Matrix front end work

[Weather Spotter]

Thanks for the great tips, why are you so worried about the wood getting wet?

If that is an issue I might just see if I can use a few boards from work (we make a fake wood that is all plastic and rock dust). Does epoxy stick to plastic?

[3-Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Weather Spotter

Thanks for the great tips, why are you so worried about the wood getting wet? ....

If the wood gets wet, it will swell slightly, and the epoxy will come back off! Same with Elmers Glue or Lightweight Spackling.

I had issues with the tail on my car over the winter and into this Spring due to exactly that issue.

Anything that the epoxy is stuck to needs to stay dry or be sealed so it can't get wet.

Jim.

[Weather Spotter]

So If I use wood blocks, I must completely coat them in epoxy and then coat the screws too or make them water tight? How would neoprene roofing screws work?

[3-Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Weather Spotter

So If I use wood blocks, I must completely coat them in epoxy and then coat the screws too or make them water tight? How would neoprene roofing screws work?

Are you talking about screws that hold the blocks to the car?

Or about screws that hold the underbody panels to the wood blocks?

If you mean screws that hold the panels on the car, then you probably would not want to coat them, as doing that will make taking the panels off later on rather difficult.

The panels are going to get doused and will collect water typically, so you just have to live with that and any screws that hold them on as well.

Lots of my screws need to be replaced once per year because they get pretty rusted from the Wisconsin road salt in the winter.

Jim.

[Weather Spotter]

What did you make the belly ban? I was thinking of using some scrap steel roofing sheets I had on hand.

[3-Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Weather Spotter

What did you make the belly ban? I was thinking of using some scrap steel roofing sheets I had on hand.

I used foam and fiberglass, just like the tail extension.

You can see the build here....

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...lly-10638.html

My goal was to make light-weight panels, that are reasonably easy to remove if necessary.

The panels already consider oil drainage as well as oil filter replacement.

Jim.

[Joenavy85]

Originally Posted by 3-Wheeler

I used foam and fiberglass, just like the tail extension.

You can see the build here....

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...lly-10638.html

My goal was to make light-weight panels, that are reasonably easy to remove if necessary.

The panels already consider oil drainage as well as oil filter replacement.

Jim.

That belly pan build is crazy, you're skills with fiber-glass are better than I've seen anywhere else (short of some businesses, better than some though). I'm surprised other Insight owners haven't asked you to build one for them (or have they?) I'd like to do something like this for my Jeep, which wouldn't necessarily be hard, just time consuming.