Sheetmetal question

[UpNorth]

Hi all,

On page 506 of the manual it is said to install the aluminium walls of the trunk through the rear wheel wells and sliding the bottom flange of said walls under the alu floor.
But this, the floor, is done waaay before on page 331 and it is mentioned to silicone and rivet it in place.
Question is should I rivet right away the walls while doing the floor or really wait until body is on and wiggle the walls through the wells and silicone and rivet the bottom flange over the already secured floor?
Option 1 seems a lot better to me but I don’t know what awaits me with body fitting.
Thanks in advance.

[jwhit]

i did mine on top of floor before putting body back on and it worked ok for me

[P100DHG]

I’m headed down this same road shortly and since I am leaving the powder coated sheet metal exposed in the trunk area the end result has to be perfect. My idea is to send my car off to the body shop for trimming and fitting, then because I want my roll bar leather wrapped have that done while the body is in paint. Then install the panels after that have the body shop fit the body on with them installed that way I don’t scratch them trying to jamb them up the wheel well. This what I mean though about thinking 10 steps ahead only to overlook step 11 and have it bite me in the rear end. Hopefully it works

[edwardb]

I deleted my previous posts after reviewing my build pictures. I had forgotten that I had, in fact, put the hatch side walls in place and had the body on/off a couple times with them there. I don't recall any issues doing it that way. I did put them under the trunk floor as the instructions stated.

[Fbird]

I just began to test fit my body as I am out of cash for motor work and trans for a while and wanted to keep busy.
I have the trunk floors, sidewalls, and rear tail piece aluminum all installed. I even carpeted and insulated. The back half went on no problem except for a problem where I installed one piece that I should have not. One piece you cannot Mount is the aluminum panel behind the driver shoulder on both sides. I made this mistake and had to creatively remove it without damaging my previous work. Once this piece was out of the way the back half went on fine. If you don’t have this piece on you should be golden. I have a plan to make this perfect again by sliding it into place and riveting it with an extra piece of aluminum behind it to allow overlap on the back side. Then the carpet was pulled back to my seams and it should go back cleanly...I hope.

Here is what I had to remove. If I did it again I would read instructions better or cut this larger panel where I did I and install the bottom half and leave this last little piece for after the body was on for good.The picture. This would allow the builder to do 95% of the carpeting earlier if desired.132209

[edwardb]

A little surprised to see putting in the rear hatch wall without the body on. Never tried... OK, the body goes on with it there. But a few cautions. With that wall in place, the rear lights are going to be much more difficult to get hooked up. It's a tight squeeze up there once the wall is installed. Same for the spoiler bolts if you're bolting that on. Same for the hatch latch if you're bolting that on, which I recommend over just self-tapping screws into the fiberglass. Sure recommend waiting on that piece. It's an easy add once everything else is done.

[Fbird]

Good ideas. Live and learn. I sometimes do things in unconventional ways. I was planning on doing nutserts for the latch and bonding on the spoiler. The biggest issue I had was that under no circumstances should I have installed the panel behind the shoulder area. That one prevents the body from going on. Thanks for all feedback again;)

[UpNorth]

Thanks guys!

[UpNorth]

132456132455

Another one for you:
Did you trim the side of the hatch walls so they stick to the diagonal roll bar?
As I can see the fit is not perfect and I would have to trim the opening on the top forward of the walls so it can fit snug against the diagonal roll bar.
Sorry if the pics are not at the right angle.

[edwardb]

132456132455

Another one for you:
Did you trim the side of the hatch walls so they stick to the diagonal roll bar?
As I can see the fit is not perfect and I would have to trim the opening on the top forward of the walls so it can fit snug against the diagonal roll bar.
Sorry if the pics are not at the right angle.

No, the hatch side walls don't attach to the diagonal roll bar. The carpet, if you're installing it, actually goes between. It's cut in separate pieces to install easier. With the joint roughly behind the diagonal bar.

[UpNorth]

No, the hatch side walls don't attach to the diagonal roll bar. The carpet, if you're installing it, actually goes between. It's cut in separate pieces to install easier. With the joint roughly behind the diagonal bar.

Yes I do install carpet.
Thanks!