Drilling hole in hood?

[Gen(R3)Xer]

I’m all about art and your wife’s hood ornament sounds intriguing (pics please), but I’m not sure drilling a hole in the hood would be a good idea. I guess if you’ve done it before it wouldn’t be such a big deal.

Have you considered mounting it to a really powerful magnet? I bought a magnet like this at Home Depot, attached a security camera to it, and stuck it to the metal of our balcony light fixture. It has stayed up there for a year through rain and shine. Someone could slide it off though with a lot of force, but gear guard would record them, wouldn’t it?

Another downside of the hood ornament would be a potential reduction in range due to drag. Replacing the flush Rivian logo with a bronze one would be awesome and more aerodynamic. I’d opt for that.

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[Laserboy1054]

Have you considered mounting it to a really powerful magnet? I bought a magnet like this at Home Depot, attached a security camera to it, and stuck it to the metal of our balcony light fixture. It has stayed up there for a year through rain and shine. Someone could slide it off though with a lot of force, but gear guard would record them, wouldn’t it?

Another downside of the hood ornament would be a potential reduction in range due to drag.

Thanks! Yes, we are considering a magnet. There are some dangerously strong rare earth magnets out there! The ornament weighs two pounds. I'm concerned that, despite the strength of the magnet, something might jar it loose at highway speeds. That could do serious damage to our, or worse, someone else's vehicle! But the option is still on the table.

The added drag is certainly a thing. Since we won't be adding the ornament right away, we'll have mileage data before and after. I don't _think_ the added drag will be enough to worry about, but I've been surprised by stuff like that before! (I'm a Physics professor. When one of my students says "I think that's small enough to be ignored" I always ask for a _reason_ for the estimate--just "my gut tells me" won't cut it! So I'd better get some data before concluding that we can ignore the extra drag or I'll risk mockery by former students--oh, the ignominy!)

I'll post data to the forum once I have some.

 

[Jakelake]

Research using methyl methacrylate adhesive. It was developed to hold the tiles on the space shuttle. Only problem is once glued on to the hood you will not get if off without damage to the Rivian. No holes required. Available from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Plexus-Purpo...+methacrylate+adhesives&qid=1715610151&sr=8-3

 

[Jakelake]

Another alternative is a product called SilPruf it's a silicon based structural adhesive that will allow the removal of the hood ornament with out damaging paint or metal. I used it to glue brackets on top of my Sprinter van to hold my solar panels to the roof. They have worked for 6 years. I also used this product to glue the windows and windscreen into my fiberglass fuselage airplane that I built 17 years ago. 180 MPH and I have not lost a window yet. When the glue surface is properly prepared it will hold the sculpture. There is a shelf life for the SilPruf and that has to be respected. It comes in several different colors but is difficult to find locally. It can be ordered on line but demand that the product not be out of date. silpruf scs2000

 

[TyeeMike]

....speed holes! great reference but unnecessary for Rivians.

 

[defcon888]

Very interesting. As thin as the metal is on the Rivian's, I wonder if there is enough strength to hold it?. I know on other cars with the ornaments, there is some support structure under it.

Also, keep in mind that if you do drill into the hood and you want to resell the Rivian and/or you want to remove the ornament and put it on another vehicle, you will have holes showing. Probably an easy repair, but, that is what thought of.

 

[AO_Pete]

You can see what's under the frunk liner here (spoiler - nothing!).

 

[episode]

Okay, I know this will horrify some (many? all?) of you, but please be gentle: I want to drill a couple of holes in the hood of my new R1T and wonder if there are wires (e.g., for sensors/cameras) running through it that I might hit while doing this.

My wife is a sculptor who works in bronze (as well as other media). When she first started casting bronze, one of her first projects was a custom hood ornament for her truck. It has been transferred from vehicle to vehicle for the past 30 years. We'd like to put it on the R1T. This means drilling two ~1/8 inch holes in the hood for the attachment screws. In the past, truck hoods have always been just passive sheets of metal. But Rivian does things very differently! There are wires and active components all over the place in these things. I'm hesitant enough about marring the pristine surface on purely aesthetic grounds! I sure don't want to damage to something functional--that's really a potential deal killer for the hood ornament: we might just Velcro it to the dash (which is far less cool-looking than right out in front like the figurehead on an old ship). But that might be a price we have to pay.

