Rear Clam Cutting

Rear Clam Cutting

Author
Discussion

wessexrfc

Original Poster:

4,326 posts

185 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
quotequote all
I was looking at getting the rear vents cut-in behind the rear wheels, how much of a pain is it to do this, my car is silver, would I be left with the fibre glass white where its cut, does this need blowing in or not??? Cheers all

2.5bluenob

1,620 posts

175 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
quotequote all
Hi Paul, yes it does leave a white edge - which i sanded to give it a radius otherwise you are left with a sharp edge. Then had the clam painted. But others have just cut the hole and painted the raw edge black(i think Simon did it).

2.5bluenob

1,620 posts

175 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
quotequote all

The devil

2,123 posts

182 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
quotequote all
I haven't got that many pencils

ajf

428 posts

205 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
quotequote all
Please stop adding to the list of things I need to do before its back on the road

wessexrfc

Original Poster:

4,326 posts

185 months

Friday 24th July 2015
quotequote all
Thanks, that looks very good!!👍👍

dave sutton

213 posts

147 months

Friday 24th July 2015
quotequote all
I did mine in a very lo-tec way. made a paper template to locate the holes for the hole saw and used the same one for each side, just flipped it over for the opposite side. I also sanded the sharp edges and then used touch-up paint on the cut surfaces. Just be aware that the laminate will knacker standard hole saws and jigsaws.


wessexrfc

Original Poster:

4,326 posts

185 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
quotequote all
Crist, that's brave, so it's quite easy to do and has there been any water damage where the holes have been cut??

dave sutton

213 posts

147 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
quotequote all
wessexrfc said:
Crist, that's brave, so it's quite easy to do and has there been any water damage where the holes have been cut??
None at all, fibreglass doesn't rot and the cut ends of the mesh are embedded in the sealant. I don't think the aerodynamics direct air/water back in, the whole point of the operation was to let hot air out. Perhaps I should mention that I did this to augment the tunnel mod - no point in forcing more air into the engine compartment unless you give it more ways to get out.

Scooby P1

2,616 posts

228 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Anyone noticed any tangible benefits of doing this?

I know a lot of people have done it, ranging from the rear valence to the top of the rear clam but it's an irreversible modification that i'd want serious results from before doing.

Not sure I ever will but keen to hear how the benefit has been felt by those who have

dave sutton

213 posts

147 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Having done both cooling mod and clam venting, I found cabin temperature is lower, the gear lever doesn't get too hot to touch, it runs cooler on track days, doesn't overheat in traffic on hot days and leaving the window open doesn't draw exhaust fumes in. But that could be just me.

wessexrfc

Original Poster:

4,326 posts

185 months

Thursday 30th July 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for the pictures, info etc guys, posted some photos on FB, looking forward to getting the car back!!!

sundance002

1,304 posts

163 months

Friday 31st July 2015
quotequote all
Just wondering? Whats the consensus on the re sale value of a Noble with cut out clams?
Does it affect the desirability of these cars?
Whats youre views?
I understand the reason, it is a much cheaper option than the heat control I have done, the reason I never went that route, was that it worried me about defacing the rear clam.
So now Im just wondering what others views are?.


Edited by sundance002 on Friday 31st July 12:42

2.5bluenob

1,620 posts

175 months

Friday 31st July 2015
quotequote all
ive cut loads of holes all over my car and didn't even think about the financial consequences lol.
I didn't do it because it was cheap fix aswell, a full respray after cutting the holes isn't exactly cheap.
i think they improve the looks of the car, which is a big part of my reasoning for doing it - my favorite holes are the one's next to the rear lights. Besides with a bit of fiber glass its easy to put back to standard.


Edited by 2.5bluenob on Friday 31st July 14:36

wessexrfc

Original Poster:

4,326 posts

185 months

Friday 31st July 2015
quotequote all
2.5bluenob said:
ive cut loads of holes all over my car and didn't even think about the financial consequences lol.
I didn't do it because it was cheap fix aswell, a full respray after cutting the holes isn't exactly cheap.
i think they improve the looks of the car, which is a big part of my reasoning for doing it - my favorite holes are the one's next to the rear lights. Besides with a bit of fiber glass its easy to put back to standard.


Edited by 2.5bluenob on Friday 31st July 14:36
Likewise, I feel it improves the look. Your cut outs by the lights are very good, but too fiddly for us and I wasn't going to have the rear clam resprayed, but it does look very effective.

2.5bluenob

1,620 posts

175 months

Saturday 1st August 2015
quotequote all
wessexrfc said:
Likewise, I feel it improves the look. Your cut outs by the lights are very good, but too fiddly for us and I wasn't going to have the rear clam resprayed, but it does look very effective.
Cheers Paul.
I saw them on Kevin's car and fell in love with them. But also I think I read that on Adrians car they were very effective in the wind tunnel.

sundance002

1,304 posts

163 months

Saturday 1st August 2015
quotequote all
Dont get me wrong, I really dont think it spoils the look of the car,I think it does enhance it in some areas,
I was Just wondering, regarding
Re sale. How would it affect it? or maybe enhance it?
Whats everyones view?

I have been very tempted myself.

Rob_W

1,070 posts

213 months

Saturday 1st August 2015
quotequote all
So how is your advert going to read Craig?

"Totally original bodywork, everything else modified to within an inch of it's life"

smile

wessexrfc

Original Poster:

4,326 posts

185 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
quotequote all
Being a grp composite body, it is very easy to return it, if you wanted to back to how it was. I really didn't fuss too much about that, just liked the look and if it does help with getting rid of some of the trapped air within the rear clam, that's a bonus!!!👍👍

sundance002

1,304 posts

163 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
quotequote all
Rob_W said:
So how is your advert going to read Craig?

"Totally original bodywork, everything else modified to within an inch of it's life"

smile
Upgraded, there is a big difference Rob.
My car is now more reliable thsn it ever was in standard form, Running 700bhp. Engine wise it has not missed a beat in 3 years,incl track work And continues without any heat issues.
All my upgrades have provided power with reliabilty, yes at a huge cost, but proves it can be done without changing the look.
So Your remark regarding an inch of its life is wrong, and gives out the wrong message about the car.
Ps was an alternator failure so that dont count.
Time will tell if the stronger weld on fifth gear proves to work.

Sorry to hijack the thread, I felt it was an important point that needed to be clear.

Have thought about a second rear clam just for track



Edited by sundance002 on Sunday 2nd August 01:14