Aluminum Door Panels

[Sulla]

Any one ever made aluminum door panels for there z? I noticed that a 1969 Ferrari Daytana Race car had aluminum door panels and I started thinking that it could be interesting to do to my 260z. You could make the panel by tracing the original door panel and also us it for the template for the correct placement of holes for the window crank etc.

[hls30.com]

I have not, but I know it has been done.

Will

[panchovisa]

I had aluminum door panels on my first race car. I used them with fiberglass doors and they were "recessed" to clear rollcage bars. Didn't have to worry about windom cranks and door latch release.

Can't see any reason why you couldn't make panels for street car. Just start with cardboard about same thickness as the aluminum you want to use. Get any bends positioned as needed and start trimming it down. Make an oopps, then tape piece back on to template. When template is done, trace and cut out aluminum and add bends/beading and fit, fit, fit.

[zguitar71]

I have always thought aluminum parts would be great for a z. Stuff like the hood, rear deck, front fenders, ect.... All the parts that bolt onto the car. Mostly I just realy like aluminum.

[jszarecki]

hmm, what about carbon fiber or aluminum rear hatch to cut down on the weight, i just replaced mine...its not too heavy, but it woudl help id think, no?

[TomoHawk]

If you had aluminum door panels, you would need a way to hook it to the top of the door, like the stock panels. then you would need to mount the window fuzzy on it to keep the window from rattling. Then would you just put the bare metal all the way over the top of the door? In the sun, it would get really hot & burn your arm, so you might want to cover the top part with some cloth.

Instead, I was going to use the top few inches of the stock door panel, with the fuzzy and vinyl on it, and attach the aluminum to that and go the rest of the way to the bottom.

[Sulla]

I think your right TomoHawk some kind of part aluminum part leather or fabric door panel would be the way to go.

[TomoHawk]

I'm just suggesting that you either keep the top section of the OEM panel for the window fuzzy, or form the panel to hook onto the window slot, and a fuzzy/rub strip and cover the bare metal with something so ou don't leave the skin from your your arm on the sill on a hot sunny day (ouch!)

[TomoHawk]

what about carbon fiber or aluminum rear hatch to cut down on the weight...

Why cut down on the weight in the rear, to even out the weight distribution? My 280Z weighs in at about 2700 lbs and saving 20-30 lbs doesn't seem like much, unless you do it in at least 5 or 6 places ( or about 100-200 lbs.)