Replacing Back Panel on 56 Flying Cloud

[groovy56]

What is the difference between bare and alclad aluminum? I am replacing a rear panel. Also will 5052 aluminum work or do I need to be a purist and use 2024-T3? I'm new at this so any advise is greatly valued!
Thanks for helping.

[Aerowood]

All good questions, 1) alclad is a coating of pure aluminum approx .002 thick that protects the base alloy form corroding. It also polishes easier then the bare. 2) the 5052 aluminum does not have the tempered strength of the 2024-T3, and will dent much easier. So the 2024-T3 is tempered and the 5052-H34 is only hardened. Generally when buying 5052 the H number or hardening number is not stamped on the sheet. You can buy small quanities of the 2024-T3 at Aircraft Spruce or Airparts. Being the rear panel of the shell is the main phyical attachment of the shell to the frame, I would recomend that you increase the panel thickness to .040, and use the 2024-T3.