Filling gap between bottom rails and ali sides?

[skov]

Afternoon All,

I've got a bit of a gap between my ali side panels and bottom chassis rails in the engine bay. It's been slowly filling with swarf and crap, and I'm a little worried it's going to end up full of water when I get it on the road:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-53QBPvdwQw8/UYkNS-lxpgI/AAAAAAAAJb8/OFDrFCL7nVE/s640/S5033465.JPG

I've just given it a quick clean out, and wondering if I should fill it with some kind of sealant, or possibly drill some drain holes in it.
Any thoughts?

[TSM Locost]

If the gap is open at the nose end and the chassis 25mm lower at the front than the back as normal then any water should drain out, nothing wrong with a couple of 10mm holes for drainage, the last thing you want is a water trap.

[SeriesLandy]

Could you not fill the gap with silicone? It's flexable and should give. A nice enough finish if you used clear.

[jps]

Sorry to go on a slight tangent. Does the same not occur for all panels? I've just cut a rear bulkhead panel and, unless i do a fair bit of filing on the joints of the chassis tubes, it'll be very hard to get the panel to sit completely flush agaisnt the rails. I am imagining the same will be true when I come to offer up the floor panel as well...?

[skov]

Sorry to go on a slight tangent. Does the same not occur for all panels? I've just cut a rear bulkhead panel and, unless i do a fair bit of filing on the joints of the chassis tubes, it'll be very hard to get the panel to sit completely flush agaisnt the rails. I am imagining the same will be true when I come to offer up the floor panel as well...?

I guess it does to some extent, it's just that most panels sit (more or less) flat against the chassis rails, rather than going off on a tangent like the sides at the front of the chassis.
Wherever the panels do sit flat I've bonded them on with sikaflex, hopefully filling any slight gaps.
I was just wondering if it's worth doing the same for the massive gaps at the front.

TSM - good point about them sloping forwards and being able to drain out of the front. Or it would be if I hadn't folded the panels over the front frame at the bottom and sealed that gap up!

[Hopley89]

Might be a silly question but did you grind back the welds were the panles will fit ? As this make a much tighter and better finish !!
I also siliconed my tiny gaps and they are still just as good
:D ;) :) :cool: