Under Door Aluminum

[wjsunderhill]

I am about to install the Under Door Aluminum and am not sure of the exact position for the vertical edge. Does it slide under the door opening and rest on the inside of the body, or does it rest at the edge of the body at the door?

[AC Bill]

It does slip under the body slightly at that point. That is why they are the last pieces of aluminum to be fastened, and only after the body is on. You can then judge their mounting point.
You'll want to tuck the carpet under the body as well. If I was to do it again, I would see if I could add a thin bulb type seal, ( or some sort of rubber edging) to the aluminum edge, where it touches the body to help create a seal, as well as to prevent the aluminum from rubbing the body.

[SJDave]

I have a 3.1 and found it difficult to get the aluminum under the body due to some large bumps in the fiberglass under the lip. I ended up grinding alot of the aluminum vertical wall away, I think if I started over I would clean up this edge on the fiberglass with a dremel tool first. You need to get it past the inner lip of the fiberglass at least 3/8" so you can run the carpet up the vertical sections of the aluminum and still get the Black Aluminum/Vinyl trim strip to install down on top of the lip without catching the carpet. I ran a bead of Silicone under the Body before I installed the door aluminum to stop noise/abrasion against the body and to seal it up...not sure there is room for a bulb seal, the carpet and still be able to get the trim on. If you body gets mounted too low on one side, it makes it a ***** to install this piece, ask me how I know. I had to slit it every few inches and bend it down to fit under the body. Car had hidden mounts installed by SRP so this was the only option left, also made the clearance to the top of the driver seatback non existent on that side.

[Rome]

Question as I have not done this yet. SHould I wait until the body is done, or can I put it on now. I currently have the body on but not done. I plan to drive her around this summer to work out any kinks and then have the body done over the winter. Still not sure if it will be done, with body on or off. so should I wait until I do the body or can I put the under door aluminum now.


also, any pics would be welcomed.

[AC Bill]

Yes you can install them now before final paint is done.

But I would wait till you have;
A- the doors on and initially fitted
B- windshield on.
C- front splash shields in place.

You may need to shim the body lower side mounting bolts, so the body aligns better with the door shell at the bottom of the door. In doing this it will change the position of the sill aluminum as to where it will be riveted onto the under door framing. Do it to soon, and you may have a gap, or, it will possibly be to tight to move the body inward if need be.(To line up with
the door bottoms). The windshield plays a roll in how the body will sit, as do the front wheel splash shields. You can then
finish off the carpet install in this area as well.
Basically, you want the body to be fitted the same now, as when after it is painted.

Since your going to be pulling the body off for paint later, I wouldn't use the silicone to seal those panels at this point, (as SJDave suggested) or it will be tough to pull the body. Do that after paint, and body is on for the last time.

You can see a picture of those underdoor panels fitted in this thread. Pictured are the later ones which I presume you have.
http://www.ffcars.com/forums/17-fact...-question.html

[Rome]

Thanks AC,... Very helpful
my doors are on and pretty fitted.
my windshield is on
have yet to place my front splash panels. to be honest I had the same question about those as I did about the under door aluminum.

[3kcarbon]

Mine didn't fit at all, lots of trimming and fitting.

[Someday I Suppose]

I would wait till the body is painted and on, you could always in mock up position and drill them, and then just rivit when the body is on. Also, on mine I thought the aluminum was in line with the edge of the body, and then the U channel supplied by Factory Five goes over top to clean up the edge. I used the aluminum angle pieces from Dark Water in place of the U channel.

-Scott