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Firewalls

Yogi

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What are you guys using for the chrome/polished firewalls?
I seen the one Total has and it looks good, but I would like to have more options. Is Total the only option on the web? I've looked around even at the local Home Depot and Lowes for some ideas like the backsplahes, but they either have patterns or dull.
Thanks in advance!
 
Yogi said:
What are you guys using for the chrome/polished firewalls?
I seen the one Total has and it looks good, but I would like to have more options. Is Total the only option on the web? I've looked around even at the local Home Depot and Lowes for some ideas like the backsplahes, but they either have patterns or dull.
Thanks in advance!

Mine is a polished SS from CCR, made for their bodies. I have seen a few that were made from reflective lexan (mirror).
 
A few years ago you could get polished aluminum from Fastenal in a partial sheet. Check at Lowel's for the mirrored Lexan. If you use the Lexan, attach it so you can remove it easily as you will want to replace it every couple of years. It looks great when it's new. Find a roll of the "chomed" fender welt and glue it around the edge of it for a more finished look. Might check J.C. Whitney for that. If you use screws to attach it, drill the holes at a real slow speed. Practicing on the cut off would be a real good idea.

Ron
 
You can get polished SS sheet from McMaster-Carr in various sizes.

McMaster-Carr

In the search box at the upper left of the page type "stainless sheet" (without the quotes!).

You can also get stainles mesh/screen for your radiator rock guard.
 
Yogi said:
What are you guys using for the chrome/polished firewalls?
I seen the one Total has and it looks good, but I would like to have more options. Is Total the only option on the web? I've looked around even at the local Home Depot and Lowes for some ideas like the backsplahes, but they either have patterns or dull.
Thanks in advance!
Totals is a plastic mirror finish that works pretty good from some of the cars ive seen that have it and it glues on or screws on with stainless screws and marine trim gromets.
 
Here are two pictures of the one I did. One is on my car. T cracked on we are keeping to use as a template on the next T. You can't see it all but it was very easy to work.

Randall

012.jpg


013.jpg
 
I think it's a Morris Minor. Very cool little puddle jumper. What's really cool is the Falcon (Thunder Chicken) Ranchero! A V-8 model yet!

Ok Randall, you said you had the next project up on wheels already, Pics?

Ron
 
You beat me Ron. You get the cookie. It is a Morris Minor. I saw a lot of them when I lived in the UK but I'm not sure of the model. I think it was powered by a 1275 cc 4 cyl, the same motor that was in the Mini and in the Sprite/Midget.
 
I cheated. I have a friend that put an early Buick V-6 in a wagon. It was also tubbed with a narrowed '57 Ford rear end, something you didn't see very often in the late '60's. Awesome little bugger! The wagon had wood spars with metal panels. He painted it candy Brandy Wine.

Ron
 
The potential was here with that car. They also made a convertible and a pickup. The car is a Morris 1000. I don't know if the 1000 related to the engine size or not. Austin put 998 cc motors in their small cars in the late 50/early 60s then went to a 1098 cc motor in about 61 or 62 then put the 1275 in in the mid 60s. My 68 Austin Healey Sprite had the 1275 w/twin SUs. The pisser is if you pop the hood on a Nash Metropolitan you will see the same motor or a variation there of. I don't remember if they used the 1275 or if it was the later 1800 that was in the MGB.
 
OK,I have to step in on this firewall thing...

There is no such thing as "mirrored lexan", It is plexiglass,lexan will not crack. you can hit lexan with a hammer and it will not break!

to drill plexiglass you need to drill a 1/8" pilot hole then use a unibit
(cone shaped step bit),it will make a hole without cracking plastic.
I have run into the TP ad's before and they haven't changed their ad.

I have worked in the sign business for over 30 years and worked with
plastics everyday.
You can check with large sign companys in your area for plex or
sign supply companys also,anywhere else has too much mark-up.
TP sells theirs for $55 ,but you can buy a full sheet(4'x8')for about
$120.00 which makes about 8 firewalls, You do the math,TP is not
worth it.....
 
Glad to see your feeling better.LOL Your right about the Lexan AND the price of Total just giving choices on my part.
 
I've never seen mirrored plexiglas. I've never looked either. Is it opaque or transparent, like a two-way mirror?
 
Correction::: TP's ad doesn't say lexan any longer,and the price has
gone up...$65.00 now.

mirrored plex is opaque just like a real mirror, they take clear plex and
add a shiny back and then a gray coating same as mirrored glass.

and yes,I'm getting a wee bit better,still a month or so till I'm running
smooth again.been taking 3/4 of a mile walks this last week to build
myself back up.
 
I have had Lexan crack! We used a lot of it for dragster windsheilds and if you were not carefull when drilling the bolt holes it would crack. We would bend it in a sheet metal brake just fine, and you could hit it with a hammer. But it will crack. had it happen.
 
Stainless is the way to go in my opinion. I've had the same firewall almost 20 years in my bucket with just a few scratches. I use the metal cleaner in the green bottle...can't think of the name now but brings it back to almost new everytime I use it.......Noxon..that's the name.

Lexan will crack in the right situation. We've got a Ford Escort with lexan headlight lenses. My wife tagged someone in the rear and that headlight lens cracked then broke into splinters. Had to use clear shipping tape to reassemble in until we had the car fixed. Glad to see you're up and around Track T.
 

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