2152 The Build

[DanEC]

Yes, smoothing the underside of the hood and trunk was definately one of the most time consuming body work tasks. Hope you have an easy-sanding body filler. It would be nice if ERA were able to source out a press-molded fiberglass hood and trunk panel or SMC panels so that we didn't have to deal with this task. Maybe an idea for their next update.

[ERA2076]

I wish aluminum was an option.

chr

[1985 CCX]

I have two glass door skins from a HiTech that could improve door look?
Or call Panel Craft, they can make alloy parts?

[strictlypersonl]

Originally Posted by DanEC

Yes, smoothing the underside of the hood and trunk was definately one of the most time consuming body work tasks. Hope you have an easy-sanding body filler. It would be nice if ERA were able to source out a press-molded fiberglass hood and trunk panel or SMC panels so that we didn't have to deal with this task. Maybe an idea for their next update.

Tooling for press-molding something as large as the hood runs about $50K, not including the 1000 ton press itself.

I just finished a boat using the resin-infusion method. (Scroll down to the bottom of this page. I suppose that it could be done with matched inner and outer molds, but it's difficult to get a perfectly void-free part. Any air left in the matrix will eventually show up in a finished painted part.

[DanEC]

Ouch, yes - $50k per panel is a bit pricey for low volume, even for an extended run. I guess an SMC panel would be about the same. A full molded inner panel would be nice but some would object to the additional weight, not to mention so far above the CG. Of course all the body filler slathered on it adds a few lbs also.