| Author |
Message |
    
Martin Cutler (203.18.6.104)
| | Posted on Wednesday, 01 May, 2002 - 15:49: |    |
Especially need the right hand one, but a pair would be great. Does anybody make fibreglass ones? The car is a 1953 R Type Bentley. Any help appreciated. |
Martin Cutler (203.18.6.104)
| | Posted on Tuesday, 07 May, 2002 - 08:51: | |
Just to fill in the picture, the guards are for the R Type that belongs to Rob Hurren. Both had rusted out fairly badly, and we have put quite a bit of time and effort into cutting out the rust and welding in new metal. The previous owner had cut out rust and used fibreglass. We hacked all the fibreglass out and welded in new metal. Unfortunately the rust has come back within 12 months, with the paint bubbling up. Rob and I did it ourselves, and are by no means experts, but thought we did a fairly good job. It seems the guards are just too far gone.
If we have to, we will try repairing again, but it would be nice to start off with another set.
Thanks for any help. |
chrisg (144.137.124.253)
| | Posted on Wednesday, 08 May, 2002 - 00:24: | |
Early in my ownership of B290MD I heard of the availability of fibreglass guards. The suggestion was that they would reduce the weight of the car as well as being relatively inexpensive. Presumably they're still available in this country, but I couldn't say where, I'm afraid.
If you can't find any I'm sure you could get a general fibreglass business to make moulds using the existing guards as templates. Even if they're holey you could get the basic shape.
Since being rear-ended, though, I'm more inclined to the opinion that in a collision having all-steel everything is far better protection for the most important and salvageable part of the car - the chassis. I fancy that steel guards will protect the chassis far better in most circumstances than fibreglass of any type.
I'm suddenly thinking about carbon fibre as an alternative. That would be incredible. Imagine a Standard looking saloon with the reduced weight and consequent performance of a Special. I want it! Is it true that it could be as strong as steel in the same thickness? |
Martin Cutler (203.18.6.104)
| | Posted on Wednesday, 08 May, 2002 - 10:03: | |
Laying carbon fibre is a pretty specialised thing. Some of my mates in the bike club are pretty good at fibreglass, but carbon fibre is a different matter! Nice idea though! Reminds me of coming home from a wedding on Victoria road, where it crosses Devlin street. Somehow, we managed to get 3 Bentleys all lined up abreast, and we where all keen for a race. The light went green, and we all shot off. Both the other drivers had started in first gear. I started off in second, and trounced them both. The question came at the next set of lights, "is it supercharged?" Had to laugh! |
Martin Cutler (203.18.6.104)
| | Posted on Wednesday, 22 May, 2002 - 09:43: | |
Hi Guys,
Attacked the worst guard on the R type last night, somebody at one stage has got really into fibreglass! When we lifted the paint, heaps of water was trapped underneath, looks like it is working it's way in through from the back. Will try some undersealer of some sort to try and seal the underside of the guard, and keep the water out. The fibreglass is worst around the headlight nacelle, but there is no metal left at all, so it has to stay.
Water has got into the crown of the guard from the side light area, the inside of the sidelight holder is totally rusted out. Used some nice acid rust converter on the whole thing, should stop it in it's tracks.
Still reckon a fibre glass copy would be the way to go! |
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