One Piece Front Clip?

[Lowfast]

In modding the mustang valance to fit my falcon I welded everything up together as part of the process. The original intent was to make new cuts where neded to cut the front end back into smaller sections. However now that it is all tacked together I am thinking it would look best if it stayed as one piece. What would be the downside to doing this? Is there anything I am not consiering? I know it makes removing the front clip more difficult, however, how often will I be needing to take it appart anyway. Looking for others opinion. Keep it one peice or cut it back into sections (L/R fender and front valance)

http://imageshack.us/scaled/thumb/32/r95a.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/32/r95a.jpg/)
http://imageshack.us/scaled/thumb/5/e1jd.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/5/e1jd.jpg/)

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Should be good as long as you have a functional hood. Be sure to leave the fasteners so you can still remove the complete clip from the rear body section. Don't make it so permanent just incase you have to swap out a section later.

[Lowfast]

Yes, hood is fully functional and removable. And the clip is only bolted to the car, so it can be removed if needed, the only welds are the valance to the front fenders, everything else is bolted.

[TheJDMan]

Why not just make it into a tilt front clip?

[Lowfast]

Why not just make it into a tilt front clip?

No idea how, and not sure the benefit of doing so. I do not want a full one piece integral hood/fenders. Still want to be albe to "pop the hood" in the traditional sense.

[Revved]

I deal primarily with the Shelby GT 500Es built by Unique Performance. In their infinite wisdom they bonded together all of the front fiberglass panels so it essentially made a "front clip" that needs to be removed as one piece. Here are some of the issues I see dealing with these cars.

1) Not an issue for you, but with the early E cars and most clones they didn't separate the fiberglass rocker panel between the original rocker and the fender so it is one piece. If you ever needed to remove the clip you have to destroy paint and fiberglass cutting it off. Also not an issue for you but you will see a lot of clone cars where they bond the fenders to the cowl. Neither is a good practice for serviceability.

2) Stress relief... With all of the front panels bonded there is no place to relieve stress of daily driving. Eventually they crack out where the panels are bonded together.

3) Paint repair... When a panel is damaged you repair the damage, paint the area of the repair, and then you clear coat to the edges of the panel to prevent peel back of the CC. If you have bonded/welded all of the panels together without seams, technically the entire front end should be clear coated. In a case like this a lot of body shops run the clear coat to a thinner area of the panel and burn it in with a buffer to blend in the edge of the clear. Depending on the quality of the work, products, and UV exposure it may be fine for a few years but you are always risking the chance of the clear lifting causing a halo, hazy area, or worst case peeling.

4) Complication of removing the front end. Even welded together it is probably easier for you with mostly stock sheet metal with a few extra hands with minimal damage but on these E cars with the whole front end bonded it is almost guaranteed you are going to crack something. IMO it is much better to be able to just remove the components individually as you need.

5) Access... Lets say you now need to get to a component or wiring that is behind the header panel or requires removal of a headlamp bucket that has now become part of the "clip" Are you going to now remove the whole front end for access?


On all the new builds, and when we have reason to go back in and do extensive body repairs on one of these cars we actually cut apart the fiberglass panels and flange everything so they can be removed individually. A front clip is fine for a racecar and maybe I'm too practical but for the real world I prefer being able to remove components for service without taking the chance of damaging them or having to cut corners during a repair.

I'm not saying to do it or don't do it since I can't see the car first hand... Just think about all of the options before you do.


BTW...I love the car! Great lines on the Falcon and the front spoiler is awesome!

[Lowfast]

That is some great information. Thanks! I will see if there is a good way to add alignment flanges on the back side of the panels and then cut them appart but allow for easy re-alignment.

[Revved]

Here is an idea to consider if you are really set on the removable front clip idea...

Build mounts so that the front end can be quickly removed as a complete assembly but still build it with each of the panels flanged so that they can still be disassembled for service.

That way you get the best of both worlds..