right getting F*cked off trying to find fibreglass side panels for my ron champion kit car, its getting to the stage where i need them.

i have decided to have ago at making some out of aluminium...

i can sort of see how id do it but i plan to get it all bent by a metal work company so the bends are lovely...

a little confused about the side of the engine bay, as the bottom of the engine bay is narrower than the top do i have to sort of put a twist in the sheet on this bit? how have other people done it? lots of photos would be greatly appreciated.

i want to do each side in one piece to make it look smoother.

PLEASE HELP

I kept the side panel vertical over its full length with a short fold on the top edge over the top chassis rail and a tapering fold on the bottom edge increasing towards the front of the chassis to reach the bottom chassis rail. I also bent a 45 degree taper into the bottom of the panel give a bit more shape towards the nose cone, although some others have curved the bottom of the panel as the "book" shows.


[img]
Fitting Side panels [/img]


HTH

David

What thickness aluminium did you use?

I attached at the top rail, and then used some straps to pull it in at the bottom, and then used a rubber mallet to fold up the bottom edge. Think also about whether you want vented front panels. I made one of mine vented, and it dropped under bonnet temperature, and stopped the bonnet lifting at speed!

quote:

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Originally posted by Dooey99
What thickness aluminium did you use?

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I cut triangles of Ali which follow the middle tubes to the front so the panel is straight and fits flush with a widened nose cone.


Finished front

It does make cutting the holes for the wishbones more awkward so I made a lap joint 3/4 the way down after I mucked the first set of holes up.

If you want fibreglass, lay some out on a sheet of melamine and cut to size.