Front Firewall, little improvement

[AZPete]

I've made a little improvement to the front firewall by installing all the aluminum panels flush. The manual shows a triangle panel on the right side riveted to the back of the frame piece and all the others riveted to the front, but with careful cutting it can be flush with the others. Other builders have had trouble with the bolt from the lower control arm bushing hitting the firewall, so check yours before you try this. My aluminum LCAs are close but not in contact with the firewall - perhaps FFR made a running change, my frame is #25. Also, on the left side of the firewall some panels overlap others in the manual, but I was able to plan ahead and cut some so all the panels are flush. It's not a big deal, but I think it looks a little better to have all the panels flush.
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb180/AZPeteCobra/LCRrightrear.jpg (http://s210.photobucket.com/user/AZPeteCobra/media/LCRrightrear.jpg.html)

[Mechie3]

Well, now you just went and made me want to undo work that's already been done. lol.

[longislandwrx]

How did you cut? I like the look but I don't know if my pneumatic shears could cut that straight.

Love those stainless bolts too on the control arm.

Also if they did move those brackets forward 1/4 that would give that much more tire clearance. sweet.

[AZPete]

My pneumatic shears are also impossible to cut straight, but it makes beautiful curly scraps. I went low-tech by scribing a line about 10 times with a utility knife along a metal straight edge and then bending it back & forth to break on the line. I've also cut these aluminum panels on a table saw with a carbide-tipped blade which works well, but makes a really loud screeching noise.

Perhaps FFR made a change but I cut 1/4" off the front end of the metal sleeve in the inside of the bushing in the front arm of the LCA. Once I did that the bushing fit into the frame mount at the front and the rear of the LCA fit into the frame mounts with a little persuasion - just levered with a screw driver, not the BFH.
Pete

[michael everson]

I wondered why the passenger side triangle was on the inside, but didn't bother to look into it. Now I wish I had. Guess I will just make a new one and rivet it on the out side for a flat fire wall.
Mike

[skullandbones]

Hey Pete,

Nice work! That really smoothed that area up. Is that Lizard Skin on the panels or did you get them powder coated? See you later, WEK.

[AZPete]

Hey, WEK, don't tell anybody but it's just rattle can paint. I wanted the rivet heads the same color so I masked everything else and sprayed the firewall.
(I thought someone would question those two scruffy hoses in the photo.)
Pete

[michael everson]

Hey Pete. Whats with the scruffy hoses in the picture???
Mike

[Mechie3]

Power steering.

[dougkirkbride]

anyone else keeping the power steering? i am kicking this around. parallel parking i would imagine to be a little bit of a workout with sticky wide tires...

[longislandwrx]

good thing you can't fit sticky wide tires. jk .. maybe.