HMS/Widebody and Unibody
10-04-2019, 08:29 AM
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HMS/Widebody and Unibody
Hello guys,
Maybe a dumb question but only way to find out is to ask. So everyone knows when you extend with the fender flares or do a wide body there is cutting of the rear oem quarter panels so that the wheels will have no internal block after the flares are installed. But this means cutting into the Unibody of the car, and isn't that a bad thing? Doesn't this affect the structural rigidity of the car?
Maybe a dumb question but only way to find out is to ask. So everyone knows when you extend with the fender flares or do a wide body there is cutting of the rear oem quarter panels so that the wheels will have no internal block after the flares are installed. But this means cutting into the Unibody of the car, and isn't that a bad thing? Doesn't this affect the structural rigidity of the car?
10-04-2019, 08:51 AM
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2016 GTs, 2014 C63 AMG and 2014 C350 Sport (wife's car, she thinks it's an AMG - shhhhhh)
I think your assumption is correct. I spent some time as a volunteer firefighter and we received tons of training on extricating people from cars (using cutting tools, cribbing, airbags, jaws of life, etc). The instructor told us that when unibodies replaced vehicle 'frames' the unibodies became the frame. Once the unibody is compromised, car is considered 'totaled'.
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Adi-Benz (10-04-2019)
10-04-2019, 09:08 AM
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I'm not very familiar with the installation process, but I thought that you are supposed to replace the cut portion with additional sheet metal welded in place.
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Adi-Benz (10-04-2019)
10-04-2019, 09:23 AM
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That sounds correct to me. I'd be surprised if you have to cut into the unibody. The unibody is typically the floor, the A, B (sedan), and C posts and the roof. The entire quarter panel area has no unibody unless you cut into the floor or C post.
10-04-2019, 09:47 AM
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Also that video doesn't seem typical - they literally cut the outer shell. Seems like wayyy to much cutting/welding...
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Adi-Benz (10-04-2019)
10-04-2019, 09:55 AM
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Danke Jasonoff - so at 1:53, he is spot welding it back shut (as predicted) so that the plates keep together
10-04-2019, 10:28 AM
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10-04-2019, 10:28 AM
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Cool. In that case I can carry on my plan when I end up finding the right vehicle (alas the search continues!) Expected product alike:
10-04-2019, 10:37 AM
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10-04-2019, 12:49 PM
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As long as the 2 sheets of steel are welded back together and sealed there are no issues. This is how the factory does it as well in other parts of the chassis.
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Adi-Benz (10-04-2019)
