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craigdiver - 27/8/17 at 08:16 AM

Hi everyone, getting to a point where I'm starting to think about body panels for my Haynes Roadster/442E. I'm doing my body in 1.2mm alu sheet and was looking for photos of what people have done at the front suspension area.

The chassis shape suggests the front panel creases in towards bottom front of the car from the main engine compartment brace, however, I have seen a photo where it is left as a straight panel and comes away from the bottom rail;

I think I like the idea of the panel tight against the chassis. What have you done? (Photos please), and is just down to preference?

ReMan - 27/8/17 at 08:34 AM

Yes as you say , seen it done both ways, MK the same.
IMHO, the panel is not designed to be bent, I expect will damage the gel coat over time, and as it has the large return at the bottom, is built to stay flat.
personally I don't Ike them pulled in eithe

Smoking Frog - 27/8/17 at 08:36 AM

Don't you line it up to the nose cone?

craigdiver - 27/8/17 at 10:04 AM

quote:
Originally posted by ReMan
Yes as you say , seen it done both ways, MK the same.
IMHO, the panel is not designed to be bent, I expect will damage the gel coat over time, and as it has the large return at the bottom, is built to stay flat.
personally I don't Ike them pulled in eithe

Not GRP but will be fabricating from 1.2mm aluminium so putting a crease in it won't be a problem.

I am also wondering how easy to access lower wishbone bolts if panel not flush with chassis, nose cone is around an inch from the engine and getting to them from bellow would be awkward.

craigdiver - 27/8/17 at 10:05 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Smoking Frog
Don't you line it up to the nose cone?

Do you?, thats why I'm asking, is that what you have done? Do you have a photo?

Cheers

Craig

Smoking Frog - 27/8/17 at 10:57 AM

quote:
Originally posted by craigdiver

quote:
Originally posted by Smoking Frog
Don't you line it up to the nose cone?

Do you?, thats why I'm asking, is that what you have done? Do you have a photo?

Cheers

Craig

Yes, I would say so. Here's a pic. MK chassis with 1.2mm aluminium side panels. What this pic don't show is a joint just before the suspension cut-outs. I took the easy route, would liked to have done it in one piece.

Description

craigdiver - 27/8/17 at 11:08 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Smoking Frog

I like that idea, would be able to get the holes for wishbones / suspension neater. Was actually thinking of another join at the scuttle are too with the engine bay panel rivnutted on for easy future engine bay access (and easier fitting of the panels). Think having a couple of vertical lines of rivets at the joints would look good - or annoy the vinyl wrapping people!

Smoking Frog - 27/8/17 at 11:30 AM

Here's another pic that may help (hinder).

Front Side Panel
The side panel up to the joint is similar to what you have. It is the suspension cut-out panel that changes angle to met the nose cone. I'm not saying this is the way to do it, merely the way I did it. Measurements shown are for a MK chassis.

ReMan - 27/8/17 at 11:56 AM

haha, on my tiny screen it looked like white grp
back on pc now, where a pic of the return on the mk panels

About donex5

craigdiver - 27/8/17 at 01:30 PM

quote:
Originally posted by ReMan
haha, on my tiny screen it looked like white grp
back on pc now, where a pic of the return on the mk panels

The pic on my original post is not my car, you are right though, whoevers car it is it does look like GRP. I will be using aluminium for mine.

johnemms - 27/8/17 at 08:58 PM

Front Bay Side

Bluemoon - 28/8/17 at 07:19 AM

I made these to transition from the flat to curved noise cone...

Infill pannel

Infill pannel 2

Worth looking at a Caterham, they have a round bottom to the panel near the front. I think this makes the side view of the care nicer as the flat area is less.

Dan