I'm building a mid-engine Mini with a H22A1. While the entire engine cover (back half of the car) is removable, it would be convienent to have small access "doors" in the rear side windows to check coolant and oil without removing the entire cover. The windows are Lexan so can be cut up any way I need.

I tend to over design stuff so thought I'd ask here; I'm looking for simple, light, and elegant. For hinges I can use a piano-type hinge, but the latches aren't so obvious to me. Walking around Home Depot showed magnetic and roller type cabinet latches... they might work, but there must be simpler ideas. How would you do it?

 

i would just leave a 4" dia. hole in it, and not cover it up. thats the simplest, unless you are worried aboutrain or other things getting in it.

funny cars have this hole in their drivers' windows BTW, incase you need a pic.

otherwise i would get creative and probably use the same 4" or so hole, get some flexible, .065" plastic and make a 5" circle out of it, then glue about 1" of the circumference to the window, and line the other area of the circumference with a strip magnet .5" wide.

this would go around the whole hole, and provide a magnetic closure.
the glued area is your "hinge"

i can email you a paint drawing if you like.

 

feel free to post that crappy paint picture on your site, or here, i dont care. and link me to the final outcome once you make it.

thanks

-derek

 

sorry -- that's the best picture i have.
it's basically a square hole with two small hinges on one side and a pop-out latch on the other. the perimeter of the hole is lined with weatherstripping to prevent rattles. just to warn you though, last time i washed that car the inside got pretty damp so i'm assuming that those windows don't make all that great of a seal..haha.

the car in question is my dad's 66 gt40 replica.

 

Those are very, very, pretty cars. If I had 10x the money I'd build one... Thanks for the picture, it helps.

I realized since I'd like to check oil too, the access panel will need to be fairly large, so we'll see. Magnets, velcro, and over center latches are all possibilities.

Thanks again guys.

 

yeah my idea with velcro would be even better than the magnets.

 

Whatever you do, KISS. hah I loved your design of the engine cover hinge. To see that thing in action was amazing, yet VERY complicated, lol

 

I would go with one of the Moroso fuel access door. They are great. We use them on our Mustang, so that we dont have to un-zeus the whole rear hatch to add fuel. Summit part #: MOR-85700 and they are $40 each. The inside diamtere measures 6"x6".

Good Luck!
Kyle