 

[Hardway]

Thank you loudoun!  I will shipping out tonight's purchases tomorrow afternoon.

[Hardway]

"That's all folks!"  The last set of clips just sold.  I appreciate everyone that purchased a set.  This thread can be closed.

[kunzma]

On 4/19/2017 at 9:46 AM, Hardway said:

"That's all folks!"  The last set of clips just sold.  I appreciate everyone that purchased a set.  This thread can be closed.

Missed this by a few months.

Edited October 15, 2017 by kunzma

[Namerow]

Now that Hardway has sold off his inventory and doesn't look like he's planning to commission a second run,  I feel I can share my D-I-Y strategy with those of you who still need these pieces.  The clips aren't terribly difficult to fabricate from sheet stock and they don't have to be made from spring steel (that comes afterwards).  Here's how I made mine:

1. Using tin snips, cut 4 metal strips from 0.022" sheet (or close to that).  After cutting, flatten the strips on a hard surface with an autobody hammer.  Then de-burr all the cut edges with a file.

x

After cutting, flatten the strips on a hard surface with an autobody hammer.  Then de-burr all the cut edges with a file.  This had yet to be done for the pieces in the photo.

 

2. Fabricate a forming buck from a small piece of hardwood (softwood won't do).  You'll need the buck to form the 'bump' in the closed end.  The 'bump' shape is mandatory -- it provides clearance for the stamped flange that runs around the periphery of the vent opening in the hatch outer sheet metal).  I used a power sander and a Dremel sanding drum to make my buck.  When you're happy with the shape, mark the side edge for the location of the centreline of the hole that you'll need to drill in the clip after you've bent it to shape.

x

 

3. Mount your buck in a bench vise, along with one of the metal strips.  The vise jaws should clamp on one end of the metal strip and the buck simultaneously (keeps the metal strip in position during the bending process).

x

 

4. Now shape each strip using, as appropriate, either hand pressure or your autobody hammer (use the flat part of the hammer for the outside bends and the 'pick' end for the inside bend). 

x

x

 

5. Mark and centre-punch the hole center before you remove the finished clip from from the buck.  Then, using another strip of wood of appropriate thickness as a backing/spacer piece, slide the shaped clip over the wood and then clamp in some fashion to prepare for drilling the hole. Because the hole has to pass through both the upper and lower leg of the clip, you'll need both the spacer piece and a backing board.  It's preferable, but not mandatory, to use a drill press here.  De-burr both drilled holes afterwards...

6

 

6. To finish up, give the clips a bit of 'spring tempering' by heating them up with a torch (get them just to start of glowing red) and then dunking them in cold water (sorry, no photo for this step)

 

7. Here's my end result...

 

The total project probably took me 3 or 4 hours to complete (making the buck is finicky). 

Materials costs were ~ zero. 

Best part:  The clips worked perfectly during the installation of my vent pieces.

[Hardway]

That is excellent work Namerow!  Now that you have the buck made, how long does it take you to make one clip? Looks like you might have a side gig there.  Thank you for sharing!

[Namerow]

Thanks.  I probably never would have gone down this path if you hadn't created this thread in the first place!  I was thinking that the vent grills in my car would have the clips intact, but I'd never taken a close look until I read your write-up and became intrigued.  When I finally got around to it,  I discovered that the clips were missing altogether (the PO had done a lash-up job, which included two-sided tape to hold the chrome grills in place).  And by the time all of this became known to me, you'd sold all of your clip sets and I had to look for other options. 

The main uncertainty was whether the clips really needed to be made from tempered steel to work properly.  Based on my what I've learned, the answer seems to be, 'not really'.  My torch-and-quench tempering scheme seems to have been adequate, helped by the fact that the forming process creates a bit of localized work-hardening around the bent areas.  And then, the legs of the clips don't have to spread that much when the clip is being pushed into place.

In answer to your question, it probably would take me 15 minutes to make a new clip.

Side business?  I'm guessing there's not more than another 50 customers left out there in Z-Land, so not enough in it to be worthwhile.  Maybe someone else will be interested in taking it on, though.

[kunzma]

What is the inner thickness dimension of the clip?  I don't see it listed.

[Hardway]

The company that I had make them still has the tooling.  If the demand was high enough again I could inquiry about having another run made.  Hopefully it would be a little cheaper the second time around as I do not have to pay for the tooling to be made.

[Hardway]

I have had a few people reach out to me about the clips on eBay.  I am going to reach out to the fab company after the holiday weekend to get a quote and lead time on having another run of 100 clips made which would be 25 sets.  If anyone is interested just let me know.