I had an idea that had popped in my head after i had purchased a few gallons of fiberglass resin to start my stereo installation in the trunk of my bimmer. I would think that building and working with fiberglass would be fairly easy, and fun. Strength and weight i wouldn't be worried with but the question of it's thermal properties and how it would react to fuel. i know that fuel will not be passing through it directly but it was just a question. I would like to know ALL of your opinions and replies please. Thank you all in advance.

 

the vintage porsche race cars used to have fiberglass intake velocity stacks, a toy replica because i couldnt find a real picture...



as for fiberglass with its effects with fuel, why not just make a simple fiberglass sample and try some fuel on it, see what happens.

 

Should work just fine, it's based on the same idea of a carbon fiber intake manifold, AIR has one of the best intakes out there. I say go for it

 

sounds interesting and you could also play with the shaping on the manifold, make the runners straighter like ITR and whatnot.

but it definitly doesnt seem that easy considering you will need some kinda mold to actually make it.

i was thinking make halfs then put then both together?

 

damn this gave me an idea.. what about a fibreglass CAI? i got a peice of aluminum intake pipe i could use to get the right shape with the fibreglass. only thing im not sure on is once it hardens how do i get it off the aluminum pipe? cut it each side and split it off the pipe then glue it back together?

id imagine fibreglass wouldnt conduct heat very much so maybe this is a good idea? plus its sandable and paintable so theres potentiol for a very nice looking home made CAI.

ive been toying with the idea of starting a small business making intakes. if this worked i could do fibreglass ones. i could even go as far as stamping a logo or what into the outside of the fibreglass CAI before it hardens for a professional look along with painting it any colour under the sun.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by H24A96EK &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I had an idea that had popped in my head after i had purchased a few gallons of fiberglass resin to start my stereo installation in the trunk of my bimmer. I would think that building and working with fiberglass would be fairly easy, and fun. Strength and weight i wouldn't be worried with but the question of it's thermal properties and how it would react to fuel. i know that fuel will not be passing through it directly but it was just a question. I would like to know ALL of your opinions and replies please. Thank you all in advance.</TD></TR></TABLE> assuming you have an e36/e46... didn't you notice you have a plastic intake manifold already? if you are looking for something for a b-series i think it was air? that used to sell a carbon fiber one.

 

you got a fiberglass intake idea from a german car that uses ram air to cool the alternator

i just thought id point that out lol. bimmerforums.com represent!

 

if it was that easy everyone would be doing it tho.

 

Assuming you get the right resin, I think there is a fairly easy way to do it. Form some structural foam into the shape for the intake plenum and runners, then vacuum bag the fiberglass around it. When it's dry disolve out the foam. For mass production you could build a multi-piece mold for forming the foam.

 

there's a company on ebay that makes fiberglass intakes. It looks exactly like the password jdm one. so ure idea should work

 

It's a lot harder to work with fiberglass than it looks.

Read books about how to do it first. Making it look good is really hard. You have to vacuum form it.

Go for it if you have the resources.

 

I have worked with fiberglass for quite some time now. i have the basic idea i would like to do which still dosen't seem far out of reach. thanks for the replies everyone.

 

Thought you guys might want to see a DIY cold air box one of the members of my forum built, very simple. An IM will be tricky but there are lots of ways to go about it.

http://www.racingcomposites.net/unt?id=603&page=1

 

making the plenum and runners might not be too hard but how are you going to attach it to an aluminum head flange?

 

Bonding or co-molding the flange with the part. The good thing about fiberglass is the CTE of fiberglass and aluminum are much closer than that of carbon and aluminum so heating shouldn't cause a problem with the two coming apart.

 

If the manifold doesn't have to be aesthetically pleasing, I would just use loose fiberglass or thatch. Should be easier than trying to form fiberglass cloth at these extreme angles.

 

i am actually fairly busy as of right now. i have the basic idea in my head for the design. when i get the time to start playing i will keep you guys updated along with pics. is there a specific reason for using an aluminum flange when fiberglass is strong and resistant to the heat involved.

 

I'm interested in seeing what you come up with!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by H24A96EK &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i am actually fairly busy as of right now. i have the basic idea in my head for the design. when i get the time to start playing i will keep you guys updated along with pics. is there a specific reason for using an aluminum flange when fiberglass is strong and resistant to the heat involved.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The fiberglass isn't the problem where heat is concerned, its the resin in the fiberglass composite that needs to hold up to the heat. You can get several different types of resin that will hold up. The other issue with using a fiberglass flange is molding it along with the rest of the runners and plenum. Molding the flange with the rest of the part will be more complex.

 

the old southgate/jg allmotor car had an intake manifold made out of fiberglass...i called bullshit and then they showed me ....i think it was one of the prototypes for the victor x design

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by crx12 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The fiberglass isn't the problem where heat is concerned, its the resin in the fiberglass composite that needs to hold up to the heat. You can get several different types of resin that will hold up. The other issue with using a fiberglass flange is molding it along with the rest of the runners and plenum. Molding the flange with the rest of the part will be more complex.</TD></TR></TABLE> you really need an aluminum flange with injector bungs in it and a little bit of runner to it that you can work off.

 

A whole intake manifold would be hard, Runners, Injector ports, Vacumn ports, Throttle body bolt holes... the heat from the motor,

I know that if u put water on fiberglass it like.. melts... so im assuming gas would be worse

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by standbackimapro &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I know that if u put water on fiberglass it like.. melts... so im assuming gas would be worse</TD></TR></TABLE>

Melts from water huh? I guess they better stop making boats out of fiberglass then.

 

rrrrright.

 

Are there any good welders here in the central PA area? I was wondering about the whole fiberglass thing due to the fact that my uncle is an extremely good welder. He has been a fabricator for many many years however he just got a new house and his garage isn't exactly a working environment currently.