Technical question...

[Pedders]

Thought I would post a couple of pics of my build before asking such an in depth technical question....



Went for the lighter alloy rad so can enjoy the occasional maccies now....

So, on to the question, which is serious (believe it or not). What do you use to keep you aluminium panelling clean? Also, do you have any tips for removing light scratching? Whilst I'm trying to be really careful, it seems hard not to pick up the occasional scratch - even if it is from just cleaning out swarf.

Many thanks.

Edited by Pedders on Sunday 17th March 19:08

[Graham-P]

Looking good, hope you're enjoying it?
Most of us started by leaving the aluminum and cleaning with Autosolve, but to be honest it's a never ending job as it doesn't take much to scratch it (just getting in and out will do it). That's why you'll find a lot of people have either carpeted or covered the panels on carbon, wrap or real stuff and some in leather.

Post more pics as we like to see what's going on plus it's quiet on here..

Graham

[F.C.]

Blimey, hope you have tiny feet. those pedals look snug.

[Storer]

They look standard to me!!


Paul

[Pedders]

Graham-P said:

Looking good, hope you're enjoying it?
Most of us started by leaving the aluminum and cleaning with Autosolve, but to be honest it's a never ending job as it doesn't take much to scratch it (just getting in and out will do it). That's why you'll find a lot of people have either carpeted or covered the panels on carbon, wrap or real stuff and some in leather.

Post more pics as we like to see what's going on plus it's quiet on here..

Graham

Thanks Graham - I'm really enjoying it.

I've tried a bit of the Autosol stuff, and found that to leave abrasive marks when pressing on. I am guessing that there are no easy answers here's, which is kinda what I expected.

I'll post some more pics - a scruffy garage means the angles have to be chosen carefully!

[Pedders]

F.C. said:

Blimey, hope you have tiny feet. those pedals look snug.

Ha! I always drive in my ice skates.

I've fitted pedal covers which are a couple of mm either side wider than standard. It won't be until I can get a seat in there that I will know if they have to come off again...

[Ult-Jim]

I was polishing my aluminium side pod tops only last week. Nightmare job! But, it was niggling me so had to be done. I started with 600 wet & dry and worked my way up to 3,500 grit and then used a compound, polish and finishing polish on three different mops on an electric drill. Polishing gear purchased from The Polishing Shop.co.uk on line. Messy work, have to protect the leather interior and surrounding door trim. Photo below shows before & after. Forget about the interior panels, too much work and easily scratched, leave them natural, imo.

The side pods will get scratched again, but now that I have polished it I will be extra careful. Clear coating the panels has been mentioned, but no good on a already finished car in my situation. Perhaps armourfend may work (some builders put on gel coat to protect from stone chips round wheel arches). I guess, either cover it or just leave it and think of it as a race car and not a luxury super car.

[DHGTR]

Graham-P said:

Looking good, hope you're enjoying it?
Most of us started by leaving the aluminum and cleaning with Autosolve, but to be honest it's a never ending job as it doesn't take much to scratch it (just getting in and out will do it). That's why you'll find a lot of people have either carpeted or covered the panels on carbon, wrap or real stuff and some in leather.

Post more pics as we like to see what's going on plus it's quiet on here..

Graham

+1
although if carpeting you cant just wipe up the rain puddle that forms when you open the doors

[356Speedster]

Pedders said:

I've fitted pedal covers which are a couple of mm either side wider than standard. It won't be until I can get a seat in there that I will know if they have to come off again...

Hi Pedders..... Do you have a link to the pedal covers, pls? Were they a std fit or did you need to "fettle" them?

[Pedders]

356Speedster said:

Pedders said:

I've fitted pedal covers which are a couple of mm either side wider than standard. It won't be until I can get a seat in there that I will know if they have to come off again...

Hi Pedders..... Do you have a link to the pedal covers, pls? Were they a std fit or did you need to "fettle" them?

Hi 356. They're Momo Shield pedals - lots of places sell them (including Demon Tweeks):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Momo-Shield-Pedal-Extens...

The weren't quite a standard fit - the brake and clutch pedal needed to be bent slightly more to fit over the standard pedals, and the accelerator pedal needed straightening to flat, but it was easy enough to do, and didn't mark them(I was worried about stress marks, particularly on the black bits, but none appeared). I then drilled the holes through the standard pedals and bolted 'em on.

As others have mentioned, there may well be an issue with the gap between each pedal - I just can't tell yet, but the worst case scenario is I have to take them off, and put the friction tape (not sure if this is the right name for it...) back on which will hopefully cover the holes. Will be a shame if that is the case, but not the end of the world.

They are visible at the moment, and kinda go with the planned colour scheme for the car (black on the outside, black and grey/silver on the inside). However, I did read on another post that you can't actually see the pedals when the dashboard is in place!! Don't know whether this is true or not...

Edited by Pedders on Monday 18th March 21:56

[Pedders]

Ult-Jim said:

I was polishing my aluminium side pod tops only last week. Nightmare job! But, it was niggling me so had to be done. I started with 600 wet & dry and worked my way up to 3,500 grit and then used a compound, polish and finishing polish on three different mops on an electric drill. Polishing gear purchased from The Polishing Shop.co.uk on line. Messy work, have to protect the leather interior and surrounding door trim. Photo below shows before & after. Forget about the interior panels, too much work and easily scratched, leave them natural, imo.

The side pods will get scratched again, but now that I have polished it I will be extra careful. Clear coating the panels has been mentioned, but no good on a already finished car in my situation. Perhaps armourfend may work (some builders put on gel coat to protect from stone chips round wheel arches). I guess, either cover it or just leave it and think of it as a race car and not a luxury super car.

[Pedders]

Ult-Jim said:

I was polishing my aluminium side pod tops only last week. Nightmare job! But, it was niggling me so had to be done. I started with 600 wet & dry and worked my way up to 3,500 grit and then used a compound, polish and finishing polish on three different mops on an electric drill.

Nice job! Agree with the race car look as probably the best approach, but can't help myself on stuff like this.

I think I'd find applying the 600 grit wet and dry a bit traumatic at first - this may be something I need to practise!

[356Speedster]

Thanks for the info Pedders! You might be right about not really being able to see the pedals, I've just fitted my steering wheel and once I've got the centre console & seats final fitted, I doubt I'll see the pedals... still these are the little touches that make a car Would be interesting to know if the size of them is an issue tho'.

[Steve_D]

With size 11(UK) feet I would not want my pedals any larger than they are as standard.

You would need to get yourself into a pretty strange position to see the pedals on a completed car.

Steve