EViS
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 11:27 AM |
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Self-Made BodyWork - Price?
Atm I still have very little idea about the materials (catalysts, foam/mdf masters etc) needed for body panels to fit a 7.
Could you guys help me out with a rough estimate of how much i'd need to spend on making the nose, scuttle, bonnet, sides and rear for a 7-type?
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COREdevelopments
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 11:31 AM |
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i wouldnt bother unless you are a skilled fibreglass worker, as its a really hard job unless you know what you are doin, but if you wanna have a go,
go for it, be prepared for some work. 
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ned
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 12:04 PM |
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its very prohibitive to make your own panels both in cost and time imho. you'd need to make the buck on the car, then make the mould, then make
the actual panels and the likelihood of it being any cheaper than the manufcaturers and of equal quality is extremely unlikely imho
ned.
beware, I've got yellow skin
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COREdevelopments
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 12:08 PM |
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believe me it will work out cheaper if you buy them from a manufacturer. triton is doin them cheap, i had mine from gts and they cost more and was not
happy with the quality.
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JonBowden
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 12:10 PM |
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Just try to imagine how long it would take you to make a nosecone that looks even half good.
However, I think the mudguards (both front and rear should be doable (but, they are cheap to buy)
Jon
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 12:17 PM |
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I have to admire your persistance in trying to get a car quick and cheap!
If you want to make GRP parts such as a nosecone, you will have to invest a lot of time making stuff you'll probably never use again (e.g. the
buck from which you'll make the mould). If you don't do it right you'll hate the result, and end up buying ready-mades anyway!
Also, the resins used in GRP have health risks, and they stink.
From what you've said here and elsewhere, I'd guess that the best way to get what you want is to buy an abandoned part-built kit, complete
with fibreglass bits, and save yourself a whole load of pain and frustration. If the GRP parts are a bit damaged then you can invest a little bit of
effort to repair them and respray - a reasonably easy task.
Have fun!
David
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dern
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 12:46 PM |
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To balance things up a bit I'm making my own (although I haven't started yet). It's not about cost (I'm buying wishbones for
example) but because it looks interesting and I fancy having a crack at it and if I make a mould and smash a nose cone or wing I can make another and
not have rely on someone still making the same thing. I'm going to paint mine so am not fussed about having a perfect gelcoat finish.
As far as the plan goes I'm going to make the buck first and see if I'm happy with the look and then just go for it.
Regards,
Mark
[Edited on 12/4/06 by dern]
R1 (2003 FI) powered Locost in progress
Fireblade/Impreza
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EViS
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 01:08 PM |
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I'm not too bothered about the time factor anymore, this project is more likely to be a nice learning curve and ongoing project for my
university days  . Is it really going to be cheaper to buy body panels from a manufacturer for about £900 than make them myself?
I really fancy making panels in a Donkervoort style (as below) .
But if it really is obvious to you guys that this is way out of my depth then i'll need to let the dream go... However, atm i can't see
what all the fuss is about  .
Probably another reason why i'd much prefer some raw prices on how much it is expected to cost...
[Edited on 12/4/06 by EViS]
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James
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 01:14 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by EViS
Is it really going to be cheaper to buy body panels from a manufacturer for about £900 than make them myself?
Where on earth you get £900 from?
I paid about £300 for my nose, wings and scuttle from GTS when Triton was still doing his stuff.
If you're doing a Locost with a tight budget then surely you're doing the side panels and rear panel from ali yourself right?
That just means you have to buy a bonnet. They're about £80-100.
Cheers,
James
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"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
- Muhammad Ali
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EViS
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 01:18 PM |
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I'm not keen at all on visible ali panels on the bodywork, GRP all round for me...
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James
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 01:23 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by EViS
I'm not keen at all on visible ali panels on the bodywork, GRP all round for me...
Really? Oh, ok, the top half coloured, bottom half ali is my preference by far.
Here's thread you might like a quick look at:
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=1506
Dunc, really know his stuff and it took him quite a while to get right!
Cheers,
James
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"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
- Muhammad Ali
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EViS
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 01:52 PM |
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Very very nice job Dunc did there . Which stage is the most time consuming...? Someone mentioned in Dunc's thread that 'the mould
making and part making is relatively quick'.
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ReMan
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 02:48 PM |
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4 YEARS
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zilspeed
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 02:48 PM |
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Bodywork can definitely be got cheap. You just have to make it your business to be right on top of any bargains you see coming up.
My nosecone, scuttle and cycle wings owe me a total of 60 quid. they're all different colours and will need painting, but that won't cost
me a fortune. All I need to add are rear wings - which are in hand.
There are bargains out there, you just need to be quick out of the blocks to grab them.
