Steel ground effects / extended rockers

[jlcustomz]

Just finished sample designing some new lower sheetmetal for the el camaro to take the place of the low quality bolt on ground effects. Shaped similar to the new camaros without ground effects, but the top profile will be straight across. Samples are scrap alum i bent at work ,will make from18 ga paintgrade steel I recycled from a new commercial door.Since I don,t have a good or big enough metal brake, I'll be at the mercy of a local sheetmetal shops timeframe for using their equipment.. The basic profile is simple, trimming to fit , brackets, welded end caps, & modding the front fender/door area to clear without a chopped off beveled end will be a little more work.Planning on trying structual adhesive instead of welding to attach the upper portions to body. The lower section will screw on(adjustable) so it can be removed for repair if/when needed.
Figured if this works out easy enough ,it could be inspiring for someone to design & build their own. Will post better pics when I can get the metal bent.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[jlcustomz]

Partially done.Redesigned the front door to fender section to not require being angled off for door to open like other ground effects. redesigned wheelwell openings tighter. Steep angle of profile under door allows for a tighter lower door appearance gap.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[SS PUNISHER]

That looks real good man.

[chevelletiger]

X2! Keep it coming,i love this stuff!!

[woody80z28]

Very cool.

[camaroinct]

Great design! Nice metal work!

[GrabberGT]

Nice project. Im looking into doing something similar. As someone else mentioned in a similar thread, dont forget to leave some jacking places under there somewhere.

[srh3trinity]

Impressive. It should give the El Camino a little more visual weight and balance.

[jlcustomz]

I personally can't wait to see it painted black, which will make it look less bulky. It's still in rough mock up & has a far better fit & finish than the fiberglass ground effects.The steep angle of the upper profile extends the door height, which gets it closer to the ground without the lower section looking like an extension. The upper profile is a pretty common shape to later model vehicles if you look around & notice. the lower angle is matching to a 2010 camaro like the front nose. My thinking is that especially when I get airride to lower it , the profile will look much smoother & cleaner than something you would call ground effects.

Here is a side view of the upper profile & the back of the front fender section which has extra clearance for the door section to open into. they have a 1/2" attaching flange, which will get attached with 3-m 8115 automix adhesive. My hope is that the approx 45 degree upper angle will minimize most of the effect of ghostshadowing from adhesive bonding vs welding to the body. I also plan to use a little usc all metal at the seam to help minimize his. Thoughts???
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[jlcustomz]

Here's a view of mock up of the rear section.. And don't worry ,my jacking locations aren't covered up. In fact I have to lift it to attach part of the lower section.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Also thought I'd throw in a pic of a previous metal project, A hammerformed copper dragon head, on left, formed over the wooden model on the right I carved.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/11/DSC00684-1.jpg

[MIKE67]

Very cool. I have thought about doing something similar to my build.

Side note: How did you get the Cu part off of the mold? And how big is the dragon head?

[jlcustomz]

The center & horns were brazed separately, It,s about 16"long. The dragon head was going to be an intake pipe cover years ago, now it's collecting dust. At least it was a good exercise in metalshaping.Thought I'd throw a picture of it up for laughs.
Know anybody with more money than sense that collects dragonheads??

[jlcustomz]

Here's a daytime pic of my work still temporarily installed, along with my new used wheels, not installed.https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[elitecustombody]

Looks good, but I would do it like on Silverado SS, so that it goes up higher to the factory body line.

[Samckitt]

I love it. Make one for my Monte. :-)

[jlcustomz]

Looks good, but I would do it like on Silverado SS, so that it goes up higher to the factory body line.
Thanks. I pm'd you before when I was trying to decide on going higher up & getting some of the look of the new camaro (cokebottle) angle line, but decided to simplify it, Partly so others may be more inspired to either copy OR do their own version. I gave a little more detail sofar on other forums where there was more interest. Ford Sheetmetal bent the main profiles for me from my metal for $60, may cost others more?? This is something anyone living near a decent sheetmetal shop can have done on a huge metal brake they don't have & complete the rest themselves.
Part of what I think makes this look good is the steep angle of the lower door section makes the door taller , which allows the rocker to sit lower to the ground without looking like a tall extension. You've seen em.

Haven't got any more done yet. Stephen , in your professional opinion, do you think attaching with automix & following with usc all metal at the approx 45 degree intersecting angle will have much ghostshadowing? I may just weld the very front & rear section. Also how do you like how I don't have a chopped offangle where the door has to open? That took a little more work.

Someday I'll make it by your shop again.

[jlcustomz]

Got a little done on driver's side.Removed 14 year old silver lazer stripes with eraser wheel. Made a rolled edge around my exhaust cutout side pipe outlet.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/DSC00711_zps5499f2a9-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/03/DSC00716_zps77c5a1b9-1.jpg

[jlcustomz]

Got parts bonded, blended, & in temporary black primer .
http://elcaminocentral.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=90222&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=3f0faf0df1ebd20d787a84384656d62c
http://elcaminocentral.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=90226&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=3f0faf0df1ebd20d787a84384656d62c