3D Printing Car Parts : Nissan Skyline : Nissan Figaro

Nissan Skyline, Toyota Supra, and other cars for sale at Toprank Importers

The future is now. Or actually the future is still the future, but what may have seemed like the future in the past, is now a reality. So its not the future. In this case, John 3D printed some MAF delete pipes.

Then another friend of mine, printed me some radio knobs for a Nissan Figaro. I searched the world for Nissan Figaro radio knobs. We had a nice car, and it was missing the knobs. So I ended up buying a used radio with a single knob, because I thought someone would need to scan it. Instead Steven just looked at the pictures, estimated the size, and made a part. He showed up with the prototype part, it fit, but then it took it refined it, and the results are below.

3d printed MAF delete pipe for RB26

The old Nissan Fiagro radio knob. This one was yellowed and coming apart

One Nissan Figaro Radio, missing knobs, except the one on the top

3d printed Figaro radio knobs. Unfinished, and unpainted. They look great

I don't know a lot about 3d printing, but it is exciting for the car business and dealing with 20,30,50, 100 year old cars.

There are material and size limitations. There are knowledge limitations, but these things can all be solved.

I see a future of 3d printing, being something like localized mini manufacturing. Why build overseas for some car parts, when it can be built locally, quickly? Shipping costs when amortized over a large run of product are low, but there are still costs. Times like now, supplies, and shipping is a mine field of costs and delays.

Along with additive 3d printing, you could have subtractive processes too, like CNC routing - having fun with a $200 CNC machine. Add some laser engraving, some metal 3d printing, and you can build some pretty complex things locally. Even things other than car parts.

Imagine going into your local FedEx/Kinkos(they used to be this damnit), and getting them to make you some part, some thing, some widget. Again for some products it makes no sense, but for some specialized, no longer available or really special/unique pieces it might be worth it to you, and worth it to them.

You buy the license for the product, they print it. You can see some free things at Thingverse Nissan 3d files.

3d printed R32 GT-R corner light repair tab from Jun Design in Australia.

The corner light repair tab is the perfect example of a small 3d printed part, fixing an issue that just about all R32 GT-R will experience. It will save you a light, it will save you the unobtainable corner light connector that is NLA. They make them, you epoxy or rivet it on, fixed for another 20 years or until you do something stupid.

Continental Flex Fuel Sensor bracket 3d printed

ACDelco 13507128 GM Flex Fuel Sensor bracket. These 3D printed adapters hold in your flex fuel sensor & give you mounting holes to mount anywhere from RHD Auto Design

My joke with most of the 3d printed parts was the only things that most guys were doing, were cupholders for the Nissan Skylines.

3d printed Nissan Skyline cupholder

It is something I would like to dabble with in the future, but not sure I can dedicate the time to learn what I need to know, to actually make anything interesting. If you know of any cool 3d printed parts for R32, R33, R34 GT-R - let me know - sean@importavehicle.com

I saw something important in my news feed. Weighted chicken nugget tray, steering wheel mounted. I said we are in the future, this dude is in 3021!