Radiator cowl front panel

[Leepac1]

Hi, I am currently making a replica Le Mans Bentley and would like some advice on how to make the finishing trim panel in-front of the stone guard, as per the photos, thank you in advance, Andrew.

[Leepac1]

A few photos of the radiator cowl after a few months of metalwork.

[Leepac1]

The finished item on the chassis with the newly plated lights to match.

[steve.murphy]

That turned out really nice!

[Leepac1]

Cheers Steve, thank you very much, I am quite pleased with it.

[Jaroslav]

Andrew, this is top notch work.
I can see from the date that no one advised you. You didn't need it. But could you describe the process.
To widen the vision.....

[Gojeep]

Well done mate, that came out great!

[Marc Bourget]

I'm interested in how the cap seals and why the switch from the original over-center lever operated closing to the Winged version which I assume is a screw-on method?


I've seen aircraft filler caps that employ a flexible seal that is squeezed out when compressed but the inlet material appears too thin for that approach.

[Leepac1]

Hi Jeroslav,
The way that I eventually made the "z" shaped trim/stone guard retainer was to make each half in 3 parts. The two corner sections were made using an aluminum hammer form that I fabricated out of a 17mm piece of solid plate cut on an angle using my bandsaw. When the "jig" was made, the corners, both being the same, were quite easy to fabricate and the join onto the 2 upright and vertical sections, the completed trim section was then soldered onto the main radiator shell once manicured to fit snugly.

[Leepac1]

Hi Marc,
I have used an aftermarket aluminum radiator that is fitted under the new shell, it uses a modern day pressurised rad cap, the Bentley flying "B" is just there for embellishment as the radiator is filled from under the bonnet.