locoboy
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| posted on 10/11/03 at 07:46 PM |
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Ally V's GRP
opinions anyone!
Which is lighter a "standard" thickness GRP body panel set or Ally.
ATB
Locoboy
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ChrisW
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| posted on 11/11/03 at 08:37 AM |
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I don't know - but Alu looks nicer (nearly as nice as stainless!)
Chris
My gaff my rules
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Hugh Paterson
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| posted on 11/11/03 at 05:51 PM |
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How longs a piece of string!
Need more info what thickness of ali as opposed to the layup of the grp. A lot will depend on the "skill of the laminator" as well, it is
possible to get quite light panels in Grp, more likely in carbon or kevlar. Of course the ali should still be the cheapest option whatever u
choose.
Shug.
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locoboy
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| posted on 12/11/03 at 10:52 AM |
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Hugh,
I am building a BEC and need to opt for the lightest option price permitting of course.
I am torn between making ally pannels or buying factory made GRP and was wondering which would be lighter.
I wouldnt be trying to make the grp myself.
ATB
Locoboy
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Browser
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| posted on 12/11/03 at 01:02 PM |
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The advantage I can see with ali is that minor to moderate dings could be hammered out whereas GRP cracks and then its very careful repair or new
panel time. Also, agreeing with others on this thread, I like the look of Ali
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rell
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| posted on 12/11/03 at 04:47 PM |
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the race boys seem to use thin ali 
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Hugh Paterson
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| posted on 12/11/03 at 09:36 PM |
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Col. Who are u thinking of buying the panels from? I suspect that the cheap GRP stuff will be 1 or 2oz CSM, in which case 1.6mm ali panels will be
lighter, let me know if you want all the panels in Carbon and I will book my holidays now I was contemplating a body in Carbon fibre for my own
buggy just to see the look on the local boy racers face when I pull alongside some of their Nova and Corsas with OTT bodykits and soundsystems.
Anything for a laugh 
Shug.
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locoboy
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| posted on 12/11/03 at 11:04 PM |
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more than worth it for the dropped jaw look!
shame its sooooo bloody £xpensive, was thinking MK or GTS panels
probably ally sides / back, GRP arches / bonnet/ scuttle and nose.
ATB
Locoboy
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steve m
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| posted on 12/11/03 at 11:11 PM |
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Its Got to be Alui
Fiberglass looks like lego
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Hugh Paterson
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| posted on 13/11/03 at 01:16 AM |
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Carbon
Carbon in small quantities is about £15 metre, buy rolls of the stuff and the price drops quite quickly, now if only I won the lottery to buy the
autoclave to play with
Shug
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locoboy
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| posted on 13/11/03 at 01:46 PM |
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i dont have a garage and already have one ally car (see avitar) bitch to polish!
enough said!
ATB
Locoboy
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Simon
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| posted on 13/11/03 at 02:44 PM |
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Steve
"Fiberglass looks like lego"
Thanks
Simon
 
Rescued attachment collection2.jpg
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steve m
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| posted on 13/11/03 at 08:39 PM |
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Simon
Sorry my little joke,
I like polished alui
I get great enjoyment from polishing my car (2 days) then driving it once
fiberglass, is ok just not my bag
steve
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locoboy
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| posted on 13/11/03 at 10:19 PM |
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Steve,
What do you use to polish the ally?
ATB
Locoboy
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steve m
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| posted on 13/11/03 at 11:33 PM |
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tcut or peek (industrial stainless cleaner)
and loads of time
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Mix
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| posted on 14/11/03 at 08:54 AM |
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In most cases I think you will find that the aluminium option will be the lightest, (and probably the cheapest).
Have you considered mirror polished stainless steel ? Although heavier than aluminium and more dificult to work it can be used in thinner gauges due
to it's increased strength. The finished article would still be heavier and more expensive than aluminium but I think it looks the biz.
Mick
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locoboy
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| posted on 14/11/03 at 09:18 AM |
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have thought of the stainless but need to keep the weight down to compensate for my fat ass!
Peek i always found never really cut the mustard when doing my car i use autosol its more abrasive i think. I have some quite badly oxidised areas on
it and its a tw*t to polish.
ATB
Locoboy
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Simon
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| posted on 14/11/03 at 09:49 AM |
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Steve,
Agree ally looks nice, but wait till my lego's all been painted.
Reckon it'll look great
ATB
Simon
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mackie
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| posted on 14/11/03 at 10:11 AM |
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Simon,
It looks like yours it coming along very nicely.
Out of interest, where did you get you nose cone from? Or did you make it? Also what steering rack are you using and did you have any problems routing
the steering column?
I'm tempted by the idea of trying to make a +4 cone with a more tapered nose so as to have a narrower opening...
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Simon
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| posted on 14/11/03 at 11:41 AM |
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Mackie,
Thanks for the poistive comments - always good to receive
Nosecone was bought from Luego. I then cut in half, clamped the edges to the chassis to give me the correct width, bolted in a couple of bits of wood
to hold dimensions/position. Then glassed it up.
Seems to have worked ok.
Just n/s engine compartment side panel and bonnet to make. Then it can all go off to be sprayed!
Steering rack is Sierra, shortened quite a lot and (very badly) welded back together (will be having Gerry Hawkridge (Hawk Cars) do the job properly
on a new rack when I need it!).
Steering column has a couple of u/j's and a central support. Wasn't difficult, just time consuming - I'm going to look at Fujifilm
S7000 lunchtime, so IF I buy it, will try and get some decent snaps over w/end and post.
ATB
Simon
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Mix
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| posted on 14/11/03 at 04:08 PM |
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Col
I'm only guessing but I can't see the weight difference being more than 10kg.
Do you think that it would be that noticeable when driving ?
And think of the time spent not polishing
Mick
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Simon
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| posted on 14/11/03 at 04:14 PM |
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If I remember tonight, I'll weigh all the fibreglass parts I have for the car (ex bonnet - not made - so will guess).
I doubt the arches weigh more than a couple of pound each!
ATB
Simon
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Jasper
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| posted on 14/11/03 at 04:17 PM |
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Ali - all the time.
And I've already scrapped the bottom edge of my side panel loading it onto my trailer, if it was GRP I would have recked the entire panel.
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locoboy
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| posted on 15/11/03 at 07:20 PM |
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I think the plan will be ally sides and rear and GRP others, the ally pannes are limited to the vertical ones as the water will run straight off thus
no nasty watermarks to polish out, should make keeping it shiny a bit easier.
ATB
Locoboy
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dblissett
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| posted on 22/11/03 at 12:46 PM |
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ali
i thought the panels are loadbearing so if you use fiberglass dont you have to still use ali panels under it same as westfield
if thats the case i will be using ali
cheers dave
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