opinions anyone!

Which is lighter a "standard" thickness GRP body panel set or Ally.

I don't know - but Alu looks nicer (nearly as nice as stainless!)

Chris

Need more info what thickness of ali as opposed to the layup of the grp. A lot will depend on the "skill of the laminator" as well, it is possible to get quite light panels in Grp, more likely in carbon or kevlar. Of course the ali should still be the cheapest option whatever u choose.
Shug.

Hugh,

I am building a BEC and need to opt for the lightest option price permitting of course.

I am torn between making ally pannels or buying factory made GRP and was wondering which would be lighter.

I wouldnt be trying to make the grp myself.

The advantage I can see with ali is that minor to moderate dings could be hammered out whereas GRP cracks and then its very careful repair or new panel time. Also, agreeing with others on this thread, I like the look of Ali

the race boys seem to use thin ali

Col. Who are u thinking of buying the panels from? I suspect that the cheap GRP stuff will be 1 or 2oz CSM, in which case 1.6mm ali panels will be lighter, let me know if you want all the panels in Carbon and I will book my holidays now I was contemplating a body in Carbon fibre for my own buggy just to see the look on the local boy racers face when I pull alongside some of their Nova and Corsas with OTT bodykits and soundsystems. Anything for a laugh
Shug.

more than worth it for the dropped jaw look!

shame its sooooo bloody £xpensive, was thinking MK or GTS panels

probably ally sides / back, GRP arches / bonnet/ scuttle and nose.

Its Got to be Alui

Fiberglass looks like lego

Carbon in small quantities is about £15 metre, buy rolls of the stuff and the price drops quite quickly, now if only I won the lottery to buy the autoclave to play with
Shug

i dont have a garage and already have one ally car (see avitar) bitch to polish!

enough said!

Steve

"Fiberglass looks like lego"

Thanks

Simon
Rescued attachment collection2.jpg

Simon

Sorry my little joke,
I like polished alui
I get great enjoyment from polishing my car (2 days) then driving it once

fiberglass, is ok just not my bag

steve

Steve,

What do you use to polish the ally?

tcut or peek (industrial stainless cleaner)

and loads of time

In most cases I think you will find that the aluminium option will be the lightest, (and probably the cheapest).
Have you considered mirror polished stainless steel ? Although heavier than aluminium and more dificult to work it can be used in thinner gauges due to it's increased strength. The finished article would still be heavier and more expensive than aluminium but I think it looks the biz.

Mick

have thought of the stainless but need to keep the weight down to compensate for my fat ass!

Peek i always found never really cut the mustard when doing my car i use autosol its more abrasive i think. I have some quite badly oxidised areas on it and its a tw*t to polish.

Steve,

Agree ally looks nice, but wait till my lego's all been painted.

Reckon it'll look great

ATB

Simon

Simon,

It looks like yours it coming along very nicely.
Out of interest, where did you get you nose cone from? Or did you make it? Also what steering rack are you using and did you have any problems routing the steering column?

I'm tempted by the idea of trying to make a +4 cone with a more tapered nose so as to have a narrower opening...

Mackie,

Thanks for the poistive comments - always good to receive

Nosecone was bought from Luego. I then cut in half, clamped the edges to the chassis to give me the correct width, bolted in a couple of bits of wood to hold dimensions/position. Then glassed it up.

Seems to have worked ok.

Just n/s engine compartment side panel and bonnet to make. Then it can all go off to be sprayed!

Steering rack is Sierra, shortened quite a lot and (very badly) welded back together (will be having Gerry Hawkridge (Hawk Cars) do the job properly on a new rack when I need it!).

Steering column has a couple of u/j's and a central support. Wasn't difficult, just time consuming - I'm going to look at Fujifilm S7000 lunchtime, so IF I buy it, will try and get some decent snaps over w/end and post.

ATB

Simon

Col

I'm only guessing but I can't see the weight difference being more than 10kg.
Do you think that it would be that noticeable when driving ?
And think of the time spent not polishing

Mick

If I remember tonight, I'll weigh all the fibreglass parts I have for the car (ex bonnet - not made - so will guess).

I doubt the arches weigh more than a couple of pound each!

ATB

Simon

Ali - all the time.

And I've already scrapped the bottom edge of my side panel loading it onto my trailer, if it was GRP I would have recked the entire panel.

I think the plan will be ally sides and rear and GRP others, the ally pannes are limited to the vertical ones as the water will run straight off thus no nasty watermarks to polish out, should make keeping it shiny a bit easier.

i thought the panels are loadbearing so if you use fiberglass dont you have to still use ali panels under it same as westfield
if thats the case i will be using ali
cheers dave

Only the floor really and the choices are riveted ally or welded steel all the rest are cosmetic really.