Aluminum Alloy for Wing plates

Monte · May 7th, 2011, 3:26 PM

Does anyone know what alloy or what specific aluminum I can make my front wing end plates for a 98 Van Diemen? Thanks

Chris

cerojo · May 7th, 2011, 5:19 PM

of different alloys available. The end plates are NOT a structural part unlike the support plates. The important issue is plate thickness and for end plates I would use .080"-.090" any aluminum alloy that you can get: 6061T6, 2024T3...etc.

Monte · May 7th, 2011, 7:11 PM

Thank you for the response.

CM

10rmotor · May 7th, 2011, 7:27 PM

.060 aluminum, any alloy and hardness is fine. I've made structural wing supports from .060 6061 T6, and while they needed some support worked fine for years, so for a non-structural panel or endplate its probably overkill.

Becker Motorsports · May 7th, 2011, 9:04 PM

I used .093 6061-T6, for front and rear end plates with no problems. allthough I use Guy wires on the rear endplates to prevent any possibility of flexing.

*RobLav* · May 7th, 2011, 9:44 PM

I use balsa wood, S-glass, and epoxy!

Bob Coury · May 8th, 2011, 1:49 AM

I use G-10 sheets (already black) from McMaster.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#grade-g-10-...-stock/=c7l6yc

*Steve Demeter* · May 8th, 2011, 4:20 PM

to r4eally save weight go to the local plastics store and get some drops of HDPE sheet.

Will cost like nothing if they have any and weigh even less

Hardingfv32 · May 8th, 2011, 4:28 PM

RobLav

What thickness balsa and what general finished thickness? Do you have a mold for both sides of a given end plate?

Brian

*Pop Chevy* · May 8th, 2011, 8:17 PM

I use .060 alum T-6. BUT, i like the idea of the G-10. Bob, is it paintable ?

Bob Coury · May 9th, 2011, 3:46 AM

It should be as we did an experiment at work where we had some .25 thk panels and we painted one side with marine type epoxy paint. I liked it because It did not have to paint it to use for my front wing end plate. I may even make a dash with it.

But be aware that I ad to use a abrasive tyoe of jig saw blade to cut it.

If you are going to paint it anyway, they also have green fiberglass sheets:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#fiberglass-...sheets/=c8581h

May 9th, 2011, 7:46 AM

Monte, How much area (dimensions) do you have to play with as far as overall front wing width. Do your end plates have to be flat?

May 9th, 2011, 8:00 AM

Monte,

I have a set of light weight aluminum end fences we made up for our F1000 if they can be of use to you. See pics.

*RobLav* · May 9th, 2011, 8:02 AM

That 1/4" thick HPDE sounds like a pretty good thing. Much faster than epoxy.

Brian - I've used 1/4" balsa sanded a bit in the belt sander. The balsa needs a coat of epoxy on both sides to harden before using the glass, otherwise the epoxy will soak in the wood and you won't get a good bond. No molds - just cut to what I want to produce - and I use an old greasy shower curtain as the non-stick.

Monte · May 9th, 2011, 10:28 AM

My endplates are flat with the Whizzy Bits on the side adding 2 inches on each side in total wing width. I have the moustache wings on a 98 Van Diemen

monte442 · May 10th, 2011, 8:09 PM

That's a nice car mister.

Monte · May 10th, 2011, 8:45 PM

Ah, Thanks monte442. Its got a sweet motor. Tons of work done by me and my Bro to get it done. He does great work.

May 10th, 2011, 9:04 PM

Monte,

The endplates I have (as shown in above post) are 2 " wide.

*stonebridge20* · May 10th, 2011, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monte442

That's a nice car mister.

All it needs is a Stonebridge sticker !