Paneling 101

[Darrin]

Just a basic question or two about paneling.

Do most of you cut oversize then overlap the panels?

To overlap the panels do you rivet them in place then use a nylon faced hammer to bend over the lip?

Thanks.

 

[Randy V]

Assuming you are talking about aluminum panels that are normally rivetted to the structure of a space frame -

On cars that I have built, I overlap by the width of the supporting tube or 1" whichever is less. I also typically use silicone RTV between the panels at the overlap, but have also used epoxy at times.

Hope that helps..

 

[Darrin]

Yes, that's what I was referring to.

OK, so you do that but only on the "finishing" panel correct?

What I mean by this can best be described by an example. Let's say you have two side panels and a top panel on an area you want to enclose. I am assuming that you cut the two side panels to size then make the top panel slightly larger to overlap on each side. Is that correct or do you make each panel over sized in which case the top panel wouldn't be resting on the steel but on the other aluminum panels.