Sheetmetal

JOHNNYCOBRA · #1 (**permalink**) 05-03-2002, 12:56 PM

folks, I'm about to mount my new aluminum radiator, and need to know what is the best method? Are there some items off the shelf that I can order to help?

Also, Does anybody supply aluminum sheetmetal panels, that will suround the air inlet just ahead of the radiator?

niles · #2 (**permalink**) 05-03-2002, 01:41 PM

Here's what I did to install my NASCAR Griffin. Go to home depot and get a couple of sizes of 1/8 alum. angle. I found four spots were there was frames/structure to attach one side of the angle with the other side agaist the folded flange of the rad. Before final I contact cemented in hard rubber strips to everywhere the rad seated in it's houseing and where the "clamping angle" contacted the rad. Evern polished the alum. up, it looks great and the rad is very secure; Floating in it's hard compressed rubber cacoon.
Alum.shroulding and the like; get a roll of heavy brown contruction paper; push/press it into the shape you want, cutting the paper as you go; then masking taping the whole assembly together. You need to spend some time getting it right. Once your satisfied; take it out and unfold on a flat surface. That is the pattern you use to rough cut the Alum. Would suggest you go to a sheet metal shop and get annealed(soft) .030 in; it will bend very easy and stay bent. It will cost less than $1.00 per sq foot.
gn

Mr.Fixit · #3 (**permalink**) 05-03-2002, 04:58 PM

If you want shrouding into the radiator inlet, you'll have to make it yourself. Piece of cake I tell you. Get some posterboard for template markup, a rivit puller, and some aluminum panels. Cut the posterboard to fit ( in sections) when you're happy with the fit, translate the shapes to the aluminum panel, cut out rivit into place. fun and easy

JOHNNYCOBRA · #4 (**permalink**) 05-04-2002, 10:01 AM

Thanks guy's appreciate the help!

JOHNNYCOBRA · #5 (**permalink**) 09-11-2002, 08:17 AM

I've made the templets out of 1/4 inch foamboard that has a posterboard surface on both side, it's sheap at wall mart and worked great. after the templets I made the panels and put rller beads on them to strengthen them. Bought a air riveter and sheetmetal brake along with the bead roller and man it goin good.
Havin fun with the sheetmetal.

under the aluminum panels in the engine compartment i'm using 1/8 inch cork with one side adhesive for temperature control. Cork is a great insulator for heat, learned it from my place of employment. The one sided adhesive cork is fairly cheap and will keep the heat transfer down around the footbos area.\

Thanks for all the help.