scootz
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| posted on 11/6/07 at 08:08 AM |
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Flush Mounting Body Panels
From previous experience, I have no real desire to 'fold' or 'shape' the ali body panels over chassis rails. A complete
PITA!
I want something I can put-on or remove in an hour or so.
Sooo.....
I was thinking of welding small lugs onto my chassis rails at 150mm intervals and inserting a riv-nut in each.
The plan would then be to cut the ali panel so that it sits flush with the top of the top rail (or bottom of the bottom rail) and secure it in place
with ali bolts in the riv-nuts.
In my head it seems like a much easier job, but in practice... ???
Anyone done this?
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JAG
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| posted on 11/6/07 at 08:16 AM |
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The traditional method involves bonding and rivetting the panels on as well as forming them over the chassis. This method is believed by most to give
added stiffness to the chassis. Your method would provide no extra stiffness - which may be a bad thing 
Justin
Who is this super hero? Sarge? ...No.
Rosemary, the telephone operator? ...No.
Penry, the mild-mannered janitor? ...Could be!
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Richard Quinn
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| posted on 11/6/07 at 09:00 AM |
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The latest fashion in the Autograss "specials" classes is to have a tubular chassis with threaded lugs welded on and "inset"
panels mounted in between the tubes. It looks quite nice with contrasting chassis/panel colour scheme as the chassis shows between the panels but it
has done nothing for the stiffness and the chassis' are generally a little heavier.
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scootz
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| posted on 11/6/07 at 09:01 AM |
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I was looking at a Caterham the other day and noticed that the sidepanels on the front third of the car flared outwards (around the bottom chassis
rails). Thereby adding no extra rigidity at all in this area (where I would expect you to want the most stiffness).
This is what got me thinking about flush mounting them.
Also, the side panels would only add rigidity (if any) between the top and bottom chassis rail - is this so important. Also, the nosecone, bonnet and
scuttle add nothing.
I would expect torsional rigidity to be more dependent on cross chassis component and 'diagonals'. So, I was thinking of mounting a well
secured flat floor for this purpose.
I'm just thinking out loud... I may be wrong - I frequently am!
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