Julian Thompson Posted May 13, 2002 Share Posted May 13, 2002 Am I correct in assuming that my shiny new SLR will have a timber boot floor? Anyone replaced this with alloy or carbon? Anything to watch out for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Corb Posted May 13, 2002 Share Posted May 13, 2002 Its a crash protection issue aparently and should be left as is. I've thought about covering it with a thin strip of carbon but then its in the boot, you hardly ever see it. I dont know what would happen if you replaced it with ali honeycomb (not that its easy to come by). I'm sure Arnie will have done something novel with it. BC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby dooby doo Posted May 13, 2002 Share Posted May 13, 2002 on the subject why is the floor half honeycomb and half plywood? i realise it needs to be in too bits to get it fitted but why not make it all of the same material? i suspect carbon would get too scratched but ali honeycomb would be good. hmm - would be especially good if coated with the vinyl stuff on the cockpit sides, would prevent the black ali gunk that comes off staining your luggage... Dave Hooper - North London dmch2@lineone.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFA Posted May 13, 2002 Share Posted May 13, 2002 The floor is plywood as a cost measure. You can (from Caterham) get a "race" honeycombe panel to replace the plywood floor, but be aware the entire contents of your boot get ingrained with black and silver aluminium residue. Not good if it gets on your weather gear! I have an all honeycomb floor with the internal surfaces of the floor covered in tank tape. That way anything I put in the boot retains its original colouring! Fat Arn Visit the K2 RUM siteid=red> See the Lotus Seven Club 4 Counties Area Website hereid=green> Edited by - Fat Arnie on 13 May 2002 22:40:24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gridgway Posted May 13, 2002 Share Posted May 13, 2002 mine has an ally sheet covering it (the wood that is). Hmmm better take it out to save weight (whoops infected by Carmichaelitis). Graham R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Thompson Posted May 13, 2002 Author Share Posted May 13, 2002 Thanks lads! How much is the "honeycomb" floor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morls Posted May 14, 2002 Share Posted May 14, 2002 What's wrong with plywoodquestion.gif F1 cars still have plywood on them. And...isn't putting CF or ally on top of something not sort of...well...defeating the idea, like the takky CF top yolk cover on Born again Bikers' R1squestion.gif Mark (Ducks...hides behind CF covered setteesmile.gif) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted May 14, 2002 Leadership Team Share Posted May 14, 2002 All the race cars are specified with a honeycomb boot floor for the obvious safety reasons which makes good sense for road use - as mine is honeycomb I would find it strange to put up with a fairly naff piece of plywood. And yes I have covered it in carpet (676 grams - I go for a p£ss before a blat to counterbalance the extra weight)which prevents any of the black residue problems. Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Thompson Posted May 14, 2002 Author Share Posted May 14, 2002 Yeah - I'm sold on no plywood too! (as Mark looks on in horror from behind his autoclaved carbon sofa!!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius Posted May 15, 2002 Share Posted May 15, 2002 Take a look at www.es-engineering.de (or .com ??, not sure) He just did a carbon boot floor for me, car will be at Cuborough on the weekend. Cheers, Marius Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickB7 Posted May 15, 2002 Share Posted May 15, 2002 julian i have an new/unused aluminium floor that goes over the wood if interested. still has blue film on the ally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony pashley Posted May 15, 2002 Share Posted May 15, 2002 I thought the approved race set-up was honeycomb for the rear bit (above the tank) and plain alu for the front bit. ie Alu all over 'cos it's easier to make fire retentive, but deformable in the front bit. The honeycomb supposedly helps reduce the likelyhood of the tank being crushed, but is it good to have a near continuous area of honeycomb edge-on to the middle of your back? Suppose it depends how likely one is to ride up over the other like sliding doors and how square-on the impact is... I opted for a honeycomb/plywood combo. You can't see the bloody plywood anyway, so who cares? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveP Posted May 15, 2002 Share Posted May 15, 2002 I recently replaced my tired wood bootfloor with the honeycomb ali version from Caterham. Cost around £65, but if you want to do it properly and you have an FIA bar fitted, you'll need to have it removed first as the floor doesn't go straight in (unlike the wood one) I didn't do this, but ended up hacking pieces off it to get it in. This does have the advantage that if you do need to take it out for any reason, you can do so without taking the bar off again. It is also covered with carpet to stop the problem Arnie describes Probably not the recommended route though smile.gif SteveP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradbys Posted May 15, 2002 Share Posted May 15, 2002 Why don't you paint the plywood? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony pashley Posted May 15, 2002 Share Posted May 15, 2002 you have an FIA bar fitted, you'll need to have it removed first as the floor doesn't go straight in You didn't try hard enough, Steve !! :o) Mine's been in and out a dozen or so times - not easy, but it goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveP Posted May 15, 2002 Share Posted May 15, 2002 Tony, Obviously I didn't then but there just seemed no way it was going in whole. Plus, I got very hacked off over scraping bits of paint off the roll bar and boot with the very sharp edges of the ali floor! So out came the jigsaw.... SteveP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony pashley Posted May 15, 2002 Share Posted May 15, 2002 That's true Steve... I did some scraping the first few times... but eventually discovered that if you juggle long enough you eventually find the one angle that works! Strange how it goes back in much more easily though... Unless you are in the habit of carrying your spare nuts, bolts and washers loose in the boot, a little trim is probably a smart move! (And tape over the sharp edges). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveP Posted May 15, 2002 Share Posted May 15, 2002 I agree, tape the edges before you start. I have them taped now and rely on the boot carpet to cover up the rather large gap between the floor and the boot wall itself! Cheers SteveP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyR Posted May 16, 2002 Share Posted May 16, 2002 I have just asked Caterham to add the Fuel Tank Protection kit to my 1.6 SL order. They have not yet confirmed the price but I believe it is around £120. My mate hit the tyre wall (backwards) at Cadwell (Gooseneck) and the A frame ruptured his fuel tank and caught fire. The honeycombe kit would have softened the impact. TonyR Edited by - tonyr on 16 May 2002 15:07:58 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKJ Posted May 18, 2002 Share Posted May 18, 2002 What boot flooring did the winning car at Curbourgh have / :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby dooby doo Posted May 20, 2002 Share Posted May 20, 2002 >i have an new/unused aluminium floor that goes over the wood if interested. still has blue >film on the ally Nick, can you supply some more details? I didn't even know such an official thing existed! ie a picture, price etc? Dave Hooper - North London dmch2@lineone.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 My 1.4 K has ali panel over the wooden boot floor piece, & the whole thing is covered by the boot carpet. When waxoiling the car I took out the boot floor to spray the top of the diff. I also took the opportunity to Cuprinol the wooden panel. Not for longevity, you understand, I just wanted to imagine I had a Morgan or a Moggi Traveller!! Is that the only bit of wood lurking in my 7? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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