We just pulled the hood ornament off our current truck (a 2003 Mazda B4000 that we bought new) so that we can sell it prior to taking delivery of the R1T (good riddance to that old lemon!) and repairing the "damage" (i.e., filling the holes and painting over them) was no big deal--the spots are barely noticeable. So doing the same to the Rivian isn't quite the nightmare (in terms of appearance) one might think.

Anyway, if you know of any practical issue with this, please let me know, I sure would appreciate the information!

Many thanks!

I would consider a divorce before drilling a hole in my Rivian. Just saying.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

Another alternative is a product called SilPruf it's a silicon based structural adhesive that will allow the removal of the hood ornament with out damaging paint or metal. I used it to glue brackets on top of my Sprinter van to hold my solar panels to the roof. They have worked for 6 years. I also used this product to glue the windows and windscreen into my fiberglass fuselage airplane that I built 17 years ago. 180 MPH and I have not lost a window yet. When the glue surface is properly prepared it will hold the sculpture. There is a shelf life for the SilPruf and that has to be respected. It comes in several different colors but is difficult to find locally. It can be ordered on line but demand that the product not be out of date. silpruf scs2000

This sounds like the best option, especially if you can remove it without damage.

 

[Laserboy1054]

I would consider a divorce before drilling a hole in my Rivian. Just saying.

But it's _her_ Rivian--mostly. She's a sculptor--transporting rocks and metal and wood is a necessity. I do deal with a lot of plant-related stuff like transporting mulch. But she's the one that truly needs a truck. I pushed for the Rivian so I could have an awesome vehicle whenever it _doesn't_ have a ton of clay in the bed.

On the other hand, the Mini convertible belongs to the dogs! But they let me drive it. (The backseat has been occupied by humans a grand total of 5 times in 11 years. And, yes, I've already ordered a backseat protector for the Rivian--Pet Mode FTW!)

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

The irony of a "snail" emblem on a Rivian is *chef's kiss*. Please tell us you have the quad motor?

Agree with the above comments about removing the existing logo and also the plastic liner underneath to fully inspect the area. Post pics when done1 ?

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

I’m often fascinated by how smaller wheels and aero wheel covers can add so much more range, but it’s all physics in the end (smaller turning radiuses, less drag, etc.)

 

[Trinculo73]

But it's _her_ Rivian--mostly. She's a sculptor--transporting rocks and metal and wood is a necessity. I do deal with a lot of plant-related stuff like transporting mulch. But she's the one that truly needs a truck. I pushed for the Rivian so I could have an awesome vehicle whenever it _doesn't_ have a ton of clay in the bed.

On the other hand, the Mini convertible belongs to the dogs! But they let me drive it. (The backseat has been occupied by humans a grand total of 5 times in 11 years. And, yes, I've already ordered a backseat protector for the Rivian--Pet Mode FTW!)

Hah! Another R1T/Mini Convertible combo household! Our Mini is my wife's, it's her favorite car to date (although I do enjoy the few times she lets me drive it).

 

[Laserboy1054]

The irony of a "snail" emblem on a Rivian is *chef's kiss*. Please tell us you have the quad motor?

Yup--quad motor, large battery, Compass Yellow outside with Forest Edge inside.
Will definitely post photos when the deed is done (in a new thread--it will be a couple of months).

 

[Herb]

Thanks! Yes, we are considering a magnet. There are some dangerously strong rare earth magnets out there! The ornament weighs two pounds. I'm concerned that, despite the strength of the magnet, something might jar it loose at highway speeds. That could do serious damage to our, or worse, someone else's vehicle! But the option is still on the table.

The added drag is certainly a thing. Since we won't be adding the ornament right away, we'll have mileage data before and after. I don't _think_ the added drag will be enough to worry about, but I've been surprised by stuff like that before! (I'm a Physics professor. When one of my students says "I think that's small enough to be ignored" I always ask for a _reason_ for the estimate--just "my gut tells me" won't cut it! So I'd better get some data before concluding that we can ignore the extra drag or I'll risk mockery by former students--oh, the ignominy!)

I'll post data to the forum once I have some.

A magnet holding bronze statute to an aluminum hood? It will slide off but there is a better chance for a broken metatarsal than damage to another vehicle.

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