Ok 853 still going, Custom R Airbox time...

[Synergy]

An old saying goes if your going to be slow, build a fence around it, cause your milking it! Well there is a nice picket fence around my 853. Since this has to have been the longest 853 build in Ducati History! I have been tied up with women, other toys, a 749 and working on other Ducs on the side. My project has been neglected.

My brain is always working, in a mad scientist kinda way and often sometimes backwards. For the new guys I blew a 748 up, built a 853(fully built B&B) and decided to powder coat the frame, Penske suspension, blah blah blah, the credit card bills go on and on. So after I got the motor into the freshly coated frame. I found a screaming deal on R shower injectors. Well R frames have a different cross member than all other frames. So I could drop the motor cut the frame, re-weld, then re-powder coat. Or lets cut the airbox up and build it "more gooder" (to quote Opie & Anthony)

So here is my current project, taking my knowledge plus what I seen on the internet and Mythbusters to build a custom, possibly CF lower airbox. For the Showers on a non R frame.

I will be keeping all the pics on a Photobucket album, since it will be quite detailed.

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y39...%20Airbox/

My plan:

-Use a smaller fan (I still drive in LA traffic) to enable a larger airbox in the frame.
-Move the radiator as far forward to still clear the front tire while enabling larger airbox volume.
-Build a thin aluminum or balsa frame to fill in where I have made cuts.
-Then line the inside of the airbox with foil, spray with Pam and then use high expansion foam to make a negative impression of the airbox.
-From the negative I can make a Fiberglass or CF airbox....Hopefully.

I am looking for thoughts, suggestions, anything you guys have to offer, especially with CF or Glass work.

Just the Showers, the injectors have been removed to be cleaned and flow matched.

[Synergy]

Trial of foam filling is up on my album. All pics have detailed descriptions.

[tye1138]

So again, you want shower injectors because? I've got a 748R with no shower injectors PURPOSELY so I didn't have to deal with'em. Runner intake length and diameter is far more important then injector positioning or type. Plus your talking about using the ORIGINAL shower injector system and computer, which both not so hot with idling. Hmm... IDK, sounds to me like your goin' out on a tree branch with nothing to protect your fall. It'll work, sure... but is it worth it?

I'm gonna dyno my bike soon and post the numbers, I can almost guarantee they are right around stock w/o the showers.

[Synergy]

Originally Posted by tye1138

So again, you want shower injectors because? I've got a 748R with no shower injectors PURPOSELY so I didn't have to deal with'em. Runner intake length and diameter is far more important then injector positioning or type. Plus your talking about using the ORIGINAL shower injector system and computer, which both not so hot with idling. Hmm... IDK, sounds to me like your goin' out on a tree branch with nothing to protect your fall. It'll work, sure... but is it worth it?

I'm gonna dyno my bike soon and post the numbers, I can almost guarantee they are right around stock w/o the showers.

Obviously you don't understand what Showers can do for a bike. Have you spent countless hours talking with Marc Salvisberg? Do you know who Marc is? Are you going to run his chip and then take your bike directly to San Rafael so he can tune it personally? If not your talking about stuff over your head.

I built my motor with an intial limited budget and plans for future upgrades. The foundation is a bullet proof bottom end. My investment was spent in the Stage II crank, bearings, con rods with balance and blueprinting, all wear parts ceramic coated for anti-friction or heat dispersant. You of all people should know a bulletproof bottom end is worth more than the best heads you can buy. Heads are easy to pull and send off for big valves and hot cams to fully take advantage of the Shower injector system.

Tye thanks for your informative post! BTW where are those pics of your blown up crank and big ends?

[jspringm]

Good luck on your project. All I have to add is "take your time". I looked around and found this sight a lot of help. Especially building the molds and laying up the carbon fiber. http://www.fibreglast.com/contentpag...enter-286.html

[94CobraR]

Never had idle issues or low-RPM issues with my 748R and injectors...had a chipped burned and I used it as a *gasp* STREET BIKE!

Love the build-up, keep it going!

[thatkidchris]

Look thru this guy's threads. Tons of real world how to. I actually believe he may be a member here also. His work encouraged me to build a carbon clutch cover, repair some race fairings, and I guess Ill have to make a new hanger for my exhaust with the info soon.

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/fo...5&pagenumber=1

[Darkside]

Thumbs up for the innovation. Will watch with interest. Have played with carbon but am too amateur to offer advice.

Have the showers std on my 998s, No idling driveabiliy issues on street and love passing my mate on the back wheel when he is on his non s 998 on the track

[srg5150]

Where can I source a set of the aluminum injector mounts?

[Synergy]

Originally Posted by srg5150

Where can I source a set of the aluminum injector mounts?

That is the shower type injector system off 748R bikes. Its not just a injector mount, its a complete 2 piece airbox, intake manifolds and injector assembly.

Guys thanks for the links and suggestions. I have researched the fiberglast page before. Well I came home from work this morning and found my trial and error of injecting high expansion foam in the airbox, did quite work the way I planned. I will get some pics up later. I may also try making a template mold from floral foam and hand shaping it to fit the frame.