Lateral-g Forums - Aluminum body panels for 69 Camaro

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Gentleman, I have had the "honor" (clears throat) of restoring 2 factory lightweight Z11 1963 Impalas in my day with aluminum fenders. And of coarse the fenders were banged up and had to be bondo repaired to make them nice and straight. Filler jumps off aluminum just looking at it with a mean glance. We shipped both cars to Barrett Jackson and by the time they got there the fenders were cracked on both cars. I would not want aluminum p[anels on any car that needed to look straight and be driven. And as Steve brought up, who would want something so sensitive, when we all build our cars to beat the crap out of them. Now, Carbon fiber? We talking about loosing weight and getting at least as strong.

Thanks for calling me (us) gentleman!! ;)

I have to agree for a track only car they might be cool...but for the street it would be a nightmare....thanks for giving your direct experiance!!

So did you have to fix the cars after the auction?

Calling us gentlemen is like calling Jesse Jackson "Reverend".

I question who you are hanging out with.:D

Seen these this weekend in Carlisle thanks to Charley pointing them out to me. Loved finally seeing the Witch in person as well! I agree though, these pieces would not be the best for street cars.

I am with Frank. I would rather see Carbon Fiber for weight saving and rigidity. I have dealt with aluminum panels on vintage aircraft for 20+ years and I always cringed everytime we took one to the show and prayed some kid didn't use a wheel pant as a step. I don't know I would use them on a racecar either knowing the abuse they take.

Mike

I check these out pretty good and are like most aftermarket panels.There's rough corner stamps and lines so some filler would need to be used. As Frank said if you have worked with aluminum panels you know its not the same as metal panels

I guess you missed the part where Rick said people had been taping the fenders and that is why they were wavy?

"Top of the fenders was wavy but Rick said they were straight but everyone at the shows keeps tapping on them"

The problem with repairing the aluminum is in the flex. There really is not a great filler that has enough give to handle the flex of aluminum.

Anthony. Yes I fixed the F..kin fenders, of each car, MANY times! The last trip we figured out if we tied the car to the suspension, instead of to the frame, it relieved at least the stress long enugh to get them delivered to the new owners.

We gave one away in a raffle, I never heard if it arrived OK, I doubt that guy was lookig a gift horse in the mouth. It's not everyday you win a $200K car for a $50 ticket.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamess113

I don't get the big problem with fixing, repairing or painting aluminum body panels? I believe that they make body filler and other products that are designed to adhere to aluminum . More and more newer high end cars are being built with aluminum body panels, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, even some of GM's cars are now using aluminum body panels. I don't think car manufactures would be using aluminum body panels if they where flimsy, dented easily and weren't repairable. Are these 69 Camaro body panels made of a thinner gauge of aluminum then what new cars are being made of ? Do you guy's think you should be comparing 35 or 40 year flimsy acid dipped body panels to these? Do those new panel look flimsy? I'd like to know a little more about them. All aluminum nose sounds pretty cool though.

Jay

most collision shops wont repair alum. panel's on the newer cars anything more than about a fist sized dent gets a new panel. As frank said filler does not like aluminum.

I've repaired alot of aluminum panels of diff cars Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, GM and others and yes you can fix them but it dosn't last like it does on metal.

I like them. What I saw was a guy knocking on it like he was knocking on a door. Even if the fenders and hood scare you the bumpers, lower valance and maybe trunk lid would save a bunch of weight. I had a flier on the stuff but can't find it.