Removing Metal above the headlining - opinions please
Turbo Mini Forums

I'm going to be taking the roof skin of my car soon (rot...) and have been thinking about what I can/should be doing while it's of.

I'm building the car as a fast road car, so I'm trying to remove as much unnecesary weight as possible.

I want to keep a full interior, so will be having a headlining. So I need to keep the rail that runs down the side of the car that the support bars pop into. But... do I need to keep it all??

I'm thinking about chopping out the bulk of it and leaving about an inch around all the holes for the supports and the interior light. I'd fold a lip in it and weld that to the body to keep strength for the headlining support bars.

Cuts would be something like this:



Obviously I'm not going to get more than a few grams out, but every little helps. Should make refitting the loom a little easier too.

I'm guessing the sections don't do much more than hold the headlining and loom in as I've seen a few people with them removed completly.

Opinions please.

I think that area is where alot of the strength in the roof is to be fair.

Personally i wouldnt want to cut that out without a decent cage in there.

However you might be able to drill a few holes in there without losing to much strength?

Sorry but there is no strenght in there.

Its just to hold the headlining rods in.

I did a similar thing to you but not quite as drastic ( i couldn't be bothered) .

only comment i would make is if you take too much out the small bits left may bend out and the headlining rods could come out.

After thinking about it, your probably right.

i would be the rolled bit underneath the yellow line which has been drawn.

I was thinking the same Tim.

So as long as I bend/weld the remaining lugs for the rod's so that they won't move/fold over, then job's a good un and I've removed 4 grams from the car lol....

i think its worth while, as you say every little helps a bit here and a bit there soon ads up!! a thick bead of weld up each side of the hole should be more than enough to support the rods

Yes i moved to the darkside

Instagram @jdm_brett

Cut it, but I wouldnt worry about folding or welding anything. by the time the rods and headling are in a stretched tight it will hold itself.

Mk1s dont have that panel, so theres no strength there

Paul

I seriously doubt it!

thanks Dave. That's what I wanted to read

I think it saved something like 250g when I cut mine out. Its better then a kick in the bollocks I suppose:)

Its been removed on my shell just above top of the bolt holes,so the line of it above the rear screen continues all the way around.Hopefully that makes sense?

Edited by rosco454 on 11th Oct, 2009.

So it might be easier to just chop it in a straight line.



Chop on the red line and fold it over on the blue, joinging the edges of the fold to the original fold.

Should be a lot less f'ing about and will still remove a reasonable amount of metal, but leave behind some strength to hold the rods in place.

Mine is pretty much dead on the blue line with no lip (i dont have a headling by the way).

Il try and get a picture tonight if i get chance.

Mines missing entirely, youll know when it goes floppy! Ooh err. Itll be fine.

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

Well, I've finally got round to doing this...





Once I'd cut a bit out, I decided that Paul was correct and just removed as much as possible. 770 grams in total.

Looking at it, I've left a 1/2" lip along the inside of the front and rear gutter. I think that will be coming out tomorrow. That along with all the excess I gorund off after the pic's where taken, I should be pushing the 1KG mark.

I cut mine out (well Nic did)lol, but never weighed it.

770g is not a bad weight saving for a few minutes work, especially that high up.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fusion-Fabri..._homepage_panel

www.fusionfabs.co.uk



1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

Found a big sheet of fluffy sound deadening in the shed as well. That won't be going back on so that's another few grams...

f
Fibre glass or Carbon fibre going back on ?

steel...lol

Keep the pics comming then

I'll update my build thread later

Ok nice one, now get out there and get it sorted ..lol
its only minus 3 here .

Spent the last few days freezing my moobs of. lol. It will be done this aft when Wifey has finished dragging my back round the shops....

Lost motivation last weekend, but it's all done now.





In the end, I took the lip off all the way round. Quite a good saving for minimal effort & spend.