Holy Rear Apron Batman!

[Uber Affe]

Does anyone know where I can get one of those ultra cool rear aprons w/ the multiple holes drilled in? The ones the racers use. Where can I get one?
What is the cost? And... what is the advantage (if any) of having one?

Much appreciated and thanks in advance,

G.S. (U.A.)

[zen]

pretty cheap. get a drill and aim correctly.

that may be the only way. i think Remelle is the only one that made them and based on rumors you won't be able to get one there. but don't quote me on any of this as i could easily be wrong.

if it were me (and i considered it), i would just do it yourself. easy enough to do.

[super vw]

I also think most of them are "stamped" or "punched" to give it a better look and make it stronger. So the hole would have a little lip/dip in it.
I am not to sure if people do just a square hole (kinda a oximorron eh?) or not, but i dont see why it would matter as the rear apron is not a main structural part. so punched or not, whatever works for you. i think the dies used to do the punch are kinda spendy though.

Later
Jonathan

[NO_H2O]

A good hole-saw, some lay-out, and a center punch.

[Uber Affe]

Pardon the bad sketch...I hate the mouse.
You see what I mean though right?
I think the metal rings would look cool.
The rear apron isn't just a sold thin piece of metal so adding these to drilled holes might strengthen the egdes since I don't have a fancy machine to do it for me.

See cave drawing for details.

[super vw]

Yeah, thats possible.... kinda like a bezzel or whatnot. if thats the look you want. to me that would stand out to much and look kinda weird. unless it blended in by painting them body color.

You dont need a machine to punch them, you use dies i think that are moble, they kind of act like a hammer and a dolly, the dies would have a positive and a negative side (if you get that) the positive on one side of the metal and the negative on the other (usually the back side) and when they are squashed together on each other they would form the indent/step or whatever. you might be able to make your own dies on a lathe if you have access, you then could make any sort of shape you want.

But i like your idea of covering up a hole like you said, easier perhaps.
Depends on how you want it to look.

Then onyl resson i can think of to even have the vents is to let exhaust heat excape from the rear easier... who knows even if anything will benifit from it?

Later,
Jonathan

[Uber Affe]

As I have always seen it...I thought it was to dissipate heat from the exhaust and relieve some drag from the apron w/ air passing through, but I've never talked to anyone that could verify that that...
All in all...
I say...
BENEFIT SHMENEFIT! I just think it looks friggin cool! hehe! I guess leaving the bezels shiny would look kinda weird...I'll try it both ways and see what it looks like and post pics. I have an old apron I can experiment with!

[super vw]

:d Right on!
Ya gotta try, thats for sure! For you its great you can easily and cheaply with a spair apron, so why not...

Let us know how it turns out.

Later,
Jonathan

[boygenius]

You don't have to do holes, what about some elongated oval slits in the rear apron. You could use some metal mesh so you can't see the header through the slots. Either paint the mesh black to make the slots stand out or paint the mesh body color to make the slots dissapear for the stealth look.

The only cars I have seen this type of apron on are type 4 powered beetles. And from what I have seen the headers are really close to the rear apron so the holes are probably there to keep the rear apron from melting off the car.

[NO_H2O]

If you lay out your pattern and drill small pilot holes then chase them with a good sharp hole saw and cutting fluid, it should come out nice. You could put down a layer of painters tape to minimize chipping and lay out the lines to get it nice and strait/even.

[Uber Affe]

I'm looking for something like this in stainless steel or aluminium?
Any suggestions would be helpful.

See attched composite graphic...

[SuperRSi]

Go take a look at Mittlerbros.com and look at "sheetmetal tools" for the punches and flares. They come in all sizes. These tools use a drilled pilot hole and then punch a large hole and flare the edges. As you will see they are not cheap, but I have seen the hole they make and it is very nice. There also is a set of hole punches (no flare) from Greenlee that you can find at some plumbing or electrical supply houses. Good luck.

Thanks,

Randy

[bugsoup]

Originally Posted by boygenius

You don't have to do holes, what about some elongated oval slits in the rear apron.

I agree that the holes are an option, but some slits would look really cool. If you modeled them after the front vents that late Supers have, it would even look stock. Maybe even use the vents from under a rear window.

In my opinion, the bezels my look ok, but they might make the rear apron look "heavy" with unnesessary accesories. I do think that a simple round over treatment would not only maintain structural integrity, it would also look like you are trying to drop some weight off the car (a racer look).

[Uber Affe]

What if I chrome (eeew!) the rear apron or just leave it bare metal with a protective coat (better) and make a bunch of realy little holes?

See pic...

[zen]

i like it. but that's just my opinion. don't care for the exhaust exit, but like the apron. i have been battling what i want to do with mine since it has some minor issues anyway.