Side Pod protection
- Toilet Duck
- Posts: 516
- Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2012 10:54 am
- Location: Essex
- Contact:
Side Pod protection
Afternoon all,
Just interested to see what (if anything) owners with side pods have used to stop the front leading edges getting battered by stone chips etc? I remember seeing an owner of a brand new 3.5R turn up at a track day and at the end of the event the edges on his pods were completely trashed.
I've recently added pods and want to protect them before spring arrives and I start taking the car out on the road. I'm not sure paint protection film would be "man" enough to stop the damage having seen it first hand. I was thinking about making an ally plate (then spraying) but due to the acute shape of the leading edges I'm not sure it would be possible to bend around all the edges and still look ok.
Cheers
Just interested to see what (if anything) owners with side pods have used to stop the front leading edges getting battered by stone chips etc? I remember seeing an owner of a brand new 3.5R turn up at a track day and at the end of the event the edges on his pods were completely trashed.
I've recently added pods and want to protect them before spring arrives and I start taking the car out on the road. I'm not sure paint protection film would be "man" enough to stop the damage having seen it first hand. I was thinking about making an ally plate (then spraying) but due to the acute shape of the leading edges I'm not sure it would be possible to bend around all the edges and still look ok.
Cheers
- autobackup
- Posts: 992
- Joined: Fri Aug 21, 2015 1:57 pm
- Location: Cyprus (+ Newbury)
- Contact:
Re: Side Pod protection
TD
I fitted a double layer of 3M stone guard last June which has been quite successful with, so far there only a few nicks here and there after 5 months use on the rather dusty & stoney roads here in Cyprus
I fitted a double layer of 3M stone guard last June which has been quite successful with, so far there only a few nicks here and there after 5 months use on the rather dusty & stoney roads here in Cyprus
- Attachments
-
- IMG_20180717_162638 (800x600).jpg (411.68 KiB) Viewed 1549 times
Atom 3.5R (Cyprus)
Honda CRV 2.2 Ex Auto i-DTEC (Cyprus)
Suzuki Celerio 1.0 SZ4 (Cyprus)
Honda CRV Ex I-MMD eCVT Hybrid (UK)
Honda CRV 2.2 Ex Auto i-DTEC (Cyprus)
Suzuki Celerio 1.0 SZ4 (Cyprus)
Honda CRV Ex I-MMD eCVT Hybrid (UK)
- Toilet Duck
- Posts: 516
- Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2012 10:54 am
- Location: Essex
- Contact:
Re: Side Pod protection
Cheers, is this the stuff you used? If so how do you apply it, does it have to be sprayed on?
Re: Side Pod protection
I think he means 2 layers (or more) of 3m protective film/helicopter tape, as used by the factory on the wishbones, like this:https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-Stock-Cle ... :rk:7:pf:0
2008 Supercharged Atom 3, Tesla Model 3 Long Range
- autobackup
- Posts: 992
- Joined: Fri Aug 21, 2015 1:57 pm
- Location: Cyprus (+ Newbury)
- Contact:
Re: Side Pod protection
TD
Fastlane is right - it comes on a roll and is applied using soap & water - unlike vinyl it is NOT applied with a heat gun!
You can have a go if you like but it is very (fiendishly) difficult due to the thickness of the 3M 'Stone protector' plastic film and the complex curves of the leading edges and inner surfaces of the pods.
I had a go but abandoned the attempt quite quickly and, in the end, took it to a wrapping specialist, who - as you can see in the photo - did an excellent job!
Fastlane is right - it comes on a roll and is applied using soap & water - unlike vinyl it is NOT applied with a heat gun!
You can have a go if you like but it is very (fiendishly) difficult due to the thickness of the 3M 'Stone protector' plastic film and the complex curves of the leading edges and inner surfaces of the pods.
I had a go but abandoned the attempt quite quickly and, in the end, took it to a wrapping specialist, who - as you can see in the photo - did an excellent job!
Atom 3.5R (Cyprus)
Honda CRV 2.2 Ex Auto i-DTEC (Cyprus)
Suzuki Celerio 1.0 SZ4 (Cyprus)
Honda CRV Ex I-MMD eCVT Hybrid (UK)
Honda CRV 2.2 Ex Auto i-DTEC (Cyprus)
Suzuki Celerio 1.0 SZ4 (Cyprus)
Honda CRV Ex I-MMD eCVT Hybrid (UK)
- Toilet Duck
- Posts: 516
- Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2012 10:54 am
- Location: Essex
- Contact:
Re: Side Pod protection
Many thanks
Re: Side Pod protection
Try giving your local 3M stockist a call.
There are a lot of 'helicopter tape' suppliers and various grades depending if you want an invisible film or something extremely robust.
https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/403 ... rofile.pdf
I would also consider talking to some local fabrication places. Form a piece of Ti on the leading edges.
Or flexible sheet
https://www.easycomposites.co.uk/#!/cur ... ibre-sheet
HTH
There are a lot of 'helicopter tape' suppliers and various grades depending if you want an invisible film or something extremely robust.
https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/403 ... rofile.pdf
I would also consider talking to some local fabrication places. Form a piece of Ti on the leading edges.
Or flexible sheet
https://www.easycomposites.co.uk/#!/cur ... ibre-sheet
HTH
- Toilet Duck
- Posts: 516
- Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2012 10:54 am
- Location: Essex
- Contact:
Re: Side Pod protection
Cheers reg, that's an interesting site you linked to with all the composite materials. Going to have a read up
Re: Side Pod protection
[mention]reg[/mention] I nominate you project manager to come up with a sacrifical element for the leading edges of the pods. You have a lead time of 4 weeks, best get a move on!
Re: Side Pod protection
There you go. Unfortunately my sidepod design is attached to a rather expensive frame, but it's proven to work at both altitude and speed.
[
Re: Side Pod protection
I normally run at about 8" altitude
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests