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Aluminium Door Skins


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#1 Cooperman

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Posted 10 February 2019 - 04:44 PM

I shall shortly be doing a restoration of a 1990 Cooper rally car.
As it needs new door skins I am considering aluminium ones.
Does anyone have experience with fitting these that they would like to share?
What adhesive was used to fit them to the existing steel door frames?

#2 mini 4o

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Posted 10 February 2019 - 07:11 PM

hi, illbruck site is worth a look we used SP50 it works fine ,  also think on removing any extra weight and using polly glass if allowed . 



#3 Cooperman

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Posted 10 February 2019 - 09:12 PM

This is a car which I originally restored and prepared for the then-new Endurance Rallies back in 2004. I did the RAC Lombard Revival in it in 2004, but sold it shortly afterwards and bought a Rover 214Si.

 

The Mini changed changed a couple of times and I have bought it back in need of some work. I do intend to rebuild it as a road-rally car, although whether I'll get around to using it I don't yet know. These new 'Targa' rallies are a lot of fun and a Mini might do well in its class on a smooth surface event.

 

Since it has been in 'other hands' it has acquired polycarbonate door and side windows, but the windows are all fixed. I'll put the winders back in and re-fit opening rear quarter windows, again with polycarb. I think I'll go with ally door skins. I'm going to put it onto 10" wheels as well.

 

Thanks for the advice.



#4 Dr s

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Posted 11 February 2019 - 11:51 AM

I considered this but was guided away on the grounds of them being very easy to damage. May or may not be a concern for you. 



#5 Cooperman

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Posted 12 February 2019 - 12:20 AM

I'm not really worried about damage. It is a rally car and if/when it gets bent I can straighten it our (again!).

 

I really just want to make it go as it once did and my son may well drive it on a few rallies in the hope of getting a class win, although he may well be keener on using his own 1978 Escort RS2000 rally car which is a much quicker car.

 

What I was really wanting to know was how the ally door skins are when fitting them to a 1990 car. The answer seems to be positive, but the correct adhesive needs to be used. I have never been able to fit them to my 1964 Cooper 'S' rally car because they are not homologated for FIA Group 2 Historics.



#6 AndyR

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Posted 12 February 2019 - 04:56 PM

3M make a good epoxy based panel adhesive.  See below

 

https://www.3m.com/3...93241847&rt=rud

 

...however any 2 component adhesive should work fine, 2 component urethanes used for composites work great too.

 

Aluminium skins work well, but as mentioned are noticeably more "delicate".  You have to be very aware not to use the door handle to shut the door or it dents in. A few aluminium rivets to hold the skin to the top door stiffener also is a good idea to help the adhesive. 

 

Andy



#7 NDT

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Posted 12 February 2019 - 05:52 PM

what about galvanic corrosion?



#8 AndyR

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Posted 12 February 2019 - 08:56 PM

what about galvanic corrosion?

 

Not an issue, as you would at least paint the steel frame and the bonding agent would act as an extra insulator. 



#9 Cooperman

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Posted 12 February 2019 - 10:33 PM

Less of an issue than the rusting at the door bottoms with all steel.
Anyway, when buildi g a competition dar performance is more important than corrosion.

#10 DeadSquare

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Posted 13 February 2019 - 01:23 AM

This is no help to you, I know..   BUT

 

A few years back, a crate ( or two ) of aluminium door skins  "escaped"  from Llanelli, and sometimes showed up on the  odd "Valley Boys" car.

 

They tucked inside the cut away door under the window, and were pop rivited.  The other 3 sides were about 15mm oversize and easily curled around the existing door helping to fill the ample gap that most Minis have.



#11 Peterbst

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Posted 13 February 2019 - 08:31 PM

Hi, Land Rover Defenders have aluminium door skins on steel frames. Have a look on some Land Rover forums, there’s loads on there about the best way to fit and isolate the two metals.




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