WTF: Part 2 - Blue Dragon Water Cooling Build Log

Project Blue Dragon – Water-cooling and Case Mod Build Log Update

So here is a bit of an update on my progress with the first bit of modding on my case to fit the bottom radiator.

Modding Obsidian 800D Case for 240 Rad:

I removed everything I could from the case that I was able to unscrew, fans, front panel, feet etc. and put these in a safe area in the garage, I don’t know how safe it’s gonna be though as the missus wants to put some of her garden pots in there for the winter.

The screws that hold the feet on are hidden behind the rubber pads and I had to pry the edge away to get to the fixings; all of the other parts unscrew easily.

Location of rubber pads

Removing the case feet

Everything removed from case

Then the tricky bit, I had to remove the drive cage from the bottom section of the case, this meant drilling out the rivets on the front and grinding of two rivets with my Dremel , these are inside between the bottom drive cage and the hot swap bay. There are also a couple of tabs in there that make it really difficult to get the cage out. However, with a bit of brute force and persuasion it does come out without dismantling everything.

Rivets removed from front of case that hold drive cage

Ground off rivets and tabs inside case

This is where the bottom rad is going

Notice how the bottom plate sags, I've seen this in other build logs so I will be doing something similar and fitting a support in here.

I had to make a template for the radiator, if you ever did brass rubbing as a kid you’ll recognise some of my handy-work.

Tape a sheet of paper onto the radiator

Ready for brass rubbing technique

Rub pencil along the edges

Then transfer to card and cut out

Masked and template in place prior to Dremeling the case

Radiator cut-out on bottom of case

Cut-out after filing and de-burring

After taking the Dremel to the bottom of the case I had a lot of filing to clean up the edges and get rid of the burrs, this area will need finishing off with some blow hole edging.

There is a filter on the bottom of the Obsidian 800D made from a plastic frame with a type of nylon mesh. Now that there is a hole in the bottom of the case I need to modify this so that I can fit it back somehow or maybe find some other filter method to cover the holes in the bottom of the case.

Bottom filter needs a bit of modification

Bottom filter

View from underneath with rad in temoarary

I finished off the hole with some blow hole edging, this stuff was really difficult to get round the corners and shapes and I had to stick it in place with some Super Glue. I also need to tidy up the damaged paintwork so I have had some spray paint and a touch-up pot mixed for me by a local car spray supplier.