Car Sign Writers and Metal Workers
Discussion
Hi All,
A Google search has proved fruitless so i ask the PH massive for help once more.
I'm looking for a local Sign writer who can make stickers for my Mongol rally car to advertise my website, team and charities.
I'm also looking for a local metal workers that might be able to build me a sump guard and/or roof rack also for my Mongol Rally car.
Any ideas?
Also my sites if anyone wants more info or to donate.
http://mongolrally09.theadventurists.com/infinitep...
http://www.justgiving.com/infinitepossibilitydrive
Thanks
A Google search has proved fruitless so i ask the PH massive for help once more.
I'm looking for a local Sign writer who can make stickers for my Mongol rally car to advertise my website, team and charities.
I'm also looking for a local metal workers that might be able to build me a sump guard and/or roof rack also for my Mongol Rally car.
Any ideas?
Also my sites if anyone wants more info or to donate.
http://mongolrally09.theadventurists.com/infinitep...
http://www.justgiving.com/infinitepossibilitydrive
Thanks
Sump guard might not actually help as remember you'll be making it even lower by thicking it (and more likely to hit stuff). Might be an idea to take a spare sump and the tools / oil to change it... Or do both.
Topsparks knows a bloody good Ali welder that fixed my sump a while back if you want the existing one playing with.
Topsparks knows a bloody good Ali welder that fixed my sump a while back if you want the existing one playing with.
Easiest way will be a sacrificial sump skid plate - something which is bolted to the car in front of the sump and is somewhat flexible, so that if it hits something it rubs up against the bottom of the sump but it gets scraped instead of the sump getting scraped.
Plus, because it's just bolted to the car using a couple of bolts it's easy to take off if you need to.
Plus, because it's just bolted to the car using a couple of bolts it's easy to take off if you need to.
VerySideways said:
Easiest way will be a sacrificial sump skid plate - something which is bolted to the car in front of the sump and is somewhat flexible, so that if it hits something it rubs up against the bottom of the sump but it gets scraped instead of the sump getting scraped.
Plus, because it's just bolted to the car using a couple of bolts it's easy to take off if you need to.
hmmm....Plus, because it's just bolted to the car using a couple of bolts it's easy to take off if you need to.
Thats what I was thinking kinda. What sort of thing do these usually get made from? just sheet of steel or something thicker?
If you use steel then if you hit something hard you may get sparks - lots of sparks. Upside is that the steel is stiff and will protect the sump but if you bang it you'll transmit the shock straight through and could end up cracking the sump or damaging engine mounts (i kid you not).
Ally will transmit les shock through but if you hit something hard you'll simply tear the ally out of the mounts - bye bye skid plate.
If the car had an ally sump i'd use an ally plate (or very thin steel sheet), if the car's got a steel sump then i'd use a decent steel sheet, anything up to 2mm if you can bend it into a decent skid plate shape (like a stretched out Z).
____
......\
.......\ (existing sump here)
........\________________
Ally will transmit les shock through but if you hit something hard you'll simply tear the ally out of the mounts - bye bye skid plate.
If the car had an ally sump i'd use an ally plate (or very thin steel sheet), if the car's got a steel sump then i'd use a decent steel sheet, anything up to 2mm if you can bend it into a decent skid plate shape (like a stretched out Z).
____
......\
.......\ (existing sump here)
........\________________
Edited by VerySideways on Monday 11th May 23:49
Seriously you need to think about this a lot more carefully, you don't want to make anything closer to the ground unless it's basically mounted to the chassis and strong enough to be a proper skid plate as per what Pete was saying. If you make something too stong you'll just break whatever it's attached too or something else, which is why I was stongly advised against doing anything to strengthen my sump after I knocked a hole in it.
Was there ever a Felicia based rally car as that might be a good place to look?
Was there ever a Felicia based rally car as that might be a good place to look?
VerySideways said:
If it is a steel sump the other option would be to simply weld a sheet of steel to the bottom of the sump, effectively increasing the thickness of the existing sump pan (basically so there is more metal to wear out before you wear through!).
But then it'll be even closer to the ground so more likely to hit and will transfer any damage to any mounts / gearbox etc.I'd have thought swapping / patching a sump is a LOT easier to fix on your travels than anything else.
I've been through a fair few sump guards in rally cars over the years, so I'll add my 2p worth.
This really is a tough call and both Ben and Pete are right. My personal choice is an alloy plate. Weld a double layer skin section at the front of the plate, and mount it through this as the mounts do tear fairly easily when you hit something substantial. Use some thick rubber washers to absorb some of the shock and sound. Angle the plate down gently, right from the front mounts, then make sure you have a soft curve to make it flat under the sump (from a good few inches in front of actual sump front face). Behind the sump, put some solid mounts down to keep it at least half an inch away from the bottom of the sump. I know you will lose a little height and get a bit more noise, but it give you some insurance. Last tip, weld a small double skin section in front of the rear bolts/ nuts, as this will stop them wearing and becoming impossible to get off with a spanner.
I'm not sure if you will hit any deep off roading (where ground clearance is more important and speeds a lot slower), but the rallying principle is that ideally you are looking to keep the 'gravel rash' from wearing through your sump from high points in the road centre when you are following previous vehicle tracks. Big knocks are inevitable, but it's hard to balance protection vs height - Just hope your ally bends and takes some of the shock when you do have a big hit, and be prepared to stop and bend it back again.
This really is a tough call and both Ben and Pete are right. My personal choice is an alloy plate. Weld a double layer skin section at the front of the plate, and mount it through this as the mounts do tear fairly easily when you hit something substantial. Use some thick rubber washers to absorb some of the shock and sound. Angle the plate down gently, right from the front mounts, then make sure you have a soft curve to make it flat under the sump (from a good few inches in front of actual sump front face). Behind the sump, put some solid mounts down to keep it at least half an inch away from the bottom of the sump. I know you will lose a little height and get a bit more noise, but it give you some insurance. Last tip, weld a small double skin section in front of the rear bolts/ nuts, as this will stop them wearing and becoming impossible to get off with a spanner.
I'm not sure if you will hit any deep off roading (where ground clearance is more important and speeds a lot slower), but the rallying principle is that ideally you are looking to keep the 'gravel rash' from wearing through your sump from high points in the road centre when you are following previous vehicle tracks. Big knocks are inevitable, but it's hard to balance protection vs height - Just hope your ally bends and takes some of the shock when you do have a big hit, and be prepared to stop and bend it back again.
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