kurt
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| posted on 11/12/05 at 12:53 PM |
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Body panels, how much can I flex them to fit?
I've been trial fitting my body panels on my MK Indy, and the nose cone and bonnet fit together fine but are about 25mm a side wider than the
chassis. I've set my scuttle with the dash board side level with the point where the chassis begins to narrow, put the bonnet and nose cone in
place and they seem way to wide at the front. The nose cone is as far back as it can go without hitting the wishbones. My question is, do I simply
ease the nose cone and bonnet in so they are flush with the side panels or will this put them in a permanent stressed state which could lead to cracks
later on? I've not worked with fibreglass panels before and I'm unsure how much they can be persuaded to fit. Any advice would be much
appreciated.
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Genesis
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| posted on 11/12/05 at 01:24 PM |
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First things first...
Side panels - panel arch up to chassis rear bulkhead radius.
Position scuttle from the angle - midway down.
Place bonnet to generate position of nosecone.
Fitting nosecone will show you have to relieve the returns on the nosecone to accomodate the wishbone brackets.
HTH
Going fishin'
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kurt
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| posted on 11/12/05 at 04:15 PM |
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I've positioned the scuttle at the bend, put everything else in place, bonnet and nose cone, relative to the scuttle, and the nose cone and
bonnet joint overhangs the sides by at least 20-25mm. Can I just push them in so they are flush with the sides, or will they fracture with time due
to the stress they're under?
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Genesis
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| posted on 11/12/05 at 06:42 PM |
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There is a gap at the top of the chassis/nosecone as the angles are different IIRC. It's not noticable as the chassis falls away under the
nosecone anyway. Cut the lower nosecane return away to avoid the bone brackets and secure it there. You need to secure the lower edge of the nosecone
using a brace of some type - the upper rear edge of the nosecone; rivnut to the upper chassis.
Hope it's clear - as it makes sense to me 
If you can take a picture it'll make more sense to me... the bonnet will flex that amount the nosecone I doubt will.
[Edited on 11/12/05 by Genesis]
Going fishin'
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ReMan
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| posted on 12/12/05 at 09:46 AM |
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Is it this bit your talking about about?
 
Rescued attachment 169_6934sml.jpg
www.plusnine.co.uk
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kurt
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| posted on 12/12/05 at 01:19 PM |
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Yes. On mine, with the nose cone as far back as possible, the nose cone still overhangs the body panel by 25mm each side. As I say I've worked
forwards from the scuttle to position everything but it seems a long way out. The bonnet seems like it will flex, the nose cone too but only with a
fair bit of force. My worry is how much will it take?
I would post a picture, but I'm not that technically clued up.
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ReMan
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| posted on 12/12/05 at 02:11 PM |
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TBH 25 mm each side does seem quite a lot. As you can see from my pic I have to push it in by about 5-10 mm from its relaxed state to where I want the
bonnet to fit. Have you stored it with something sat on it? I dont think you have much option though, other than to flex it and fix it where you want
it and hope for the best, nosecones are cheap
www.plusnine.co.uk
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kurt
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| posted on 12/12/05 at 07:08 PM |
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Fair point, I think I'll just have to go for it and as you say, hope for the best. Cheers, Kurt.
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Guinness
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| posted on 12/12/05 at 08:26 PM |
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Kurt
I started by fitting the nose first, so that the angled bit with the bulges was flush with the front of the chassis. I had to take a little triangle
out of the top right section and two round bits for the lower wishbone mounts. See photo.
 
kurt
This got the nose right back onto the chassis (LA/LB i think). Then put the bonnet on and the scuttle last, rather than starting from the scuttle.
IMHO.
Mike
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