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I bought some aluminum angle to reinforce the let down on the nose cone where the hood rests. I'm having a he k of a time forming it to fit the fiberglass though. Anyone have any suggestions, other than lots of heat and notching?

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Trochu Motor League

Sounds like you are using aluminum extrusion, similar to what is used for windscreen framing. Mark the area to be bent with black felt tip marker, then use a propane torch to evenly heat the area until the mark goes away.

You can use 6061-O from aircraft spruce in .080 or .050 for easily bendable reinforcement that is cheap compared to other alloys.
Another option is fiberglass to add cross section, similar in effect to beading an aluminum panel for stiffness. This can be done by glassing over thin, narrow strips of wood, foam, or greased tubing that will be pulled out of the glass once it has cured, leaving a raised hollow rib.

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Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
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Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
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McSorley 442:122x46x14
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Thanks MV8. I'd heard the sharpie trick before but had forgotten about it.

Going for something like this:

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Trochu Motor League

My life moto is: "Never pass up the opportunity to purchase new tools". The HF shrinker comes to mind. I think you'd do just fine with some formed 0.0409 or 0.050 sheet aluminum in place of the extruded aluminum, and shrinking. Just a thought......

edit: forming said 0.040" aluminum over a piece of MDF shaped for that curve would also work. It will take some effort and time, but can be done by hand.

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Chuck.

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I would not try to do that with an extrusion. I'd do that with .080 6061-O but like Chuck said, not the only way to do it. I prefer the thicker gauge because the alloy is so soft and easy to bend so stiffness from the gauge more so than the hardness.

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Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
Ford IFS viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742
Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
360LA 442E: 134.5x46x15
Lotus7:115x39x7.25
Tiger Avon:114x40x13.3-12.6
Champion/Book:114x42x11
Gibbs/Haynes:122x42x14
VoDou:113x44x14
McSorley 442:122x46x14
Collins 241:127x46x12