smooth engine bay

[novait]

hello all

rite thinking of smoothing the engine bay and was just wondering the best way round it? filler/fiberglass/weld in plates??
any advice/pictures please..

cheers
ben

[Iain]

All you need is in Benn's WIP, he says what products he uses as he's doing it too

[Benn]

How far do you wanna go?

Just the sides? Chassis leg to inner arch?
Bulk head? Remove the bulkhead?
Wiper motor staying or going?
Smooth slam panel?
Every hole and join?
Heaters staying or going?

The best way is to weld plates over everything to get the start started, then use fiberglass (black stuff if you can get it as it's flexi) to get the shape right, then a skim of filler.
That way it's strong so wont crack and smooth.

[Benn]

Make a plan!

I wish i had fully as i've redone mine what 4 times as i've never fully been happy with what i have and haven't done.


Metal plates welded in over the seams.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/bennh/Older%20rebuild%20pics/weldedup.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bennh/media/Older%20rebuild%20pics/weldedup.jpg.html)

Filling to make smooth.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/bennh/Older%20rebuild%20pics/smoooth1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bennh/media/Older%20rebuild%20pics/smoooth1.jpg.html)

If you know what you want at the start, then you can do everything. Due to my every evolving and wanting it better feeling. I go back and redo.
Smoothing bits like this..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/bennh/Car%20updates%20June%202011%20on/IMG_2430_zps234b697b.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bennh/media/Car%20updates%20June%202011%20on/IMG_2430_zps234b697b.jpg.html)


Chassis leg to inner arch, with all holes smoothed in the leg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/bennh/Car%20Updates%20May%2010%20on/buildup13.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bennh/media/Car%20Updates%20May%2010%20on/buildup13.jpg.html)

No wiper motor, smoothed bulkhead. Smoothed in turrets.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/bennh/Car%20Updates%20May%2010%20on/undersidepaintjob9.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bennh/media/Car%20Updates%20May%2010%20on/undersidepaintjob9.jpg.html)

Or leave the join like dip but smooth together so to speak. He's not plated the leg to bulkhead join either.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/bennh/Crap/P1010986-1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bennh/media/Crap/P1010986-1.jpg.html)

He's debulk headed too. and then smoothed all that too.

[stuarty]

Very cool looking bays think id
Go down your route Benn
Imo looks weird without bulkhead!!
Don't you worry about it rusting under the filler/fiberglass?

[Benn]

I like the bulk in, means you can keep heaters and bits behind it.

And no, why would it rust behind it? If done right it will be sealed so water won't get in, so no rust.

[novait]

Just the sides? Chassis leg to inner arch? really leaving the heater bulk head etc just wanted to tidy few things up really, i stiched welded the bay the over day and just though while im the smooth it a little hehe

thankyou for the pics benn loads of help thank you
also where do you get black fiberglass from???

[Benn]

Fully smooth like mine? Or keeping the kinda shape?
Id plate them to do both ways.. lots of strengh and shaping it easier.

Bodyshop suppilers will sell it, ebay should too, its called SMC, its black fiberglass. Ill find a pic.

[brucer]

mine is semi smoothed, inner arches and fire wall

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z24/bachilds1988/DSC_0106_zps8b6df279.jpg (http://s193.photobucket.com/user/bachilds1988/media/DSC_0106_zps8b6df279.jpg.html)
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z24/bachilds1988/DSC_0107_zpsa63025b9.jpg
(http://s193.photobucket.com/user/bachilds1988/media/DSC_0107_zpsa63025b9.jpg.html)http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z24/bachilds1988/DSC_0132_zps1fe33ebe.jpg (http://s193.photobucket.com/user/bachilds1988/media/DSC_0132_zps1fe33ebe.jpg.html)

[josh-sri]

What colour is your shell Bruce?

[brucer]

Subaru sonic blue josh

[Benn]

Ah forgot yours Brucey. Would of used it for ref instead of the beige one. (you know i'm a fan of yours)

[brucer]

Ditto. ;)

[novait]

mine is semi smoothed, inner arches and fire wall

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z24/bachilds1988/DSC_0106_zps8b6df279.jpg (http://s193.photobucket.com/user/bachilds1988/media/DSC_0106_zps8b6df279.jpg.html)
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z24/bachilds1988/DSC_0107_zpsa63025b9.jpg
(http://s193.photobucket.com/user/bachilds1988/media/DSC_0107_zpsa63025b9.jpg.html)http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z24/bachilds1988/DSC_0132_zps1fe33ebe.jpg (http://s193.photobucket.com/user/bachilds1988/media/DSC_0132_zps1fe33ebe.jpg.html)


that looks spot on and how far id like to go with it :) thank you very much brucer
benn cant find this black fiber glass anywhere lol will normal filler be up to the job?

[Benn]

Yes, but you want it to stick and not crack.

This is the stuff. Say's it meant for fiberglass and composite, but it's ok for metal too. Good cause it can/will flex so wont crack.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/U-POL-SMC-Plastic-Car-Body-Filler-1-1-litre-WHITE-/260417535084

[turbojolt]

oooo I do love a smoothed engine bay

[Benn]

Me too.

[L14MNP]

Someone put in the wrench time.

[Benn]

Depens how far you go.

Chassis leg to inner aches smoothed can be done in a day or two.(plate it,grind it then fill then do the other side while its drying)

Like mine, 4-5 maybe. (welding and plate making, then grinding smooth and then filling and sanding)

Depending how many hours you put in.

[dgbnova#1]

Just finishing a bay off semi smooth was not intended, but the Prevous work on the car made it the only option after cutting all the crap out from BAM BAM the blind welder what a ball ake of a job that was the filling and sanding

[turbojolt]

im going to have a crack at some of this..mini wire tuck, remove some of the panel lines on the legs and bulk head, scuttle cover nothing much just some small touches only the people in the know will know type of thing