eg4sheezy

hey everyone,

i was wondering the other day why nobody makes a carbon fiber roof to replace the sheet metal roof and im not just talking about a sun/moonroof. Im talking full roof. I am sure weight savings would be phenomal (probably a good 60 lbs and i am being conservative) at the cars greatest area of gravity which is even more beneficial.

Granted, structural rigidity of the car will be pooped , but with a good 4pt cage a la autopower or kirk racing, i think it would be fine . And we can finally make good use of various c-pillar bars.

Please fill me in on your thoughts guys/girls.

PS: how would the roof be held in place? arises as a good question.

SiR HatchAlot

dumb idea. i think people are getting way to carried away with carbon fiber.

eg4sheezy

Fiberglass and urethane are other options too.

True some ARE getting carried away, BUT when function is achieved (great weight savings at the greatest area of the cars gravity), there is no getting carried away.

Do you believe sunroof replacement panels (lexan, CF, fiberglass) are also carried away?

HatchBox

i beleive it is, how would u go a bout installing a cf roof? hack the roof off and put the cf one on? not to mention the stability of the car and its handling are now pretty much gone because there is going to be flex. think about it your replacing part of the frame with cf....not a good idea just my .02¢

beseman

post belongs on clubsi

jolt-tsp

It would probably be pretty pricey and I wouldn't expect to save 60 lbs. I don't know whats underneath the top panel on the roof, but my roof is not rigid, it's quite flexable, so I don't think carbon fiber would ruin your handling, I think it would improve (maybe not noticably) since it would lower your center of gravity a little. People seem to think carbon fiber is a rice thing to do, but most the le mans and even the silverstone racers that keep their stock look are completely carbon fiber.

Targa250R

You will probably not be saving anywhere near 60lbs unless you have an OEM sun/moonroof. The roof is a single piece of sheetmetal (the skin) with some cross braces underneath. It cannot be that heavy. CF is light, but it does not weigh zero. To make the piece rigid, you would be forced to add bracing, which would increase the weight. Also, do you realize the weight that roll bars and cages add? Significantly more than any savings you would gain from the CF panel.

The reason they have CF sun/moonroof plugs is because the sunroof is a pretty heavy piece, and removal can save anywhere from 25 to 40lbs. depending on the car.

A rigid and strong method of attachment would be another big issue. I believe the roof skin is spot-welded in place . . .

My verdict: This idea is a big waste of time for the minimal weight savings.

Also, CF is overrated and I am sick of it. People are starting to use it as a cosmetic item. WTF? It looks like ***. It is a weight saving item, not a decorational item . . .

Finest

The roof is only a sheetmetal skin, like they said. There probably won't be any weight savings, esp if you have to ADD a rollcage to get the same structural stability.

K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid)

So unless you're trying to make a Civic qualify for an F1 race, I'd leave the carbon fiber composite bodies for the "real" race cars. The $$$ spent in developing this CF roof can be better used in the motor/and or suspension.

mycvc8u2

roof is light as hell . the rest of the car is what weighs, chassis, frame rails, etc. have you ever taken off a eg fender? i would of never bought cf fenders if i know they were that light. looks good though

Doctor CorteZ

I could make it and choose not to , its far too labor intensive for the modest weight savings.

it would be a big panel , nearly impossible to get the weave perfectly straight and just an all around pint in the ***.

drill out all the spot welds , make the new piece off the OEM roof skin and use some structural adhesive to re-attach it.

all for about 10lbs , tops. once my sunroof was out the roof wasent even feasible , I pulled all the weight I wanted from there.

chucking the sunroof saved me around 40lbs , make an entire for ten more , I dont think so.

1 point 6

Ive seen this on an integra, not the whole roof but a huge part of the center was cut out and a huge piece of CF riveted in place. Of course this car is a track *****.

Now here is the stunna version y0!

sleepyEK

what the ****. why would you want a carbon fiber roof? no one i know, not even in gt3 or ite racing uses more carbon fiber than most ricers do. people get carried away with that ****. build a full bodied cf race car, then maybe you'll be happy and won't be able to drive it on the street and show it off.

Carlo

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1 point 6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ive seen this on an integra, not the whole roof but a huge part of the center was cut out and a huge piece of CF riveted in place. Of course this car is a track *****.

Now here is the stunna version y0!
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm pretty sure he meant the exterior part of the roof, not the interior. Either way it isn't a good idea because there isn't much weight to save. Its basically a sheet of really thing metal so its not worth the trouble.


Modified by Carlo at 6:14 PM 11/3/2003

BLUE EH3

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sirhatchalot5 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">dumb idea. i think people are getting way to carried away with carbon fiber.</TD></TR></TABLE> soon there will be
CF, tires?

i heard s rumor that cf stuff was stronger than oem stuff.

nerces

i have a pic of CF rims that were on display at the Sema show last year... but OK you guys are getting out of hand with the CF stuff... i just saw a new issue of "Stupid Street" and they have a Full CF body STI WTF!!! unless you are a track *****, that race's A LOT why the hell would you want to do this... i know maybe you should just trash your car for a tube frame and then buy CF EVERYTHING for it then you can stop posting retarded idea's like this one...

Limited S.L.I.P.

lol. bad idea imo. waste of time, $, and a perfectly good civic. minimal weight loss, impractical, functionally worthless. you'll score mad show points tho y0

mr poo

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1 point 6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Now here is the stunna version y0!
[/img]</TD></TR></TABLE>

because carbon fiber is lighter than fabric

1 point 6

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mr poo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

because carbon fiber is lighter than fabric </TD></TR></TABLE>

I know, never question a stunna.

MPower332TI

I personally think it would look cool to have a carbon hood, roof and a trunk lid and or hatch. Just to mix things up. Everyones cars are starting to look the same and it gets boring so having something a little different to mix it up some times is cool. Now the whole issue about it being worth it, i mean cmon people. We throw thousands and thousands of dollars into civics, and at the end of the day its still a civic. Also it wouldnt take away from the rigidity of the car. Not enough to notice anyways.

Ricey McRicerton

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1 point 6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I know, never question a stunna.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hmm...I guess I'm a stunna then y0!! I kinda like how that CF insert as a headliner looks. I would never in 10000 years spend money on it, but I still like it. As everyone else has said I think weight savings would be minimal over the stock roof though.

743power

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by eg4sheezy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I am sure weight savings would be phenomal (probably a good 60 lbs and i am being conservative) at the cars greatest area of gravity which is even more beneficial.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I can not imagine the stock roof weighing MORE than 30lbs. Maybe 40 at the most. Retarted idea.

pdiggitydogg

ive seen porsche full cf bodies...light

CNY Hatch

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pdiggitydogg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ive seen porsche full cf bodies...light </TD></TR></TABLE>

Aren't Lamborghini's full CF bodies too? And McClarens?? haha... there ya go! a few million dollar cars... then you can have a CF body!

Ricey McRicerton

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CNY Hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Aren't Lamborghini's full CF bodies too? And McClarens?? haha... there ya go! a few million dollar cars... then you can have a CF body!</TD></TR></TABLE>
The only one that I know right off hand is an ENZO. I know the Gallardo (sp. the baby lambo) is'nt full CF bodied.

1 point 6

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ricey McRicerton &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Hmm...I guess I'm a stunna then y0!! I kinda like how that CF insert as a headliner looks. I would never in 10000 years spend money on it, but I still like it. As everyone else has said I think weight savings would be minimal over the stock roof though.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree it looks cool but there is no functional value of it. It definatley weighs more than fabric.