Firewall decor . . .

[Bill Cleveland]

I'm considering using mirrored acrylic to decorate my firewall, and I know some of you have done the same. How did you create a template for it? How is it fastened to your firewall? Is it easy to keep clean? I'm just askin' . . .
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[mike wade]

I used Tread Bright & I used SS Bolts to attach it............

Template was Cardboard.............

[Lee in KC]

Spank, my firewall is mirror-polished 18-ga. stainless steel sheet ordered from https://www.mirroredstainlesssolutions.com/.

I made a template from foam board by sticking it to the firewall with double-sided tape and tracing the edges of the firewall with a pencil onto the foam board. I then drew a 1"x1" grid over all the lines on the foam board (edge of firewall, coil wire hole, throttle cable hole, steering column hole), and used the measurements to do an AutoCAD drawing. I printed that out full size and cut it out very carefully. I then taped that to the firewall to check fit. I made a few small adjustments to some of the lines to get them dead-on, then e-mailed the CAD file to a water jet shop. They converted it to a CNC-compatible file and cut out the piece. I had to hand polish the cut edges, but that only took an hour or so. I can't imagine cutting that stainless sheet any other way!!

I didn't want any visible fasteners, so I used silicone adhesive to attach the stainless. I scuffed the back of the stainless with a Scotchbrite pad, cleaned it with lacquer thinner, wiped down the 'glass firewall with lacquer thinner, and stuck it on. I kept the bead of silicone about an inch away from the edges of the stainless, within reach of a putty knife, in case I want to remove it. The center is held on by the throttle cable pass-through fitting and the grommet for the coil wire.

The stainless has held in place for eight years with absolutely no problems. I have not had to re-polish it at all... just clean with Windex and a micro-fiber towel. Looks as good as new!

[mike wade]

It does look good ..Are you at the lake yet Lee???????

[Lee in KC]

Are you at the lake yet Lee???????

I am in my mind...

[Indycars]

Spank, my firewall is mirror-polished 18-ga. stainless steel sheet ordered from https://www.mirroredstainlesssolutions.com/.

X2 on that firewall Lee, I used the same material. But unlike you I had to cut mine
by hand with a jig saw. It took about 25 minutes. Lee, do you find it hard some
times working close to the firewall? The reflection is so perfect, I try to tighten the
bolts in the reflection.
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[Lee in KC]

Lee, do you find it hard some times working close to the firewall? The reflection is so perfect, I try to tighten the bolts in the reflection.

LOL, I haven't done that, but I have done some double-takes when glancing at the back of the motor. It is difficult to tell where the real stuff ends and the reflection begins.

Funny story... I was at a car show and overheard a kid say, "Look dad, that car has two motors!" The dad got a befuddled look on his face and walked over to my T and spent a good 30 seconds trying to figure out what he was seeing. I walked up to them and explained the firewall. The dad said, "That's amazing! I've never seen such a perfect reflection!" The kid, who was maybe 5, still couldn't understand. I told him to touch the firewall, which he did hesitantly. Then he says, "Oh, it's mirror!"

[Indycars]

That's funny, it fools me all the time when working back there.

[Bill Cleveland]

H.m.m.m.m . . . . maybe this is too high-tech for me; I might confuse myself! . . . .

(BTW, thanks for the info! )