Carbon Fiber Parts Feeler

[black heartbeat]

So I've been looking into making carbon fiber replica parts for 4th gen f-bodies in house. I have been looking into resin infusion and other processes in which to get a good product. I will be ordering the parts and supplies needed for resin infusion shortly and will begin to start making smallish non-load bearing parts to practice and see where things go hopefully moving up to larger, load bearing parts eventually.

That being said, I was hoping you guys may have any requests for common, non-complex parts you may be interested in. If I can get more people in on the same common parts, (ie: door handle trim) the cheaper I can make the parts and the faster I can put money back into making more parts. I'm not trying to get rich or anything like that, I'm just trying to make carbon fiber replacement parts for our cars, get some experience under my belt and hopefully stay afloat doing so.

Just putting out a feeler for now and the first few parts will probably be sold at cost since of my lack or experience and expertise. If any of the moderators have any issues with this, please let me know immediately. I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes or get free advertising, I'm just trying to get some ideas, get some parts made, help some guys out with their cars, and get some experience in doing so. Thanks again-Burt

[SlasherVRGR]

Ball park for some CF window/ door lock switch covers?

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[black heartbeat]

Ball park for some CF window/ door lock switch covers?

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That tough to say right now, although it seems like a simple part it would be difficult to make a full carbon fiber part without making inlays for the retaining clips and proper mounting for the switches themselves. In all honesty it would dramatically easier to do a carbon fiber wrap (real carbon fiber enclosed in epoxy) on the original parts considering you wouldn't be saving any real weight. That shouldn't cost more than say 15-30 dollars a piece in between the carbon fiber and the epoxy and that a really highball figure. I'll be able to give you a more accurate estimate later
If however you did want a full carbon fiber replica my guess is for the fact that they break so easily with the brittle abs plastic, that would be a very involved mold if you wanted to maintain replaceable switches and I really couldn't give you an accurate quote on that until I had some more experience and look at the switches a bit closer.
I'll definitely do some research and get back to with some more information

[SlasherVRGR]

Thanks for the insight man. I'll have to figure something out

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[xpbr2000]

I think its not a bad idea. But I'm going to say unless its big parts the benefit is mute. At that point its just for show and not weight reduction.

[SlasherVRGR]

Exactly why I wanted them :P no parts are going to be significantly lighter than their fiberglass counterparts. Hoods, doors etc.

Heck most carbon fiber hoods that are made are fiberglass at core anyway.

I think a carbon wrapped berger or a carbon berger would look sweet.

I wouldn't mind some interior pieces, none too over the top but just tastefully thrown in like the switch covers and possibly the speaker covers.

Any appearance mods on my car will be a while down the road though, I still have to put on my a arms and fix my door and the left rear panel behind the tail light and filler panel needs to be pushed out like a quarter inch.

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[black heartbeat]

I am hoping to eventually do big parts down the road and just as an fyi, any decent carbon fiber exterior part will not have a fiberglass core and they are typically a decent amount lighter considering that carbon fiber is so much stronger than fiberglass, also it doesn't has the tendency to crack as much. Put it this way, if you made one of our doors out of carbon fiber, I bet you it would be at least 20 lbs lighter, probably more. That being said it is more expensive so like anything you can't have the best of both worlds. Thank you for the recommendations, I welcome as many as possible and will further look into them as I go and give feedback

[xpbr2000]

I am hoping to eventually do big parts down the road and just as an fyi, any decent carbon fiber exterior part will not have a fiberglass core and they are typically a decent amount lighter considering that carbon fiber is so much stronger than fiberglass, also it doesn't has the tendency to crack as much. Put it this way, if you made one of our doors out of carbon fiber, I bet you it would be at least 20 lbs lighter, probably more. That being said it is more expensive so like anything you can't have the best of both worlds. Thank you for the recommendations, I welcome as many as possible and will further look into them as I go and give feedback

if your looking into something special I'd probably buy a 93-96 radio bezel that has been converted to a double din. Just like the factory only dropping a little more to accept a double din. Just a thought.