Rear roll pan

[Smokeybear]

There is no aftermarket for roll pans for the P15 so I decided to make my own. I wanted it to flow with the body and not be a straight panel like I've seen on other cars. I also wanted it to be removable since I did not weld in my rear fenders. I studied on the problem and came up with this. I bought two sections of angle iron with pre-drilled holes and some 3/16s rod. I slit the angle iron to make the curves to follow the body. I made another piece for the bottom with a slightly different curve so that it would dip down in the middle (just to make it more difficult I guess). I then tacked it with the MIG to the two side pieces. I cut two more to tack to the inside of the lip of the fenders to have something to bolt to. Here's what we have so far...

I then bent the rod to the same curve as the lower end of the fender and put twelve supports in (not pictured because I work just too damn fast for pictures some times). I then covered the whole thing in fiberglass cloth and resin. After two layers I added a coat of filler and sanded it (again too fast for pics) and then bolted it to the car and primed and put a quick coat of paint before it started raining on me. Here's the almost finished product...

I had to cut off the end of my tailpipe, lower it just a bit and add a 45 degree extension to clear the pan but I think it's looks OK until I get duals.

Whatcha think? I'll probably do something similar to the front.

Edited August 5, 2012 by Smokeybear

[scottyv47]

man thats cool, why couldn't you have a 51, then you could make another just like it, and sell it to me, i've been realy thinking about trying to make one for my car and do away with the rear bumper, it just looks so much better without my bumper on, but to much open air in the rear of the car

[oldodge41]

Nice job!

[1947mouth]

Great craftsmanship!!! When you put duals in, cut a couple of holes in the new pan and stick the exhaust through. Nice rear end! Haha!

[Robert Horne]

Nice job.

When I did the tailpan on my 38 Coupe, I made three before I had one

I was happy with. The third one I made was from steel from a hot water

heater company. The steel was thicker than what is on our cars, but

was a softer steel, and was not too difficult to work with.

Now I need to make another for my 37. I will try your method, its seems

alot easier than the way I make my 38's pan.

[old-idaho-iron]

I'm usually opposed to people not running bumpers on their rides, but this looks really good. Great craftsmanship, and it flows with the car perfect. Keep up the good work!!

[greg g]

Looks good, now maybe make up some nurf bars, I also am not a fan of unprotected rears. But that is a nice filler. Did you get a bit woozie welding on the galvanized. I tried it once making some shock tower braces and made myslef pretty sick.

[BobT-47P15]

Looks good.

[Smokeybear]

Looks good, now maybe make up some nurf bars, I also am not a fan of unprotected rears. But that is a nice filler. Did you get a bit woozie welding on the galvanized. I tried it once making some shock tower braces and made myslef pretty sick.

It wasn't actually galvanized. I thought it was too and so hit it with my grinder and it sparked immediately. I asked my dad who is a welding instructor if it was safe to weld on and he said it was some kind of coating that some new metals are hit with that is similar to a lacquer. Welded great with no problems.

Thanks everyone for all the kind words. The only thing I didn't like about it was sanding on the fiberglass. Itchy itchy.