13 replies to this topic

[JustSteve]

Hopefully this is the right section...


I have to replace my door skins, and was thinking maybe I'd like to replace with something lighter.

I've seen CF and aluminium skins, but only heard about fibreglass skins.


So... Where's the best place to buy lightweight door skins from and does anywhere sell FG? Also, what cons are there?



Steve.

[TopCatCustom]

I'm still thinking about this myself. I wouldn't mind FG ones but I think there is only 1 place selling them and not exactly cheap. Ally ones are available from minispares which I was almost definitely going to buy but having second thoughts as they are so thin and ally dents really easily in this type of application- so theres a good chance they will look awful in a few weeks time!

So I'm thinking about steel ones again now, just for ease and longevity, though if you found any more out about FG ones it may change my mind!

p.s. only really safe with a roll cage and door bars for obvious reasons.

[retroracer1275]

ive just done this, and to be honest it was a complete waste of time

[Cooperman]

Sadly I once saw someone killed on a rally in a Volvo with GRP (that's Fibreglass) doors. That was before the days of full roll cages and the door just broke upn on impact. Maybe that makes nervous about GRP body panels and doors in general. if you do really need to save that door weight to improve your lap times you'll have door bars, but if not then best advice is to stick with steel doors.

[JustSteve]

Hey guys, thanks for that.

I have MPI doors, so they have the side impact bars in ( i know that's not that much protection)

I was just thinking that genuine door skins are pretty expensive anyway, and I'd just like to do it to be different more than anything.


Retroracer1275, where did you get the skins from?

Thanks, Steve.

[mini93]

my doors


There very flippy flappy but dont bow out at speed, steel skins, placcy windows, everything removed

Edited by mini93, 06 September 2011 - 09:34 PM.

[retroracer1275]

juststeve there just standard doors that i cut up with some tin snips, i dont think there is alot of weight saved to be honest

[JustSteve]

juststeve there just standard doors that i cut up with some tin snips, i dont think there is alot of weight saved to be honest

ahh sorry, I thought you'd replaced the skins.

[MiniLandy]

I was just thinking that genuine door skins are pretty expensive anyway, and I'd just like to do it to be different more than anything.

The non gen door skins are actually a pretty decent fit, i reskinned my doors recently.

A lot of the weight of the mini doors are in the winder mech, glass, runners, door opening mech, locking mech, and door frame. The skin weighs naff all. So yeah, i'd say if you want to retain strengh and lose weight, strip the doors and run fixed plastic windows. If you want to maintain some comfort and usability, then do what I do and leave the doors standard, and make sure you've got no excess clag kicking around in the car.

[jaydee]

IMHO its pretty nonsense try to save weight by fitting a lightweight door skin when you're still retaining GLASS windows.
You save just a couple of kilos and loose safety, if you fit GRP you need door bars for safety, adding extra weight..

[JustSteve]

The non gen door skins are actually a pretty decent fit, i reskinned my doors recently.

Really? I have heard they're terrible

IMHO its pretty nonsense try to save weight by fitting a lightweight door skin when you're still retaining GLASS windows.
You save just a couple of kilos and loose safety, if you fit GRP you need door bars for safety, adding extra weight..

Who said I was keeping the glass?

[jaydee]

Ok, right, swapping glass windows for polycarb will make you save a lot of weight, even more if converting to sliding windows (no winder mechanism).
If you're on a tight budget, you can buy sheet of 4mm polycarb, then make it cut to your windows size.
If you're after quality, those guys are very reccomendable, fast service, perfect finish, quality material:
http://www.acwmotors...&id=1&chapter=1
Hes a memeber on here, mini-man-dan, i had a set from them and they were way better than the windows i made on a tight budget for the rally car.

[MiniLandy]

The non gen door skins are actually a pretty decent fit, i reskinned my doors recently.

Really? I have heard they're terrible

Yeah, they're not bad at all. They'll fit perfectly with some fettling, but I just fitted them quickly and properly, and they don't look bad at all.

My experience of pattern panels in general is pretty good, and i've bought the boot hinge repair panel, rear valence, and both door skins. The Minispares ones, made by a company called magnum panels.

[Cooperman]

The non gen door skins are actually a pretty decent fit, i reskinned my doors recently.

Really? I have heard they're terrible

Yeah, they're not bad at all. They'll fit perfectly with some fettling, but I just fitted them quickly and properly, and they don't look bad at all.

My experience of pattern panels in general is pretty good, and i've bought the boot hinge repair panel, rear valence, and both door skins. The Minispares ones, made by a company called magnum panels.

Glad to hear your door skins went on easily, and thanks for returning the clinching tool. It must have worked well then.