z28addict8490

Just registered to make a post and see if there would be any one out there that could give me some pointers. Have read alot off of here that has helped me with my build. Im doing a legal street car but still able to race. 84 z28 and has full 12 point cage. I want to do aluminum paneling inside of the whole car. Rear seats have been removed. Most of the panels i can make a template to transfer to aluminum. The biggest one would be the rear hatch panel. I want to go from the latch all the way to my rear hoop bar of the cage. Is there a way to make this without makeing a huge cardboard template and then without messing up the aluminum panel till it fits?

bryan623

Are you removing the glass from the hatch? Why don't you just get the notchback that's made of fiberglass instead of making you rear hatch out of aluminum? It's a hell of a lot lighter.

z28addict8490

No im not making a hatch window. It's underneath the window, coming from the latch to my cage.

stealtht/a

iTrader: (1)

Do you mean you want to make aluminum interior panels to replace the plastic ones?
Do you have any experience working with aluminum? It's not the ideal material for this.

Wife'sCar

iTrader: (1)

I would think the plastic panels are already about as light as anything your gonna make.

As well as without pictures we aren't gonna be able to give you tips on how to make something for the cage in your car either.

z28addict8490

I don't have original panels and no im not wanting to make original either. Yes I have experience with aluminum. Im using 1/16 in for the smaller panels and 1/8 for the dash and this rear hatch panel. Im doing aluminum panels cuz it's a street/race car and car didn't come with interior. So....... All im wanting to do is have a flat sheet of 1/8 to go from the latch to the horizontal pipe on the cage that is behind the seats. But also having the sides of the sheet to follow the shape of the car so I don't have gaps. Just want to find out a way to do that without doing a bunch of measurements for the sides or making a big cardboard template.

stealtht/a

iTrader: (1)

How else would you do it?
Keep in mind that having sheets of aluminum in the passenger compartment probably won't pass a safety inspection at a track.