Tonneau fasteners on body - into *or* avoid chassis tubes

[jason liddell]

Just got myself a Tillet-pocketed tonneau and fasteners etc from Caterham for fitting to my Superlight I now have a question that I can't find answer to in the archives...

 

I need to fit 3 new fasteners to the body (car having never had a tonneau before) - these being one on the scuttle, one on the sideskin just below the scuttle, and one on the sideskin just below the top-rear of the sill. The build manaul PDF I have gives precise dimensions for where to drill/fit these (Sect 14, Pg 5).

 

So my question: are these given dims/locations intended to ensure the rivets go into chassis tubes (for increased strength), or to avoid chassis tubes?

 

 

 

 

^{(Mainly ) Scottish Motorsport/Trackday Pics Here.}

 

Edited by - jason liddell on 30 Jun 2008 23:42:06

[ELV15]

I suspect you really want to avoid hitting the edge of a chassis tube. The tubes are round you know!

 

The poppers are strongest if you get them drilled into a chassis tube (like the ones around the boot). However, I suspect that most of the ones for the tonneau are just into plain ali.

 

 

ELV15 - Tom in California -

200hp duratec powered 2003 Clubsport Build pics here: here

[I.Mupferit]

I'm pretty sure some of the popper bases for my tonneau just went into the aluminium skin. As Tom says you really, really, really want to avoid hitting the edge of a tube. Been there, done that on my old 7. 😔

[David Lynch]

Another top tip thank you, just about to do the same

 

I must remember that I'm in public

 

Edited by - David Lynch on 1 Jul 2008 09:02:41

[jason liddell]

The existing poppers in the centre of the scuttle (the ones the aero pops onto) appear to be through the tube... The scuttle hoop tube is round section? And the side tubes (that the 2 sideskin ones potentially go into) are square section, yes?

 

Hmmm. I'm a bit unsure of wielding the drill just yet

 

 

 

 

^{(Mainly ) Scottish Motorsport/Trackday Pics Here.}

[susser]

When I marked the holes for the poppers just in front of the rear wing, I was very careful to make sure that I measured a number of times and drilled once,,,,and made a lovely elongated hole as the bit slid round the chassis tube.

The hole is supposed to be clear of the tube, but the dimensions that I used didn't achieve it. *mad* *mad*

If you added a mm or two to make the hole lower and further from the wing, but still within the tonneou fabric, you may benefit.

Or you may not. I'm not responsible.

[jason liddell]

Re-reading the build manual and studying pics of an un-skinned chassis, it would appear the given dims are intended to centre on chassis tubes... Studying pics of other (factory built - hence poppers in same place in theory) cars suggests this to be the case.

 

Has nobody else fitted these tonneau poppers to body themselves?

 

 

 

^{(Mainly ) Scottish Motorsport/Trackday Pics Here.}

[PAUL MARRIOTT]

I would advise going into the tube, far stronger. Don't forget those cold mornings when you're pulling at the tonneau / hood on that is all stiff and seems to have shrunk two sizes.

 

Paul M

[jason liddell]

Just spoken to the horse's mouth, AKA Caterham Dartford. All the fittings are intended to be into chassis tubes for obvious reasons.

 

So, I'll have to measure/feel/drill carefully I guess!

 

 

 

^{(Mainly ) Scottish Motorsport/Trackday Pics Here.}

[Wrightpayne]

Jason,

 

 

any chance of emailing me the details from the PDF file or an excerpt? I need to do the same for my new tonneau - trying to miss the roll cage, hit the chassis tubes and make them useable for half doors.

 

 

Regards

 

 

Ian

[jason liddell]

Sure. Blatmail me your email addy. Thought the dims proved not too helpful TBH - they seemed to contradict wheat Caterham dartford told me on the phone. Just for yourself when you have a look at the instructions. It'll be next week now... off for a long weekend blat tomorrow

 

Alternatively, I'm sure you can find the Build Manual PDF online still somewhere...

 

 

 

 

^{(Mainly ) Scottish Motorsport/Trackday Pics Here.}