Ian Pearson
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| posted on 5/4/04 at 07:51 AM |
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Aluminium Bonnet....Again
Well, having messed up my third "LOCOST" bonnet, I'm thinking long and hard about the next attempt. The third attempt has been the
closest fit, but the grade of aluminium that I asked for, (can't remember which, but the advice came from this list) didn't exist
according to my supplier. The stuff I got was very hard, and using the tried and tested soap & torch annealing method, did nothing to the hardness
of the aluminium, it did produce some very nice undulations though!
So as I turn my mind to spending yet more money on this "Budget" car, can any of you who have actually made their own bonnet out of
aluminium, tell me what grade and thickness you used. Also, how did you form the side chanells neatly? I don't have a sheet metal bender.
Many thanks in advance, Ian.
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Peteff
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| posted on 5/4/04 at 09:11 AM |
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Use one of your earlier attempts as a template to get somewhere near the shape. If you use half hard as in the book you don't need to do any
annealing. Mark the centre line of the bonnet and the centre of the scuttle and nosecone and line them up. I taped mine with some duct tape to hold it
in place. Push the ends down to start the bend and don't let the sheet move off centre, then get your ratchet strap(s) and secure round the
bonnet area and wind it in till it touches the side panels. Draw round it and trim off the excess or leave a bit to make a flange, but if you use 16g
you don't need one. Mine worked first time like this and we made several more using the same method.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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Ian Pearson
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| posted on 5/4/04 at 10:17 AM |
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Thanks Pete. Will order some 16g half hard ali and see what I can come up with!
Regards, Ian.
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