Hi Guys,

I'm building a MEV Exocet and decided I didn't like the open handbrake idea and thought I would make a panel to cover it.
All well and good until you realise the totally different profiles required front and back. Anyway after much headscratching and trial and error I managed to figure out the shape I needed and decided to give HTS2000 (Lumiweld type stuff) a go.
The panel is 1.5mm Ally. First off the blowtorch I bought wasn't big enough as the Ally panel conducts heat like nobodys business, so managed to borrow a bigger one from a guy at work. The HTS2000 works quite well once you get used to it but getting the panels held together in the right place wasn't easy. But now to my problem I have one last piece to do and from what I have read the chances are that while welding/brazing/soldering (or whatever you want to call it) the last piece the heat transfer will melt the previous welds. So just wanted to ask if anyone on here has tried something similar or if anybody knows of a welder who can do me 3 or 4 short welds in Ally sheet near Telford.

Appreciate any help guys. I can post fotos if that would help.

Cheers

Colin

not familiar with the MEV but when i did mine,i made a cover out of paper,nice and easy to bend,then transfered that onto a sheet of thinner ally,that was then screwed or riveted into place,lot easier than welding.

Hi,
Getting the basic shape isn't the problem. It is quite a complex shape at the front to match the back of the gearbox /centre tunnel cover. I will try and post fotos later.

Colin

You could try adding something between the completed joint and the new joint that acts as a Thermal barrier.

I believe that professional welders use paper-mache on a thin panel to stop distortion - you could try adding some between the completed joint and the new joint. It might help.

Here are a couple of fotos of the centre tunnel and the problems I have.





The first foto shows the view from the back. You can see the shape of the cover I have made up in the foreground and the panel further back (to the front of the car)was supplied by MEV and is a very different shape.

The second foto shows the front of my panel with a cutout for the handbrake. Since this foto I have cut a triangular section out of the cover along a line from the back edge of the piece sticking up to the bottom of the sloped part of the MEV cover. I then cut a second section out which is basically the masking taped section at the front of the sidewall.
To make the sections match up I cut a small notch in the top of my panel and bent it in. The idea is to form a triangular section which should enable the sections to mate up.
I have lumiwelded the notch I cut out and the reshaped front section. But lumiwelding the missing triangular section is the bit that I think will melt the welds I have already done. Will try and take fotos of how it is at the moment.

Sorry for the complicated explanation. Hope it makes sense.

Cheers

Colin

That avatar picture is way too big fella!

Sorry. Removed it now. Resizing obviously didn't work.

Colin

personally if I'd spent that much time and money on it already I'd just take it to a fab shop and ask them to tig weld it up, got my landy frame rewelded for a £10 back hander

That's what I was thinking. Just need to find a local welder. Anybody know of one in Telford area.

Colin

Colin,
Ill PM you my contact in Shrewsbury,

Just read your u2u. Cheers for that, will give him a call.

Colin

And if your ever around tern hill on a Saturday pop in for a brew

Thanks I will keep it in mind.

Colin