Any of you guys know of a local supplier where I can get 0.060" thick aluminum sheets large enough to make door panels?

I tried looking at Home Depot a while ago and they didn't have anything thick enough, let alone large enough to cover an entire E36 coupe door interior.

Thanks,

Nobu

I can order it wholesale, but you have to buy a 4' x 12' sheet. Let me know how much you need because I will be ordering some for Sean's doors. One sheet that large should be able to cover 4 doors.

We could split it if you want since I get it at wholesale cost.

Mike

I can order it wholesale, but you have to buy a 4' x 12' sheet. Let me know how much you need because I will be ordering some for Sean's doors. One sheet that large should be able to cover 4 doors.

We could split it if you want since I get it at wholesale cost.

Mike
That actually sounds like a good idea.

Are you planning on adding channels/ridges (sorry don't know the technical term) for strength?

I was thinking of making a cardboard template and maybe taking it to a fab shop also.

I'm in if you are planning on getting it in the next week. I want to try to have mine before the race at the end of the month.

Are you planning on adding channels/ridges (sorry don't know the technical term) for strength?

Strength????

Strength????
I've seen sheet metal stamped with channels so that they don't flex and wobble as much, making it less prone to unwanted bends. I figured it would prevent a lot of noise and distraction from the aluminum sheet wobbling back and forth as well.

Edit: I think it's called "rolling a bead" or something like that?

I've seen sheet metal stamped with channels so that they don't flex and wobble as much, making it less prone to unwanted bends. I figured it would prevent a lot of noise and distraction from the aluminum sheet wobbling back and forth as well.

Edit: I think it's called "rolling a bead" or something like that?

yeah.. i actually saw that from the tools (no pun intended) on horsepower TV on sundays... yeah they put a little indentation/ridge with a machine and that makes it more firm and stable... the doorpanels i've seen made are half and half with having them.. some have em, some don't...

yeah.. i actually saw that from the tools (no pun intended) on horsepower TV on sundays... yeah they put a little indentation/ridge with a machine and that makes it more firm and stable... the doorpanels i've seen made are half and half with having them.. some have em, some don't...
That's exactly where I saw it being done... I saw it done on "Trucks!". :stickoutt

That's exactly where I saw it being done... I saw it done on "Trucks!". :stickoutt

the floorboards of that old big ass truck he was workin on..

that helmet head lookin mofo.. i swear.. drinking game.. anytime he does a 1/2 second snicker to himself about a joke or something he says you have to drink!!!

drunk in 3 minutes!!

"and this rear end won't take a beating for long *stomachy-internal-sounding-hehe* but we'll get to that in a second"

A shop would charge a ton of money to run beads like that on a door panel. It would be nice, but I dont think the cost would be worth it. I am checking availability of the sheet and will let you know tomorrow. I am picking up a shipment of 4130 and some other stuff Friday.

Mike

I am picking up a shipment of 4130 and some other stuff Friday.

As Cartman says..."Sweet".

Can we swap cars tomorrow night or Friday night?

Ebay is another place to get sheet metal.

A shop would charge a ton of money to run beads like that on a door panel. It would be nice, but I dont think the cost would be worth it. I am checking availability of the sheet and will let you know tomorrow. I am picking up a shipment of 4130 and some other stuff Friday.

Mike
Really? I just figured they'd run the material through no more than 10 times in strategic locations to get some structural rigidity.

Hearing that I'm thinking it may just be easiest to cut the sheet to size and be done with it...

Definitely lemme know so I don't have to searching for stock at the last minute... Thanks!

nobu, is it ok if i get the VAC plates tomarrow around 8:30pm or so? I'll give you call tomarrow later in the day.

Really? I just figured they'd run the material through no more than 10 times in strategic locations to get some structural rigidity.

Hearing that I'm thinking it may just be easiest to cut the sheet to size and be done with it...

Definitely lemme know so I don't have to searching for stock at the last minute... Thanks!

I will let you know tomorrow. I need to get pricing as well.

nobu, is it ok if i get the VAC plates tomarrow around 8:30pm or so? I'll give you call tomarrow later in the day.
That's fine. That will give me time to take it out of the car.

I will let you know tomorrow. I need to get pricing as well.Thanks!

Nobu, since you are replacing cardboard with aluminum sheets, I would think that has more structure than what your taking out. Any work on the sheets would be over-kill

Well, the place is out of the sheet and wont get any in until August. They are not a huge supplier of sheet metal, but I have 2 places to call tomorrow and see if I can pull some strings.

whats the purpose od replaceing the door panels with aluminum ones? is it really that much of a weight savings?

I ask bc right now I have no door panels since my black ones are bubled really bad and Im looking for a place that can recover them.

whats the purpose od replaceing the door panels with aluminum ones? is it really that much of a weight savings?

I ask bc right now I have no door panels since my black ones are bubled really bad and Im looking for a place that can recover them.
The purpose is to lose weight, not to mention that if your panels are in good shape, you can take them off and sell them to fund your racing expenses.

It is required by SCCA IT rules that if you take the door panels off, you must replace them with a 0.060" aluminum sheet.

They arent THAT heavy. I think I will keep them on in my car but I want to get some recaros.

Do you still have a dash and all that? sound deadener or anything? Id really like to check out your car some time.

Mine has been stripped from the front seats back but I left some of the sound deadener and Im debating on taking it out or not since this is driven on the street on the weekends and some weekdays when the motor is in it.