Lola T-8800 Engine Cover

[Deleted]

My first post! So take it easy on the rookie :-)

I'm a novice builder working on the Lola T-8800 AMT kit (trying to make Mario's '87 car). As you can see, the gap between the chassis and the engine cover is tight in the upper half, but the gap is bigger the farther down you go.



I would like to be able to display the engine, but I would also like to get the stupid engine cover to fit better than it's fitting now. So pardon the basic question, but what technique tends to work best here? Sand/cut material out of the engine cover? Out of the chassis? Or use filler on one or the other? I'm also guessing the paint I apply later on will affect things, so some guidance would be great.

Thanks!

[clm1545]

If it was me, I would do a combination of those things. Make the cover a loose fit, and display with the cover off. Actually, I would just do curbside, but that's just me. Whatever you do, take us along with a WIP.

[Calvin]

The best thing to start off with is slightly sanding the tight parts of cover.....its basically going to take several times of sanding and test fitting.....usually the Lolas are pretty good but everyone I've noticed are slightly different.

I always try to avoid using filler on gaps but sometimes it needs to happen.

[alterrenner]

Using filler on an edge like that is asking for chips later on. I would go the sanding the rear of the cover route, and try to work the back of cover down...rotate it, if you follow my meaning?
--Frank

[alterrenner]

Clarification #1: By rotating, I mean sanding the cover where it meets the chassis, at the rear of the cover. This will lower the back, closing the gap at the lower edge, and opening the gap at the top.
--Frank

[indy]

Great to have you here, dstarr. Nice build topic, it is a popular one here but one we never tire of seeing.

Jordan

[eagle36]

Jun 14, 2015 18:33:54 GMT -5 @dstarr said:

My first post! So take it easy on the rookie :-)

I'm a novice builder working on the Lola T-8800 AMT kit (trying to make Mario's '87 car). As you can see, the gap between the chassis and the engine cover is tight in the upper half, but the gap is bigger the farther down you go.



I would like to be able to display the engine, but I would also like to get the stupid engine cover to fit better than it's fitting now. So pardon the basic question, but what technique tends to work best here? Sand/cut material out of the engine cover? Out of the chassis? Or use filler on one or the other? I'm also guessing the paint I apply later on will affect things, so some guidance would be great.

Thanks!

I'd glue some thin plastic stock along the back edge of the body from where the gap widens down to the bottom. Use super glue and sand and fill until thte resulting seam until you're OK with it. I agree with the "no filler" comments, that just won't work.