In order to combat very high under-bonnet temperatures, I have been making some air scoops and ventilation grilles to fit to the bonnet of the Phoenix.

For the grilles, I have used hammerforms. Providing the pattern is right, you cannot go wrong with this technique and best of all, no special tools are needed. I've posted some pictures of the sequence of operations in my photo archive in case anyone is interested.

John

Looks really good and a nice simple, but well carried out example!

Steve

very nice

I use to make landy repair panels with the same method, good fun really

Did you need to anneal the ali? What thickness was the sheet?

Cheers

Dan

There is some pretty impressive stuff going on in your archive

Thank you all for your kind words. I'm only on the bottom rung of the metal shaping ladder but it really is very satisfying and as has been said, great fun.

Dan, yes I did anneal the aluminium first. It is 1050A pure aluminium, 1.5mm thick which is close to 16 gauge I think.

When trimming the aluminium, I allowed enough for it to bend again when it touched the table and this forms a tab allowing the mesh to be crimped in place. To form the mesh, I cut out a pattern in plywood that would just drop through the aperture. Made an identical one, sandwiched the mesh cut 15mm larger all round between the two, firmly clamped in place and then formed projecting mesh tight against the side of the pattern. Just push it into position and crimp it up. It really is that simple, if it wasn't I couldn't have done it!

John

It does look very smart - but would the SVA inspector approve? It does have the properties of a cheese-grater after all!

quote: It does look very smart - but would the SVA inspector approve? It does have the properties of a cheese-grater after all!

Well, I can't say but he did pass the radiator outlet.

John

Sorry John - I should have put a smiley on my earlier post, as it was meant to be tongue-in-cheek!

But I do wonder if a raised mesh thing would attract their attention...

[Edited on 19/3/08 by David Jenkins]

quote:

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Originally posted by David Jenkins
It does look very smart - but would the SVA inspector approve? It does have the properties of a cheese-grater after all!

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quote:

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Chapter 13 Exterior projections

ii. grills/gaps (eg air intakes or outlets
including that part of a grill that projects
over the surface of the body and the cooling
fins of air cooled engines) having gaps of

more than 25mm but not more than
40mm have edges with a radius of
curvature of not less than 1mm on any
external surface

more than 10mm but not more than
25mm have edges with a radius of
curvature of not less than 0.5mm on any
external surface

not more than 10mm have edges that are
blunted

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Thanks John, looks like I will need to get some 1050 next time, the stuff I have seems to work harden to quickly..

Cheers

Dan

Well done mate looks nice ,Just a quick one ,about annealing tempering this should be done after all your shaping and not before unless you have bought a high temper alu T3 and beyond and need to soften back up. hope this helps .

Vinnie .