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James
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 02:52 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by EViS
Very very nice job Dunc did there . Which stage is the most time consuming...? Someone mentioned in Dunc's thread that 'the mould
making and part making is relatively quick'.
Who knows, but it still took 5.5 months to make the buck! 
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"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
- Muhammad Ali
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Mave
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 03:16 PM |
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Speaking from experience I would say: buy the stuff! You can find my story on my website: I made everything from scratch, except for the cyclewings
and rear panel (the rear wings are heavily modded DAX units). It has taken me a looooooooong time.
The good thing is that you can just make the shape exactly how you like it. The bad thing is that it takes a lot of time. And unless you're very
good at it, it needs painting, which again adds to the cost. It would have been MUCH cheaper, and MUCH, MUCH quicker if I had just bought some
bodywork.
If you like that new Donkervoort-nose, then I suggest you should talk the the dutch Indy distributor. He's selling a similar design:
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Alan B
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 03:18 PM |
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Bodywork is the one area where if you can buy it then you are way better doing that.
If you can't buy what you want then you have no choice.
But in general.
BUY GRP PARTS
I should know...
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DIY Si
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 04:26 PM |
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I am also looking at doing this at the mo, and will be opting for ally side and rear panels for ease of construction and cheapness. If you're
really after grp, but will be painting it, why not just paint ally panels instead? I also intend having a go at making an ally bonnet and a steel
scuttle, so should be cheaper than buying stuff. The nose cone will be a problem since my chassis is +4" all over, but a damaged one should be
modifiable. I hope. Or, if you find some going cheap, buy them and save yourself a whole load of hassle. Or let me know and I'll buy them.
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EViS
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 05:33 PM |
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Although I aim to keep the costs down as much as possible, I also desire to build something that I really like. Unfortunately what I really
like is the Donkervoort style... who's GRP can'tbe purchased separately... and if it were on the market, I bet it'd cost a few £k
anyway  . Although Al can be used on the sides, the rear most definitely cant, i'd like to design something a bit more stylish than just a flat
ass... something a bit Donkervoort .
Bloody hell, I may as well call it a Donkervoort replica rather than a 7 .
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DIY Si
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 06:21 PM |
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Surely most of the backside is flat anyway? Use ally for most of it, and use a grp bumper sort of thing at the bottom. Should also make it easier to
change your mind. It could be made plug 'n' play for different arses. Nosecone could be a challenge though. But then isn't all of
this a challenge to start with?
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EViS
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 07:21 PM |
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Why is the nosecone apparently such a challenge? I would have thought it's one of the easiest parts... the way I think i'll approach it,
and most of the build for that matter, is using foam blocks which I will then carve into shape... As the nose is essentially a single block with
slightly curved sides, a large foam block is ideal, and then the grp can go around that... no?
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Mave
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 08:06 PM |
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On the Donkervoort, the sides, rear and bonnet are ally. The "diffusor" is GRP and/or CFRP, bolted on the back.
Sides and bonnet are relatively easy to do in GRP, as the mould are very simple (single curvature). The nose is much more complex to get right. But
basically you can indeed shape a block of foam. And unlike the full body cars, this part is relatively small.
Marcel
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EViS
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 10:30 PM |
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No way, a £60k car uses ali on its body work . Where did you get that information from Mave?
How would you go about shaping a bonnet out of ali? Large sheets of ali that need to be shaped/bent just scare me ...
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EViS
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 10:58 PM |
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Found the ali information here . Wow they really are ali .
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Liam
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| posted on 12/4/06 at 11:28 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by EViS
Why is the nosecone apparently such a challenge? I would have thought it's one of the easiest parts... the way I think i'll approach it,
and most of the build for that matter, is using foam blocks which I will then carve into shape... As the nose is essentially a single block with
slightly curved sides, a large foam block is ideal, and then the grp can go around that... no?
Never has the phrase 'easier said than done' been more appropriate
Sides, rear panel and bonnets are all simple flat panels with single plane bends in them. Much, much easier to make by bending an ally panel than by
making a mould and laying up grp! (unless of course you're mass producing). Contrary to your other comment - it's the real expensive
stuff that will have ally nosecones and arches as well as all the other panels!
Seriously, unless you want something radically different to what's available you're crazy to do it yourself (unless a looooong and
educational build is far more important to you than a fun car to drive). Even if I wanted a donkervoort style nose I'd start with a standard
bought item and modify it. Most of the work has already been done. I've seen fine looking noses that are essentially standard items with
ductey-chins added on the bottom and blended in.
Making complex grp bits is really harder than it sounds (and it dont even sound easy to me). Just think about the time, skill and patience
required to even make something symmetrical by hewing a block of foam, let alone with all the correct curvature and details. But if you want a go go
for it. Do wheel arches first, then see if you really want to do a nose and all the other panels afterwards.
Hope that helps,
Liam
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