kcjaz
SILVER Star
As some of you know, I have "completed" my 2nd 200 build after totaling my 1st 200. I won't go into the details of that here as that is chronicled in other threads. Just go to my build thread if you are interested in that story.
One thing that I have not yet re-installed is my snorkel. I had a Fabulous Fabrications stainless steel snorkel and liked it, but after my accident, and seeing the "collateral" damage it caused, I am rethinking if I really want to put it on the new rig. Part of what drew me to the FF snorkel was that it was metal. I've seen several snorkels get crushed and broken when hit by a tree. I thought metal was better than plastic or fiberglass and would prevent that but after experiencing hittings trees with my snorkel, and seeing the damage the metal tube inflicted on the inner fender, air intake and A-pilar, I'm not sure metal is better. Don't get me wrong, my truck would have been totaled either way. I'm just saying that with the FF snorkel, a fender hit that might just break a plastic snorkel and mess up/dent the outer fender will now likely mess up the inner fender and rip out the rivnuts on the A-pillar. The inner fender is all factory welded together and really costly to repair back to OEM spec. In fact, what I found that most of the body shops around here don't want that kind of work. From my quotes, if you are into the inner fender and A-pillar, you are looking at a $20K repair at a body shop.
So, I'm considering going snorkeless, or switching to a plastic one. I just don't like the look of any of the plastic ones. I've also thought about modifying the FF snorkel in some way to reduce the damage multiplier potential. The only thing I've come up with is cutting a section out of it at the A-pillar and adding a rubber section to eliminate the level arm that rips out the rivnuts of the fender is hit. I've also wondered if I could somehow reinforce the fender to help reduce inner fender damage if there was an impact. If there was a plastic or fiberglass snorkel that looked like the FF snorkel, I'd do that.
Thoughts?
FWIW, I already have a replacement FF snorkel in a box that I bought when I thought I was going to repair the truck. I may offer that up for sale if I decide to do a different route.
One thing that I have not yet re-installed is my snorkel. I had a Fabulous Fabrications stainless steel snorkel and liked it, but after my accident, and seeing the "collateral" damage it caused, I am rethinking if I really want to put it on the new rig. Part of what drew me to the FF snorkel was that it was metal. I've seen several snorkels get crushed and broken when hit by a tree. I thought metal was better than plastic or fiberglass and would prevent that but after experiencing hittings trees with my snorkel, and seeing the damage the metal tube inflicted on the inner fender, air intake and A-pilar, I'm not sure metal is better. Don't get me wrong, my truck would have been totaled either way. I'm just saying that with the FF snorkel, a fender hit that might just break a plastic snorkel and mess up/dent the outer fender will now likely mess up the inner fender and rip out the rivnuts on the A-pillar. The inner fender is all factory welded together and really costly to repair back to OEM spec. In fact, what I found that most of the body shops around here don't want that kind of work. From my quotes, if you are into the inner fender and A-pillar, you are looking at a $20K repair at a body shop.
So, I'm considering going snorkeless, or switching to a plastic one. I just don't like the look of any of the plastic ones. I've also thought about modifying the FF snorkel in some way to reduce the damage multiplier potential. The only thing I've come up with is cutting a section out of it at the A-pillar and adding a rubber section to eliminate the level arm that rips out the rivnuts of the fender is hit. I've also wondered if I could somehow reinforce the fender to help reduce inner fender damage if there was an impact. If there was a plastic or fiberglass snorkel that looked like the FF snorkel, I'd do that.
Thoughts?
FWIW, I already have a replacement FF snorkel in a box that I bought when I thought I was going to repair the truck. I may offer that up for sale if I decide to do a different route.
