well i'm getting to the point where i need to be thinking about paneling the inside of the car.

what i'd like to do is use thinner hardened alu internally, as i figure it'll be a little lighter and more kick/dent resistant.

any thoughts and what grade should i use?


cheers
alex

I started panneling my interior with ali sheet simply 'cos I set myself the brief to build a no compromise lightweight racer.
I fancieg a chequer-plate floor, but found it a pain to get nice clean edges where the panels met, also requires a lot of fasteners. So changed my brief and used 6mm marine ply covered in vinyl. Only need a few well placed button heads and it made a cracking job and no nead for any carpets or mats.

I realise I aint building a locost 7 but it does have a ST derived chassis.

John

Why bother? You are just adding weight unnecessarily for cosmetic purposes, it doesn't add to the strength.

Thats very true Pete, the chassis is fully panneled in hard ali, bonded and close rivitted on the outside so it's pretty rigid.
To be honest when I took the project on it was just something to gve me a bit of interest (bored engineer and all that) but it started to come together really well so I thought sod it, lets have a 'nicer' interior.
Same reason I fitted a full dash rather than the pushbike speedo I originally intended.

John

[Edited on 9/4/04 by spunky]

[Edited on 9/4/04 by spunky]

I panelled about halfway down the footwells with the same ally as the bonnet etc, and covered it with vinyl , it's got to be more comfortable on your sides + it gives some kick resistance, dont want internal kicks showing on the outer panels.......................see them at:

http://www.groovy42.freeserve.co.uk/mylocost.htm

[Edited on 9/4/04 by Surrey Dave]