Front end protection

[Merv and Sharon]

A common challenge for most of us is scraping the front leading edge (typically the 'oil cooler' moulding) on gutters, bumps and road surfaces on an angle.

Of course we can just live with it - these are cars to be used - but are there any suggestions to offer some protection to the paint work in these situations? Some have seem to have used toughened antifriction or anti abrasion tape.

[AKA EDDY]

Merv, I use Herculiner protection for my front lip and under my oil pan. It's a truck bed roll on liner and is sold at most auto stores.

[alkire248]

What does your clearance measure?

[Merv and Sharon]

About 3-4". I am thinking about some form of toughened adhesive.

[AC-460]

I have a piece of 6mm Aluminium about 350mm square under the front. I have bolted the aluminium up to the bottom of the fibreglass and rounded the front corners so it matches the shape of the oil cowl. It runs from there back about 350mm and bolts to the chassis.... its tough and you have to put your head down under to see it.....

[Merv and Sharon]

That could be the 'go'. There are also these products that are used on skateboards and they have a tough life.

[400TT]

The aluminium is a nice idea and I have done the same before. And since you can leave the material raw abd uncoated, the scrapes in it were not obvious.

Merv, I like the way you are thinking. It would be ideal to have something plastic that also reduces the noise when the nose scrapes...and thus reducing the embarrassment when the nose scrapes.

I have been thinking along the same sort of lines with providing a plastic protector as an option for customers of our new Cobra kits. A moulded item would provide the function and fit we would be looking for. But that would mean it would not be universal across different kit brands.

[Merv and Sharon]

Thanks Craig. There are modern plastic adhesives that are ultra tough that are used under skate boards - deliberately designed to slip along edges such as gutters and so on with limited abrasion - they may be a solution.

[CMY-427]

Originally Posted by AC-460

I have a piece of 6mm Aluminium about 350mm square under the front. I have bolted the aluminium up to the bottom of the fibreglass and rounded the front corners so it matches the shape of the oil cowl. It runs from there back about 350mm and bolts to the chassis.... its tough and you have to put your head down under to see it.....

I did the exact same thing except that I ended up making two, both bend up at the front at the same angle as the cowl however the 1st is only bent up about 15mm which does not block the cowl off, however the 2nd one does extend up further than this as it also acts as the number plate mounting bracket. I have painted the aluminium so it blends in a little better and luckily have not scraped the bottom of either as yet

[Merv and Sharon]

Thanks CMY-427. It is an issue we all have at some stage, and it would be interesting to see if there are any solutions that come out of the 'new age' plastics, polymers or polycarbonates.

[renovationinnov]

merv have you thought of a piece of 5 mm white poly board eg; just like thr cutting board your missus uses in the kitchen or butchers board
they sell it at boat places as bait boards
you can mould it just like perspex by slowly warming it in an oven / if you have had kids they would have made you a nut bowl !!!! same thing
you could mould it to you under nose
just a thought
ROB

[David Hodgson]

Originally Posted by renovationinnov

merv have you thought of a piece of 5 mm white poly board eg; just like thr cutting board your missus uses in the kitchen or butchers board
ROB

Big W have these in many colours - even black. Just gotta force yourself into the kitchen section

Just remembered, they also have the very thin cutting mats, about 1.5mm in coloured.

[Merv and Sharon]

Will check it out. Thanks Rob

[AC-460]

Just remember every time you touch the front its stressing the fibreglass somewhere... Maybe the chassis could incorporate a nylon roller 300mm wide right behing the cowl and stick down maybe 25mm lower than cowl and work similar to a roller under the tail of a ski boat trailer.....

[Zedn]

I have been thinking about rigging up a revers sensor on a switch. When you are parking somewhere that there is something to hit, flick on the reverse sensor and follow the beeps. If the sensor was mounted flush and painted body colour you wouldnt even notice it.

The proximity to the ground may be an issue, but its worth investigating.

[Rog246]

Merv, my mates boat trailer has teflon strips in the runners and the boat slides on and off like a greazy pig. He got the stuff from the local chandlers and its about 40-50 mm wide and about 5mm thick. It is white though, but could be worth a look.
Rog

[renovationinnov]

merv if you want to try some of the boat skid strips i have some you can have to try pm me so we can get it too you
rob

[Merv and Sharon]

Many thanks Rob and Rog. Those strips are designed not to grip to any other surface - which is correct I think for the application. I think I have seen them at Whitworths up here and BCF. Let me check it out tomorrow and get back to you.