Firewall Cover Blank??
 

Hello guys

I wonder if anybody has bought the blank firewall cover from this company to smooth the firewall.. It seems to be a simple install and did not mention if any welding is required.

http://www.ss396.com/mm5/merchant.mv...FIREWALLCOVERS

You will have to weld it or at the least use metal bonding adhesive. Even if welding is not mentioned,it doesn't mean it doesn't have to be welded,just quarter panel,floor,rocker,roof or any part of unibody,they all have to be welded or bonded,unless you like screws or bolts :_paranoid

Did i read it right that the panel is aluminum and it is siliconed to the firewall? :_paranoid
Not exacly what i like to have on my car....

I totally agree with you.

Looks interesting.

I'm skeptical of the silicone route, but about 6 screws with some decent size washers would get the job done.

In my case, my firewall and the whole underneath of the car is covered in a product similar to Line-X, and this product would spruce up my firewall nicely, even if there we some screws visible. Most of the screws could likely be placed in spots where they are hard to see anyway.

Given it is aluminum, it would cut down on heat transferred into the interior through the firewall too, a reason I've been thinking of doing something like this, even more so than the aesthetic reasons.

Thanks for posting this!

It looks to me like it is designed to be a simple install and might not have a completely finished look on the edges. I would like to see one in person or at least some more detailed photos before I purchased one.

16 gauge aluminum sheeting is really thin and soft. A lot thinner than 16 gauge steel. 0.0508 in aluminum compared to 0.0598 for steel. Any little bump or slip of a screwdriver/wrench would either gouge, dent or scratch it pretty easily. I've seen the undercover innovation ones and I wouldn't use it for anything other than a quick dress up for a really nasty firewall for a show or something. I can't see them lasting for daily use.

Silicone would probably hold it fine as it's very light.

You can't weld ALUMINUM to STEEL.... so those suggestions are just a matter of not reading the information given.

Like most of this stuff.... it all "depends". Depends on your goal - budget - skill - tools - time - and the end result of what YOU are trying to do. A build with a high budget wouldn't think about using something like this.... but my brother in law had something similar made out of steel sheet - painted to match his body color - and had won many local show trophies. His was not only a heavier gauge - but was relatively well done.

During this latest "re-do" we discarded that piece and used the DSE version and normal welded plug and bondo method to smooth his firewall -- and it's no question that this method is more "professional" and nicer looking.... but the other method served him well for 6 or 7 years.... so it's just a personal choice.

it will have to be bonded with a panel bonding adhesive that will live in the heat