I had stainless door panels in my hardtop for a long time. With them and the black vinyl seats, it got a little warm in the summer....
Good thread and nice work. I'm doing a full aluminum interior in my 31 with copper rivets . It will have a bit of leather in the mix also.
I see some sort of fasteners holding these panels on. Self tapping sheet metal screws? Rivets? or some other type? Looks great. Also not being a metal fab type, how are those large holes with the beveled look made/punched? Thanks, Mike
The fasteners you are referring to are Cleco clamps. The holes with the chamfer are done using dimple dies.
Here is mine from 25 years ago pic taken in 2012, held up pretty well ..The guys that can do the woodpeckers and flames amaze me, then there is a thread somewheres [maybe on here?] that shows some art work..I'll see if I have it saved..
Cleco clamps are those used as you fabricate and can be removed? Right? I am talking about the finished end product like the door panels. Are they able to be removed if you have roll up windows or need to do repair to the door latch? Mike
Yes they are removable and come in different sizes, 3/32, 1/8, 5/32. You drill you panels and use the Cleco's to hold everything in place while you rivet. Then remove and finish.
For stuff that might need to come back off for repairs I use wellnuts and machine screws. Anything going into tubing or blind holes that wont have to be removed I use zinc plated steel pop rivets. Anything I can get to both sides gets stainless machine screws and nylock nuts. 1/8" pop rivets and 4/40 screws are my most used. 6/32 screws and wellnuts on the doors and such. Mcmaster.com is the place to get everything.
Thanks, That was my first hot rod and I learned a lot, Really liked how the interior turned out but as with many first timers I was more worried about being really low than having good proportions so the car was about as pretty as a soup sandwich but had some neat features. So I sold it, live and learn here is a couple more pictures
Denis, that is neat! I really dig the little door latch gizmo you have on there. My model A doors always fly open on big bumps and want to add something like that. I hate it when my doors fly open! lol. Any details on how you installed those? Thanks.
How do you guys stop the rattling? My car is an X-Racecar and it has aluminum panels and man to they make noise!
Peel n Seal/dynamat type deadener on the backsides of the panels, closed cell foam on the mounting surfaces, and tight fitting screws. So far so good.
Voodoo Twin....the latches were made by Zipper and they're nothing more than a spring loaded barrel bolt. You can buy something similar at any good hardware store and make it fit. Colorado51...same as everybody else I used closed cell foam and sheet metal screws
Stick on butyl tape meant for ductwork insulation quiets the panels down, but in an open car, it's like riding in a convection oven. My feet and legs got sunburned on the OPPOSITE side the sun was shining on this road trip!
I had plenty of aluminum lying around and no money for upholstery, so I painted and filled the holes in my door panels with aluminum .I also did the rockers and rear package tray. I like the way it turned out.
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