Aluminum sheet vs stainless sheet

[my427cobra]

Hi all. Looking for your opinions/comments/working tips on the following:

I'd like to fab a panel for the underside of the hood and trunk lid. What a re the pro's and con's of using aluminum sheet vs stainless sheet in terms of:
1) conforming to the curves of the hood and trunk? (front is "flat" and, well you all know the curve of the trunk lid)
2) drillability? (are there special drills for stainless?)
3) what thickness/gauge? (19ga(040) vs 20 or 21 or 22ga)

I already have an 040 aluminum sheet lining the hood but keeping it mirror polished is a chore. Mirror polished stainless should be no maintenance.

What do you all think?

Cheers
Greg

[mickmate]

Stainless is a lot tougher on tooling and has more spring to it when you're shaping it. It is fairly bendable but drills tough. I use the cheapest blackest hardest drillbits for it but you have to keep them straight.

[Dwight]

you have to drill stainless at lower speed and used lube. I have a large pile of burn up bits that I have used on stainless.
Most of the Cobras I see are done in aluminum.
Aluminum will cool quicker than stainless. I would go with the aluminum, no real downside.
Dwight

[Dwight]

I found a picture of Mike Denton's aluminum work on his Unique. The interior looks as good as the trunk.

Dwight

[shimel]

I own an Aluminum & Stainless fabrication company and aluminum is much easier to cut, form, & drill most definitely.Aluminum is much softer material and will therefore scratch easier than stainless.

If you use a stainless material you can get different finishes, from a mill type finish, grained finishes, and polished finishes.

[shimel]

I own an Aluminum & Stainless fabrication company and aluminum is much easier to cut, form, & drill most definitely.Aluminum is much softer material and will therefore scratch easier than stainless.

If you use a stainless material you can get different finishes, from a mill type finish, grained finishes, and polished finishes. I just finish a stainless fuel tank that was built out of 16 ga 316 Stainless Steel with a 2b finish that was polished after fabrication. You can see pictures in my gallery if interested.

[CHANMADD]

I think He said his "trunk Lid" which is not subject to heat and all the road grime that the underside of the "Hood" does, so I would stick with the Aluminum for sure..I don't think it will lose it's shine too quickly in the trunk.