foes
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| posted on 15/1/08 at 10:57 PM |
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aluminium or fibreglass side panels...?
Right its coming to the point where i've got to make a decision, aluminium or fibreglass side panels for my st (now aries i suppose!) locost...?
Basically i've got three options;
1. Use the ali side panels that i got from from ian gray (st), which are unfolded and are designed to only fold over on the lower edge...
2. Buy some pre folded ali side panels (aries do them for approx £100) which will prob look a little neater.
3. Buy some grp side panels (£200 ish including vat and delivery from gts)
Now to me the grp looks the best when fitted, but how does it compare strength/weight wise with ali? also if i rivet/bond the ali panels do these
contirbute to chassis stiffness?
Would my original side panels look a bit poor without a folded edge on the top chassis rail?
Cheers and thanks for your opinions
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RichardK
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| posted on 15/1/08 at 11:03 PM |
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What about using your ali panels and covering the top rail with some ali U trim?
Just a thought.
Rich
Gallery updated 11/01/2011
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COREdevelopments
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| posted on 15/1/08 at 11:09 PM |
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i would go for fibreglass ones but thats my opinion. i got gts ones on mine. be warned i had a long wait for mine, alot longer than the original
arranged time. and when they did come the packaging was terrible. which caused bit of damage but because the side panels were longer than needed when
fully trimmed and fitted all the damage was cut out.
thats my 2p worth.
atb
rob
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DavidM
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| posted on 15/1/08 at 11:14 PM |
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Aluminium will generally be lighter than fibreglass. Which you choose will be dependant on the look that you are after. Panels may or may not increase
the rigidity of the chassis depending how they are fixed, but a decent chassis will be stiff enough anyway.
David
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Simon
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| posted on 16/1/08 at 01:27 AM |
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I made some f/glass ones for Deimos and they were ok. Decided I didn't like them, so now I've made some ally ones. Which I do
ATB
Simon
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whitestu
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| posted on 16/1/08 at 08:30 AM |
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Judging by the sate of my MK fibreglass ones after a bit of use I'd go for Ali.
Stu
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locoboy
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| posted on 16/1/08 at 09:32 AM |
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I made my own ally ones, it took a bit of time but i feel it was time well spent.
To cover the top edge in the cockpit i made from wooden 'arm rests' and covered them with the same cloth as the dash.
I feel it was a success and cheap too.
[img][/img]
ATB
Locoboy
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TimC
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| posted on 16/1/08 at 09:36 AM |
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If you are worried about looks, either go for fibreglass or painted ali.
If you just want to go as fast as possible ali - bare or painted.
Check-out Procomp's photo archive to see how good painted ali can look.
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BenB
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| posted on 16/1/08 at 09:48 AM |
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Are they folded over at the top chassis rail near the cockpit entry? I know ST ali panels used to be that way....
If so I'd use them. It's pretty easy to gently mallet (rubber face) the bottom ali over and rivet it.
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foes
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| posted on 16/1/08 at 10:03 AM |
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Thanks for the replies everyone...
quote:
Originally posted by BenB
Are they folded over at the top chassis rail near the cockpit entry? I know ST ali panels used to be that way....
If so I'd use them. It's pretty easy to gently mallet (rubber face) the bottom ali over and rivet it.
No, they aren't deep enough to fold both edges over and after speaking to steve (aries m/sport) it looks like the later ones that ian gray
supplied did only bend over underneath, i still paid the same price for em tho so that would leave the top edge of the panel flush with the top
chassis rail, would this look ok? i would cover it with something where you enter the cockpit tho....
The car i'm building is going to be as light as possible, no interior etc so maybe ali panels would be the best, its just i'd of liked
them black... has anyone had success with powder coating them or using vinyl (i'm sure i've seen a striker with it?)...? or is painting
the answer, but will this chip too easily?
thanks
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locoboy
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| posted on 16/1/08 at 10:31 AM |
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Sign writing vinyl will do it for you.
I was going to get mine done that way but decided i liked it bare so left it as it was.
ATB
Locoboy
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Paul TigerB6
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| posted on 16/1/08 at 10:49 AM |
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Chester Sportscars very often powdercoat the ali side panels of their cars (Tiger Supercats) and it looks really good. There are pics on their website
anyway.
Black supercat
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foes
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| posted on 16/1/08 at 12:06 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by locoboy
Sign writing vinyl will do it for you.
I was going to get mine done that way but decided i liked it bare so left it as it was.
yeh thats what i was thinking, does it go on ok without bubbles/creases? never applied any to an area that big...
You car (well ex car by the look of it) looks very well finished/neat...
cheers
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locoboy
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| posted on 16/1/08 at 06:08 PM |
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Cheers,
I was going the buy the vinyl from ebay and then bung my local signwritring fitter a tenner to apply it for me.
Its an art that take much practice, especially to apply to an area that large.
ATB
Locoboy
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2b_pablo
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| posted on 16/1/08 at 07:14 PM |
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I done my sides and scuttle in vinyl. wasnt the most pleasant experience
powder coating would be my choice as they are off the car
crap pic sorry
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