The Cal-look Lounge

Hey there race fans,

after a long search for a place where i can work on my car, i finaly started the builid of my 66 drag bug side by side with Tiki madness.

We both want to reduce the weight to the max, and put in some aluminum panels instead of the ori steel.

Can you racers please post pictures of your aluminum panels and how they are mounted?


Thanks,
Paul.

Check this out. This guy does some incredible work.

http://www.bigwigracecars.com/home.htm

--louis

WOUW  :o what a great site and SUPER nice cars

Big Wig is the best (for me). Top Notch Craftsman.

Thank you very much!

If you're just starting out, check the newsletter section on my site.  It's got some tips for tools and materials.  I haven't updated them in many years, but the info is still pretty accurate.  http://www.bigwigracecars.com/august99newsletter.htm (http://www.bigwigracecars.com/august99newsletter.htm)

For pictures of the pattern and panel making process, this page has the most:  http://www.bigwigracecars.com/kirsten.htm (http://www.bigwigracecars.com/kirsten.htm)

Thanks guy's,
This site is not new to me but it's a very cool one.

has anny one of you got pictures of how the panels are mounted?, is there a special structure unther the panels or are they mounted to the rollcage?
I am specialy interested in the front panels (that seperate the inside from the luggage compartment)

Thanks,
Paul.

Hi Ric, welcome!
Occasionally i drool over the Kirsten job and a Ghia you did... Awseome Job. I have a gasser plan for the future and i defenitely will contact You to do the panelling. Only problem for me will be the shipping to the Netherlands. Happy New Year!
Harry

In the back half of the car, most of the panels just attach to each other (or to the body of the car).  There is typically no substructure, unless I put a single span across the 2 down tubes of the roll cage.  I don't always do that though.  It usually depends on the overall design.  Once the panels are connected to each other, they're stable.  But, my designs have a lot of contrasting angles, which helps to keep it ridgid.  If your design is simpler, and more flat, you'll probably need some bracing underneath to keep them from bouncing.

On the front of a chassis car, I connect direct to the chassis tubes using DSUZ tabs.  Some rivet directly to the tubes, but I don't do that.  I like all my panels to be removable.

Hi Ric,

Thanks for the info, your paneling looks great.

I still hope that there is someone with some detailed pic's.

Paul.

Ric

Amazing work,very well impressed.

nice stuff, dont get much nicer than that

There are a few pictures on my site, if you have nothing to fix panels to they can be shaped to give them strength, bead rolling/raised/lowered sections also add stiffness to the panels.  :)

www.automanics.com

Thanks, this has helped me a lot, more pictures still welcome.

Cheers,
Paul.

Here are some pictures of one I'm doing now.  That will give you an idea of how I mount mine.

The pieces that mount to the body are:
- panel marked as "shelf"
- 1 tab on each side between quarter window and rear window (riveted tab for DZUS spring)
- quarter panels
- 1 tab per side on door jamb (welded tab for DZUS spring)

In addition, there are 2 horizontal brackets that mount to the floor pan for attaching the kick panels, and 1 horizontal bracket that I mount to the roll bar down-tubes.

The other panels attach to one of the items above, or simply to another panel.  Once everything is in, it's very sturdy.

More of the puzzle:

The rest of the puzzle.  Clecos for panel-to-panel connections will be replaced with DZUS buttons.  Clecos for panel-to-body connections will be replaced with rivets.

Man, I'm going to have carpal tunnel if I have to pull all those buttons out.  ;D
Looks awesome. Can't wait to see it in person.
Ric did you get my last email about the panel for the shift rod.

Damm :o, this looks awesome.

Thanks for the pica's and explaining.

Paul.

Yep.  No problem on the extra shift rod panel.  I'll email you this week about picking up the car.  Getting close...

Can't wait.  ;D

I can't wait to see it too....  8)

Ya know when you see it, your going to have to have another one.  ;)