Door and boot floor lightening

[kko110]

Hi there,

I have been reading through the Hobby Car Tech Manual and it does not really touch on what you can do in terms of lightening the doors. It does mention the hinge and latch requirements but nothing to do with door lightening or sealing.
I have a 6 point rollcage for race use but intend to be able to drive it on the road also. The rollcage substantial side impact bars which in my opinion will absorb  the impact far better than the standard door. What I was hoping to do for a door is a simple fibreglass sandwiched piece of nomex for a total thickness of 10mm or thereabouts with the appropriate hinge and latch mounts for weight saving. Are there any rules preventing this?

I also have a question regarding the boot floor. As I have made a custom aluminium tank (to regs . press test etc) that sits in a 30x30 SHS frame to support the weight. Either side and around the back of this there are currently large holes where the spare wheel and origional tank used to be. Rather than weld in steel replacement panels is it OK to glue and screw aluminium panels over these holes? The tank framework has been designed do that in the event of a rear ending it will not cause the framework to crush the tank but insdtead form a protective box around it...

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Karl

[Leon]

Hi Karl,

Have you started working with a certifier yet? As I think this is an occasion where there probably is no better way to get guidance other than to have the certifier physically inspect the vehicle, and see if he can see any errors in your design, or things that could be improved.

As you say, there aren't specific words to apply to all occasions, as what might be suitable on a Lotus 7 style replica (basically no door at all to speak of, and actually no door in most cases), might be wholly unsuited to a Torana, or a Nissan Safari.

[kko110]

Thanks for the advice, yes I am working with a certifier but before I spend all the time and effort creating some door skins and to find that all the effort was wasted I thought I would ask you first...

Thanks anyway

Karl

[Leon]

Present some designs or concepts to your certifier before you construct.

My apologies, I thought from your post that these were modifications that you had already carried out