Cooling panel- Issues with using Lexan?
 

So I made my template for my cooling panel (upper radiator support area) and was going to make it out of aluminum or galvanized steel like everyone else.. Then about (12) 1/8 inch thick by 4 feet wide by 8 feet tall sheets of lexan can into my life at a reasonable price. My thoughts were to make my panel out of lexan VS metal. Can anyone give me a good reason why this is a bad idea? I know corksport makes thiers out of Fiberglass material... Lexan is easy to work with and pretty light weight...

Let me know what you think.

I did it. I can't see what the issue would be. There are pics in my build thread (see sig). I just sanded it to roughen it a bit and painted it black. I did crack it in a few places though, using a jigsaw to cut some of the spots.

You could even easily make a lower radiator panel/undertray.

good idea

i used ABS plastic on the 20b car, no problems at all

make the under tray using that then just buy a corksport one.

?

if you make the under tray make a writeup id like to see that

when you said it cracked, like at the drilling points or the cuts?
if you dont tap it first before you drill into it, of course it will crack, you have to be really careful to also not over tighten lexan as well.
abs is no problem tho
i cracked many a lexan panel building show sub boxes, learned my lesson after a while.

Lloyd

you can buy carbon fiber scrap on ebay for cheap...i picked up a 4'x2'x1.5mm piece of dry carbon for $25 shipped.

alot of people use it for projects, and then sell the leftover scraps, or pieces with imperfections on ebay for cheap.

just an idea, its alot easier to work with, and better looking than lexan.

If you want to paint the lexan, use the Krylon Fusion on the back side of the panel. I've been doing it for years. It's less likely to scratch off.