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Not sure the rule actually differentiatees between structural or not.
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Chassis, monocoque bodyshell (body and chassis as one unit) or frame - original or new and unmodified (direct from manufacturer)
Given it's a welded-on part I'd say it was part of the body shell.
Tricky one!
Steve
The wings are also welded on! So by that token......
But I don't get the point of the query, If the car is sufficiently modified to NEED a BIVA, all questions regarding original shell construction are totally irrelevant! I build cars that comply with the infamous 8 point rule (just) so I don't have to go through all the faff.
But if you are forced by the proposed mods to cut lumps from the shell or don't have sufficient points left from retention of original parts to make the extra 3 beyond the 5 points for the shell (or both) then a BIVA is legally mandated. At that point, you have made your decision to proceed with the job and take the thrice cursed BIVA (congrats, you're a braver man than me!) you can now do what the hell you like in terms of mods! All you have to follow is construction and use regs and the BIVA rules, most of which are not concerned with engineering specs but pedestrian and passenger safety.
Now, back to the GRP front panel, I've looked at the construction of a Dolomite with a jaundiced and pessimistic engineer's eye and, playing devil's advocate for a moment, can see an argument for considering the inner and outer front panel together as forming at least 1 box section that may be considered structurally significant as a transverse crossmember tying the flitches together. A bit of a flimsy and inefficient one, if you ask me (but nobody did!)
Against this you have to weigh several other factors, the front panel doesn't NEED to be all that stiff as the subframe does the bulk of the work in that department. Personal experience shows me that if an impact hits the subframe, the frame will stay square and twist the shell instead! Also a properly fitted GRP front panel (screws AND Tiger Seal or similar) will remake the box to a standard I would consider as good as the original 24swg steel. That's all i've done on the Carledo, it works, has stayed together more than 10 years now and survived a small impact without bumpers to impede and without significant damage. A lot of moderns are completely glued together with Tiger Seal type products rather than spot welds and stay together despite this!
What I HAVE been considering for some time and will probably incorporate in my next GRP fronted project, is a pair if stiffeners in the form of 25x25x2mm box section steel welded betwen the flitches at the top and the chassis legs at the bottom and attached at several points to the inner front panel. 1 would be inside the box formed by inner and (GRP) upper outer front panel and the second at about the level of the lower radiator mount bolts or just below the grille openings. This should stiffen the front end of the shell nicely! Yet still be invisible to the casual observer!
Steve
PS The 8 point rule desn't preclude ALL mods to the shell, you are specifically permitted to ADD structural stiffeners and mountings, what you may NOT do is cut stuff away, even if you replace it with something just as strong but different!
Honestly, there ARE "grey areas" in the 8 point rule. I prefer to look at them as loopholes to exploit!