Aluminium vs Fibreglass vs Steel Door Skins
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi again, I need to replace one or both of my door skins, and basically would like to do it in aluminium, however I've heard that they dent so easily it wouldn't take 5 mins before they looked really tatty, (mini will be used for rallying as well), so the light weight of the ally would be appreciated however I want to keep them looking nice as well!

I figured that fibreglass is light too and does not dent like ally, but I have had no luck in finding where I can buy fg skins to bond onto my steel frames!

Steel skins are heavier but will look better for longer, and when my cousin replaced his he had a crap finish where he used the special crimping tool around the edges, which is another reason for not wanting to replace them in steel!

Any advice? I want to get the parts soon as not far off painting the car now!

Edited by topcat on 11th Apr, 2012.

www.topcatcustom.co.uk

What about full CF/FG doors?

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

my alu skins went on a treat with no tool marks. can't comment on longevity yet

I would say with alu skins if you knock them hard enough to dent you would possibly mark the paint, whether they are steel or alu, just be careful.

Audi s4 b5 - 470bhp & 486ft lbs

On 30th Apr, 2012 Brett said:
yeah stick the bit in and give it a wobble

I don't want full FG doors as I've also heard that they dont hold in at the tops nicely especially at speed, and can't be bothered with messing around with the hinges, catch etc.

I think there was a couple of posts I read on tmf that people had found small dents on theirs just from pushing against them in the workshop etc, I would like to use ally just not sure about them staying nice and dent free!

Has anyone ever seen FG skins only before which you can just bond on?

www.topcatcustom.co.uk

I am kind of in the same boat as you as I want to lose weight but want to keep the functionality of the doors.

Like people have said, the alli ones will dent easily but save you weight.

The fibre glass and full carbon fibre doors are a lot leighter but can be a nightmare to fit and live with.

Steel are best as the fit should be great and shouldn't dent easily.

The major downside with steel doors are the wind up windows which can weigh a lot. I am planning on converting mine to Mk 1 style sliding perspex windows which means you can do away with all the wind up mechanism, the glass and most of the inside of the door skin. This will save a bit of weight and still keep the doors practical.

Speed doesn't kill, suddenly becoming stationary, now that's what'll get ya!

Tdk racing do a carbon fibre door skin,
http://home.freeuk.net/tdkracing/doors.htm

Edited by wez on 11th Apr, 2012.

one day boost will be mine!

Ive got a set of Full carbon fibre doors on order, that are apparently not waggy and nice and strong. Im mounting them on the original hinges and catches. loads lighter than steel too.

I did look at the aluminium skins though and they are quite affordable and still lighter than steel.

Matt W

Speed doesn't kill, suddenly becoming stationary, now that's what'll get ya!

Are TDK Racing any good product wise? do they have a good reputation?

Mw3 is on about the carbon weezel ones i think, they are very strong and have a clever construction i have seen the pre production ones, they would probably be the only ones i would get apart from possibly the arc angels 'road' doors. Either way i would still add a door card

Drives
-Ford S-max Mk2 Ecoboost
-Rover 100 VVC #2 - track project

Searching is all you need on TurboMinis

Yeah im on about the Carbon Weezel ones, ive given Ben measurements of my doors on at the moment to make sure the aperture is right.

Im not impressed with arc angels at all, i had a debacle with some bumpers from them.

Matt W

Ive got aluminium door skins on mine, and they are about 4 years and are still in great condition.

Ive knocked into them, dropped spanners against them and there fine.

The one thing I haven't done is used the car to do a food shop and left the car in the car park ready for people to open there doors and bash my ally skins.

I can't see how you can dent a door skin, unless you use your foot/knee to close the door, or leave it in places likely for other people to open there doors into it.

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

www.fusionfabs.co.uk



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

Has anyoen else experianced "Dissimilar metal corrosion" with the ally door skins yet?

Paint the frames properly before you fit the skins and that won't be an issue.

Lovley is it literally bare steel to bare aluminium that causes this?

Why not mould a few doors, then you can make your own carbon or fiberglass skins.

Thanks for all the replies.

I think I'll just go for ally ones, they are so cheap, should be easy to fit (and replace when beaten up) and lightweight.

It's just because I want to keep it presentable whilst abusing it! But there's arches etc to knock off before I get to the doors :)

Cheers all,
TC

www.topcatcustom.co.uk

yes generally

On 11th Apr, 2012 Craigie-B said:
Lovley is it literally bare steel to bare aluminium that causes this?