Has anyone left their interior just plain aluminum -- no carpet or other covering?

[WIS89]

Hi folks-

Just like the title states, I am looking for folks that have left their interior uncovered. Basically, just the riveted aluminum panels without any covering. I am curious what your experiences have been. I understand in the summer sun the aluminum will get hot. I am curious what other experiences have been like with this finish (or lack of) on your interior. What have your experiences been with your interior?

Are you happy with this decision? How has it held up? What are the downsides? Would you do it again?

Thanks in advance everyone. I will appreciate your candor!

Regards,

Steve

[Jeff Kleiner]

Not mine exactly (although all of the ones I do stay a little bit mine :)) but one that I'me very close to. Three or so years ago I built one for and with my best friend Aaron. We got it on the road and he was going to run in gelcoat and without a finished interior the first season (he wound up doing two seasons because he couldn't bear the idea of taking it off the road long enough for me to do the body & paint but that's another story!). He soon realized that the raw aluminum is noisy, gets quite hot and depending on which direction the sun is coming from the glare can be very distracting. We went ahead and installed the insulation but not carpet. To protect it until it was time for carpet we cut some leftover interlocking rubber flooring that I used in my shop and screwed them over the insulation on the footbox floors and transmission tunnel:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj43/jkleiner/Aaron5171/100_3956_1.jpg

I like the raw race car look but I think it's practicality for one that will be driven is questionable.

Jeff

[WIS89]

Jeff-

That's great feedback, thank you very much! I had a feeling the heat issue would be one that might be too significant to ignore!

I wasn't sure of the noise concern. I anticipated it might be louder than with insulation and carpet, but not sure how much louder.

I appreciate the good information!

Regards,

Steve

[David Hodgkins]

Steve,

I went 2 years without an interior (and in gelcoat) before "finishing" my MKIII. The car had a much more raw, mean feel to it. I liked it while I had it this way, but the enjoyment level kick up more than a few notches after I painted it and put carpet in. I just completed my 2nd build and the car is painted and fully carpeted before finishing registration.

Nothing wrong with driving it as a "raw" race car but I'm definitely happier with paint and an interior.

Having fun, 2009:
http://ffroadster.com/images/Willow2010/Oct-30-COBRA%20CLUB%20Yellow%20Group%2012pm%20NICK8661%20[800x600].jpg
http://ffroadster.com/images/Misc/DHCobra.jpg

The same car, HB 2012. Which would you rather drive?
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10786&d=1342915656

:)

[WIS89]

David-

Thanks for the candid feedback! I completely understand what you mean by the "finished" feeling, and how different that must feel.

I appreciate you sharing your experience; good stuff!

Regards,

Steve

[Mike N]

Hi folks-

Just like the title states, I am looking for folks that have left their interior uncovered. Basically, just the riveted aluminum panels without any covering. I am curious what your experiences have been. I understand in the summer sun the aluminum will get hot. I am curious what other experiences have been like with this finish (or lack of) on your interior. What have your experiences been with your interior?

Are you happy with this decision? How has it held up? What are the downsides? Would you do it again?

Thanks in advance everyone. I will appreciate your candor!

Regards,

Steve

I have had mine on the road for 14 years this March and it has always had the bare aluminum interior. For me it's exactly what I had in mind for my 'race car'. I've driven and ridden in FFR's with carpet and with sound deadener and it does make a real difference to the noise level in the car. I dont think it makes any real difference to the heat level in the car. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. The side pipes will always be the loudest source of noise carpet or not but you don't hear all the stones pinging off the bottom of the car. I have solid motor mounts too and at idle I can hear the injectors firing. I love it. I still have the carpet in the box it came in. One day if I ever sell the car the 'original' carpet may get installed.

[WIS89]

Mike-

Thank you very much for the feedback! 14 years on the road, and stayed with the bare aluminum; awesome! I suspect there will be trade-offs, the only question is are they worth it? Sounds like you are all in.

My hunch is that the noise won't be a reason not to do it. However, the heat on the aluminum, both from the sun, and that transferred from the noise maker in the front, might be a big hurdle. I like the fact that you have stayed with it for so long; perhaps I am overestimating that challenge.

Thank you very much for the info.

Regards,

Steve

[Mike N]

Here's a photo of the interior when I first finished it.

50086

I clean it every year with a metal cleaner, currently California Custom aluminum deoxidizer, and over the years the aluminum has lost the 'grain' and has a pretty uniform shiny surface. Polishing is a lot of work so I don't polish it, but it doesn't take long with the deoxidizer to wipe over the surfaces.

[Buzz Skyline]

That looks great! I'm planning on leaving the interior of my 818 in bare aluminum too.

[WIS89]

Here's a photo of the interior when I first finished it.

50086

I clean it every year with a metal cleaner, currently California Custom aluminum deoxidizer, and over the years the aluminum has lost the 'grain' and has a pretty uniform shiny surface. Polishing is a lot of work so I don't polish it, but it doesn't take long with the deoxidizer to wipe over the surfaces.

Mike-

That looks really sharp. Thanks for sharing that with me. Thanks for sharing your upkeep technique with me as well.

I really like the look, and I appreciate you posting it.

Regards,

Steve

[2FAST4U]

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/GT40_Bill/image_zpssnif8uh7.jpeg (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/GT40_Bill/media/image_zpssnif8uh7.jpeg.html)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/GT40_Bill/image_zpscqh7mecs.jpeg (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/GT40_Bill/media/image_zpscqh7mecs.jpeg.html)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/GT40_Bill/image_zpsjps2fhm0.jpeg (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/GT40_Bill/media/image_zpsjps2fhm0.jpeg.html)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/GT40_Bill/image_zpscazdcljz.jpeg (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/GT40_Bill/media/image_zpscazdcljz.jpeg.html)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b373/GT40_Bill/image_zpsx3cgcmmf.jpeg (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/GT40_Bill/media/image_zpsx3cgcmmf.jpeg.html)

[WIS89]

2Fast-

Thanks for posting your pictures. I think if I had to custom fabricate all my interior like you did, I would leave it exposed so everyone could admire my work! Although I am quite sure my work would be nowhere near as nice as yours.

Great work, and I really like the brushed finish you did; really looks sharp!

Regards,

Steve

[2FAST4U]

Thanks Steve. Hasn't been easy.

I think you can do it. Don't underestimate your skills. It just takes lots of hours. You can give it a try and if you don't like it, you can carpet over it.

Good luck
Bill

[Mike N]

if you don't like it, you can carpet over it.


Good advice. Nothing to loose.

[WIS89]

You can give it a try and if you don't like it, you can carpet over it.

Bill

Bill-

This to me really sums it all up, and makes it such an easy decision!

I appreciate the feedback from everyone that took the time to post -- pro and con. Thanks!

Regards,

Steve

[Jimbo1965]

I have the carpet kit, but went with bed-liner instead.