Cockpit aluminum help!

[eDuane88]

Hey guys, this is my first post here but I've been browsing this forum for about a year now. There is so much valuable information here! Some of the things you guys have done with these cars are just amazing! My name is Evan and I'm currently building a coupe in New Hampshire (bought last June so it should be the most recent chassis design) and I have a few questions about fitting some of the aluminum panels onto the car. I did some searching but I didn't really find anything that answered my question so here goes...

First question: How are the rear cockpit corner panels supposed to fit? I've seen pictures where people have them riveted to the body and then others where they riveted them to the frame. Now I'm wondering if the way I fit the aluminum and drilled it is right or if I've gotten ahead of myself. Here's a pic of how I fitted them:
43570

My second question has to do with the outside footbox panels. On the driver's side, part of the panel covers some kind of mount. The passenger side leaves space for it though. I'm guessing I should probably trim this right?

Drivers side:
43571
Passenger side:
43572

[michael everson]

The rear panels you mounted are fine the way they are. On the foot box panel, just drill a hole through the aluminum to match the hole on the bracket.
Mike.

[wallace18]

The first panel in the rear shown in your pic can be done either way. I started like you did but ended up putting on the panel after the body was painted and on the frame. I ended up carpeting most of my interior.

[eDuane88]

Thanks for the quick replies guys! I'm gonna be putting in carpet as well, would it be easier with the carpet if that panel was riveted to the body or to the frame?

[wallace18]

Thanks for the quick replies guys! I'm gonna be putting in carpet as well, would it be easier with the carpet if that panel was riveted to the body or to the frame?

IMO the body. That is what I did. Check out my build thread for my coupe.

[loeffler1]

eDuanne88

Where in NH are you? I'm in Gorham, ME and Roy Hewson is in Tamworth, NH. I've got 8,300 miles on my coupe and I think Roy is up to 30,000 plus. We're always ready to travel. We used to go up to Oakland, ME to visit John Dol but he left for greener pastures in California.

[John Dol]

........greener pastures in California.

not with this drought!!:rolleyes:

In regards to the foot box panels. I tucket mine behind the body mount on the drivers side.
On the passenger side I lifted the bottom up into the sides. It floates above the round bar.
I mounted the rear panels before putting the body on. I've seen both but it seems easier to seal that way.

HTH

John

[eDuane88]

Based on what you guys have said, I think I'm just going to leave the rear panels mounted to the frame the way they are but I'm going to trim that driver's side panel so I can tuck it behind the mount.

Loeffler1 I live in Salem NH, right next to the MA border.

[Fluge]

For the footbox panel (driver's side)...think ahead about how you are going to drill a matching hole through the body for the mounting bolts. If the mount on the frame is sandwiched between the body and the aluminum, it will be difficult to drill correctly. I can't remember what I did exactly but as I recall I drilled a pilot hole trough the aluminum before the body was on as a guide to drilling through the body from the inside with a guide and then from the outside with a full size bit.

[eDuane88]

Thanks Fluge, I wouldn't have thought of that. I ended up attaching it the way it was without trimming it and I just drilled the hole for the bracket rather than sandwich it between the mount and frame.