our shop is getting an order of carbon fiber sheeting and resin in and we're discussing the application to some of (possibly EVERY) panel on my hatch. we're gonna try the hood out first to see how the stuff turns out, then if it looks decent we're gonna do the whole damn thing. if not, i'm scrapping the old hood and getting a new one. i know this isn't a weight reduction mod, this is PURELY cosmetic. plus the stuff is cheap to us and i can't afford the paint job quotes i've been getting lately...

i'll try to keep ya posted and maybe if i can borrow a digi cam i'll get some shots...

---gabriel

 

I was thinking about doing the same to my hood, just for looks. I dont care if its lightweight or not, my hood is fiberglass though.

 

i would just get the cf hood, trunk, quarters, and then do just the doors, rear fenders, top.. then ur done.

 

Interior parts... dash cover...center console...etc etc

 

yea we're thinking about doing the interior dash and door panels (no console as of yet but fabbing one up now with fiberglass to house a few items ). i would do the hatch/hood/fenders thing but it's damn expensive and i'm afraid the carbon weave may be different than the type we're using. i'll try to keep you posted, we're doing the hood soon so....

...also, does anyone know the best thing to do in prepping the paint first? i'm considering sanding then primer then light sand again in order to give the carbon a new surface to adhere to and hopefully avoid rust later on. haven't spoken to the company rep as of yet but will on monday.

---gabriel

 

um..wait..are you not fabricating parts out of c/f?? rather..you are going to apply the c/f to the body panels..hood etc. with resin?? will that actually work and..why??
very interesting..keep us posted and hopefully some pics soon.

 

some parts will be fabbed...some just layered. why you ask ? cause i get the stuff cheap and i can't afford a paint job even though it needs it. AND because we're going to do just about everything on the car which wouldn't be feasible to fabricate (like doors and the roof) AND because it's something different than just another paint job. all the jams/under hood and such will be flat blacked for ease

then the interior is getting gutted to make way for the fabbed pieces and new seats.

---gabriel

 

Adding a layer of CF and resin, and still expecting the seams to fit. This should be interesting...

 

thanks for your opinion. have you tried it?


---gabriel

 

Common sense my friend.
The seams are pretty tight overall anyway. Adding a layer of CF will add 2 mill... adding a layer of resin another 2 or 3 mill.... if you do that on both sides, you have succesfully closed a gap of 1 centimetre.
And this is all minimum...spill some resin...add a millimetre... if the carbon is a tad thicker...add a mill.

I had the same issue with fixing some stuff with fibreglass matting.

 

newest issue of hot compacts & imports i believe.. they do a 240sx with carbon fiber layed over the body panels. The guys at teamprototype are doing the work.

 

Have an extimate on what its going to cost you to do the entire car?

 

no estimate- we (our shop) is doing it so it will be tons cheaper than what the consumer would pay since we get the stuff at cost and are doing all the labor.

seams may be an issue, but nothing too difficult to handle. it's just a lil harder than your average fiberglass interior install. we can handle it


let you guys know somethign soon.

--gabriel

 

umm, no. If he uses a normal 3k X 3k twill he'll be fine.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SETI20 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Common sense my friend.
The seams are pretty tight overall anyway. Adding a layer of CF will add 2 mill... adding a layer of resin another 2 or 3 mill.... if you do that on both sides, you have succesfully closed a gap of 1 centimetre.
And this is all minimum...spill some resin...add a millimetre... if the carbon is a tad thicker...add a mill.

I had the same issue with fixing some stuff with fibreglass matting.</TD></TR></TABLE>


I do think a paint job would be cheaper and easier however.

He will also need to add a UV blocking surfacer or his resin will most likely brown.

Make sure you rough up the panels good with some 60 grit and get any wax off of them before applying the carbon.

 

I also saw that article in the July issue of HCI.

What I'd like to know is what the final thickness of the CF and resin was! Also I'd like to know how much weight was added.

Normally the smooth surface of a carbon fiber item is the result of the mold, on this installation, it's all a matter of building up resin untill a smooth surface can be built up.

As an engineer, the idea just bugs me.

Wes

 

sorry to bug you

the thickness of cf and resin will be relatively small. the sheet is double weave and there will probably be 2 coats of sprayed resin before the clear (with UV protectant btw)

as far as weight...i really dunno. but then again, i'm not really worried about it. the car weighs next to nothing already comapred to other vehicles on the road. and once the swap is done the power to weight ratio will still be better than many.

----gabriel