Slam panel - Saxperience

deano_123 · 15th April 2015, 09:07

Apart from providing the mounting points for the headlights does the slam panel provide any structural strength?

deano_123 · 17th April 2015, 06:21

Anyone? I'm planning on replacing mine with a tubular panel and would like some input before I go to the hassle of it

D4MJT · 17th April 2015, 07:02

A tubular replacement would be likely to provide extra strength in all honesty.

It's the shittiest flimsy piece of metal going, as you'll see when you remove it.

axsaxoman · 17th April 2015, 08:06

no slam panel has no strength and is often replaced with other things --as in c2 rally car --std front panel is palstic --so was repalced with alloy unit to allow better fitment of large rad etc
slam panel is not strong for another reason --so it will allow one side only to fold up in a corner accident and not spin the car as easy whilst absorbing the impact
i would leave the lower ox section though just change everything aove it --or replace that with a storng tube

deano_123 · 17th April 2015, 08:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by axsaxoman

no slam panel has no strength and is often replaced with other things --as in c2 rally car --std front panel is palstic --so was repalced with alloy unit to allow better fitment of large rad etc
slam panel is not strong for another reason --so it will allow one side only to fold up in a corner accident and not spin the car as easy whilst absorbing the impact
i would leave the lower ox section though just change everything aove it --or replace that with a storng tube

Yes, it is the upper panel I am meaning, which attaches to the wing tops and lower section.

I'm dropping a panel off in the next few days for a fab shop to make the first attempt.

smokeandpoke · 28th April 2015, 11:48

The slam panels are so horrifically weak it's unreal, i can't remember how i did it but i bent one all out of shape off my donor, bent it back by hand and put back on the car.... the guy that bought it then flipped the car and smashed it into a tree, so from experience i can say the rest of the car isn't that strong either, but not a lot is tougher than a tree!

D4MJT · 28th April 2015, 16:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokeandpoke

The slam panels are so horrifically weak it's unreal, i can't remember how i did it but i bent one all out of shape off my donor

You probably dropped a discarded pair of latex gloves on it by accident.

solvi · 28th April 2015, 23:00

thats a good thread ...

always wanted to cut my upper front to acomudateir in a biger and beter air intake , but warried whith structural weekness....

Keicchan · 6th May 2015, 15:07

guess u mean like this?

it has no structural strength... u just only need to build some short brackets to fix the radiator vents structure (i use the headlights bolt)

axsaxoman · 7th May 2015, 15:40

made weak to fold in known manner in an accident --so it folds down and not up and blocking windscreen -then bonnet buckles in middle to absorb energy of bump and stay shut

smokeandpoke · 4th September 2015, 13:18

i know its weak, but it must do something for rigidity?
the picture above, did it handle ok etc?
is it just a matter of making sure everything is bolted down and you're good to go?
surely if you hit anything you'd get a face full of bonnet?
not putting anyone down, i just saw it and wondered what effect it would have!
i suppose as long as the rad has somewhere to mount to it doesnt really matter?

someone advise!

axsaxoman · 12th September 2015, 08:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokeandpoke

i know its weak, but it must do something for rigidity?
the picture above, did it handle ok etc?
is it just a matter of making sure everything is bolted down and you're good to go?
surely if you hit anything you'd get a face full of bonnet?
not putting anyone down, i just saw it and wondered what effect it would have!
i suppose as long as the rad has somewhere to mount to it doesnt really matter?

someone advise!

yep had it on my old ax race car --forgot to lock pins --windscreen broken and couldn,t see --not good when coming to a fast corner flat out .LOL
c2,s have plastic front panle which mounts rad and everything
rally cars make up alloy top panel to mount everything on and alows bigger rad as well

smokeandpoke · 14th September 2015, 12:17

So in short, leave it well alone lol!
As someone said, it crumples up into the bonnet which makes sense.
I guess without it there, the front ends would try to touch each other in a smash!

slammed106 · 2nd October 2015, 05:20

Make a feature out of it????