I just installed an air force 1 fipk. as I was replaceing the black plastic throttle body cover I thought about how kewl it would be to have a chromed cover instead of the plastic one.
any one know of a company that offers one?
if there isnt one, there should be.
is there a way to have the factory one chromed? or a reason why this hasnt been done yet?

 

I have been looking as well, and decided to make my own. I bought a chrome air cleaner from Ford racing, and made my own bracket to support it. I also made some brite tread aluminum containers for the battery, washer fluid, and the rad overflow, all with basic hand tools, and alot of planning. It looks great. I can show you a picture of it tommorrow when I pick up the pictures I took of it, but I am not sure what to do once I scan the picture on my friends computer, any ideas, and i'll send it over tomorrow.

 

sounds like you are very creative. I would like to see pix.there is a file upload option when posting a message. look above where you type the message for 'file upload enabled' you browse your hard drive for the picture..you save the picture in jpg or gif format.
after you upload it you will get a message telling you what the url to the picture is. save that info. you can copy and paste it into a message here and the picture will appear in the message.like this one below of my truck.
hope this helps.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/User_files/3a85d9b45c9e35fe.jpg

 

Hi Wegie, sorry for the delay, we had server problems in our area. We scanned 2 pictures for you, but when attempting to upload we were told the file size was too great at 1.4meg. I suppose we could reduce the size, but it looks like only 75K is allowed, and this might not show the engine compartment too clear for you. The file was a .tif file not .gif, I don't know if this matters or not. I could send you the image to your home e-mail address and see if that works, or if you have another idea

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 11-Feb-01 AT 10:35 PM (EST)[/font][p]a thumbs up on the sending it email oldtimer, that would be great. send it to
wegie@solve.net


Wegie (long E)

https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/User_files/3a85d9b45c9e35fe.jpg

wegie@solve.net

1997 F-150, xlt,ext.cab, flareside bed, 4x4, elec. windows,elec.door locks, tow package, am/fm tapedeck,

Aftermarket includes...

Low Glow under body neon tube kit, "The Edge" fiberglass tonneau cover, Lund fiberglass running boards, Lund 5 light moonvisor, American Auto Designs F-1 "Cobra hood", 27 piece Rosewood dash and interior wood grain kit,Grant Rosewood steering wheel cover. Superchips superchip, Air Force 1 FIPK, 7" Lighted Ford Logo on front grill. Altezza Euro Clear tail light len, GTS Pro Beam headlight covers,VTech Sidewinder 3 Oval side window covers,Billet Alum. 3rd. brake light cover,The WING rear tonneau cover wing

 

oldtimers pix of his custom made accessories

https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/User_files/3a8812ff48e1a9fe.gif

https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/User_files/3a8813904ae63876.gif

 

Hey Oldtimer,, I think those look Great!
where do you get the material to do such a job? the metal? and is it welded together?

 

Everything you see uses existing holes or brackets from the truck, and either screws on or bolts on. I did it this way in case I didn't like what I made, I could then easily take it off. There is no welding required. All prices mentioned below were in Canadian funds, so my buddies south of the border should find the prices lower.

The battery, washer fluid and rad overflow containers were formed from a welding shop with a bending machine(1hr charge). Look in the yellow pages under steel for shops that sell brite tread aluminum. I could only get 1/8" thick, and would have preferred thinner, but it still bends nicely. I used about 2' x 3' for around $75. I carefully cut out the material with a jig saw, and then the welding shop smoothed and straightened out the rough edges for me. I cut out holes for the battery terminals, and for the rad overflow hose.

The upper rad hose is by Cool-Flewww.coolflex.com) for around $200.

The air cleaner can be purchased from Ford Racing at 810 468-1356(www.fordracing.com) part# M-9600-A302(approx $65). It is a 13" diameter, and comes with the chrome wing nut. Because this unit is really designed for carb engines, it also comes with an air filter and the bottom plate assembly, but you don't require these for our trucks. I then bought a small piece of perforated stainless steel from a steel shop($10) to go around the air cleaner, and fastened it with stainless steel hex bolts($10 hardware store). I bought a 1" x 1/8" aluminum strap to make the bracket, along with a stainless steel nut and bolt, that the wing nut fits on($6 hardware store), and used the factory holes that the factory intake cover used. I then gave the plastic factory intake cover to my dog to dispose of.

 

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 13-Feb-01 AT 10:47 PM (EST)[/font][p]Those look great!!! To me,engines have never looked right since they stopped using round aircleaners. I can't believe there's a cover for nearly everything under the hoods of Chevys,yet were still stuck with nada. What I did for the hole size difference on mine was to fabricate a flap out of Cats Paw shoe rubber. I made a template for the fipk tube,and cut out the shape with some heavy scissors. I attached the rubber to the TB cover with some screws and nuts. After I bolted the cover on,I cut out some holes for the throttle cable,,etc...
I t doesn't look too bad,but I've been thinking about something different. I may make a metal cover,and paint it to match the trucks' outer color. Probably a rounded box shape,with a funnel shape tapering down to the fipk tube.
It might be awhile before I get to it,though,,,,,98

 

I don't know about 97 and older trucks, but the newer ones, in my opinion, no one comes close to Ford in creating a clean and un-cluttered engine compartment to put aftermarket parts on easily by the average Joe. Take a look at the Silverado, and there are hoses and tubes all over the place, like it is on life support.

 

And those poor seventies cars(any make) with the miles of
vacuum lines. I'm glad they finally found a way around that problem. There's at least half the amount there used to be,ie; combining components and other ways. I almost went out and bought some sheet metal and tubing to start my cover today,but I had way too much to do My migwelder is waiting patiently in the garage though I'll have to do it the next time I get a chance to come home,it doesn't happen very often,,,,,,,,,98