Racing style door panels?

[planemos]

I wanted to make some of those aluminum interior door panels like I see on many track driven cars. I want to retain street driving though. I live in Canada so I would need to keep my windows. Any advice on how to do this? I want to shed some weight on the doors. I currently have auto windows and I want to get manual rolldown windows. One of my doors is wrecked right now anyway, but would I need to buy 2 new doors to convert to manual rolldown or could I just buy 1 manual rolldown door and convert the auto to a manual? What all inside the door would need to bolt on to the aluminum panel? Couldn't I cut out a lot of the steel and replace with aluminum? Pics?:naughty:

 

[RazoE]

Not worth it, the stock panels and wiring/motors for the windows are not that heavy..

This is how the group A Supras did it

looks like crap, but anyway you might be able to use ST165 Celica window gears or units or whatever, as they shared quite a few parts with MKIII's (no guarantees though)

 

[planemos]

I actually like the look of some aluminum panels. I am into fabrication and I like the bare metal look a lot.

 

[Poodles]

Not gonna be easy. Gonna have to find the parts to convert to manual windows, you have to modify the way the locks and especially the door handle works, and you have to remove the top of the existing doorpanel and graft it onto the top of your new panel.

It's been done on MKII's, but they have easy access to manual windows (bolt in from a celica) and their door controls are simplier.

I assume you're also removing the speakers, as it's the only way any of this would work anyway...

 

[te72]

If you're going for lightweight, why not just drop the door panel all together? Car will likely drone a bit more as a result though...

 

[planemos]

I did drop the door panel. And what's behind it would be more of what I'm talking about I think. Behind the door panel is sheetmetal. I wanted to cutout that sheetmetal and bolt in some aluminum. We all know that aluminum is lighter than steel. I'm just a little confused about how the window rollup assembly mounts. If I was to cut out that sheetmetal would my window fall off or would it be a freestanding unit? I could keep the vinyl pad guides at the top. I actually found out about a really cool lightweight method for window rollup. I can share it with you. If you look into 69 Dodge Darts they had a seatbelt strap to hold the window up because they were making their cars lightweight to be faster. I thought it might be cool to copy that as well. I might be able to get away with a lexan window I'm thinking (inspection issue to deal with) as long as it has a sliding piece to open at roadblocks lol.

 

[Poodles]

You don't want to cutout that sheetmetal. Unless of course you want your doors to stop being rigid (and a stress member like they are on targa cars).

I think you're looking in the wrong places to remove weight...

 

[planemos]

Oh. I didn't think about it like that. You're right they do add rigidity to the car. Maybe if I had a cage installed I might do that. So ya thanks everyone. I'm still probably gonna make some panels from aluminum because I like the look and because my current panels have tears. Should drop a lil bit of weight if I use super thin aluminum. And it will be easier then I was thinking it would be thanks again

 

[Supracentral]

You're going to wind up losing your weight savings by adding dynamat or other sound proofing and padding to cut down on the rattles and resonance.

In a race car, who cares? But on a street car? Not worth it IMO.

 

[planemos]

No this is a race car that I am legally allowed to drive on the street. Really I don't belong on the streets at all but I'm poor and you are just not helping me by telling me I'm dumb. I'm trying to get into drifting but there is no way in hell I would be able to buy a tow rig and trailer by next year. You probably have an MKIV to tow your race tuned MKIV don't u? I bet you have a few.

 

[Supracentral]

Who pissed in your cheerios today?

No this is a race car that I am legally allowed to drive on the street. Really I don't belong on the streets at all but I'm poor and you are just not helping me by telling me I'm dumb.

I didn't tell you that you were dumb. I was giving you my opinion. If you don't want an opinion, don't ask for help on a public forum.

You probably have an MKIV to tow your race tuned MKIV don't u? I bet you have a few.

Get over your poor boy little dick syndrome please, nobody was calling you names, or implying you're stupid. I've owned cars with sheet metal interiors and drove them on the street, it was painful. I was just trying to spare you the grief. If you're aware of the downsides and still want to continue down this path, then have fun.

 

[te72]

I think you're looking in the wrong places to remove weight...

This is something else to consider. Not sure how important weight balance is on a drift car, but on any other Supra, I would only remove, replace (with lightweight) or relocate parts from the front 1/3 of the car. This would help give the car a better weight distribution, something that is generally important to sports cars.

Also, in before this goes to WOS.

 

[suprahero]

Please check your panties at the door............or they're bound to end up in a wad.



I fail to see where anyone was giving you anything but reasonable advice. It's like you started this thread trying to get your feelings hurt.

 

[hvyman]

Door panels weigh nothing. Like a pound. Motors maybe 2 lbs.

Your better off make ss tube bumpers and digging the stock stamp heavy ones.

 

[Supracentral]

Also, in before this goes to WOS.

Eh, not happening at this stage, at worst we're about here:

 

[planemos]

Wow I must have said something really wrong to have 3 mods jump all over me like this. Supracentral maybe you should have better secured your sheet metal interior panels so that they didn't rattle. If I get banned for this it not because I don't know how to build a car.

...and that's how you turn a 2 page thread into a useless 4 page thread.............????.........

 

[Supracentral]

Wow I must have said something really wrong to have 3 mods jump all over me like this.

You were being a douche, people tend to jump on that.

Supracentral maybe you should have better secured your sheet metal interior panels so that they didn't rattle.

You are just one of those people who has to just keep on pushing, aren't you?

If I get banned for this it not because I don't know how to build a car.

Takes a lot to get banned around here. Just being a dick won't get you banned. I will however put you on most knowledgeable people's ignore lists. Most of us have better things to do with our time than take shit from you as a reward for trying to help.

...and that's how you turn a 2 page thread into a useless 4 page thread.............????.........

You're the one who got your panties in a wad, but now that you mention it: