Editing Forums/Z31P/z31-performance-upgrade-forums cosmetic-interior-exterior/CARBON FIBER PARTS

{{ForumImport
|op_user=z31_hardb0dy
|op_date=2011-09-10 18:49:32
|post_count=52
|archive_url=/Z31performance_archive/forum/z31-performance-upgrade-forums/cosmetic-interior-exterior/15512-carbon-fiber-parts.html
}}

'''z31_hardb0dy:''' <small>(2011-09-10 18:49:32)</small>

so.. im thinking about getting my hands on some CF and making some parts for our cars that noone else makes for them. ex: plenum covers ( ive only seen one or two made ), headlight covers (the lid on top of the housing ), misc interior pieces.. if and when i perfect this thought, would anyone be interested in somethin like this? ive thought about remaking the SS lip or kaminari lip in CF.. maybe ss sideskirts or again kaminari sideskirts… any thoughts about this would be helpful towards this success. personally i think it is a badass idea and im ready to kick it off right!!! peace out for now.

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'''Dr. Pepper PhD.:''' <small>(2011-09-10 20:52:50)</small>

Go ahead and do it. But I will warn you out of every 10 people that say they are going to tackle something like that, 10 of them do not. So you will want to pardon the coming skepticism.

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'''cerealwars:''' <small>(2011-09-10 21:56:58)</small>

Make some for yourself if you want, showcase your finished product on here, THEN survey for demand. Some of that stuff sounds cool to me (body pieces), if it can be done right. Other stuff like CF headlight covers and plenum covers (keep your design fairly generic if you want people to buy it) would suit a very small crowd i would think. Good luck, mate.

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'''tert72:''' <small>(2011-09-10 22:51:34)</small>

ya people say they are gonna do it and like he said 10 out of 10 dont.. maybe 1 out of a 100 do… BUT if you make stuff like that.. people will be interested.. always looking for cool stuff for the z!!!

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'''z31_hardb0dy:''' <small>(2011-09-10 23:08:16)</small>

ya i know what you all mean, about the only few do it thing. turns out i found someone in cali from info on here that does the ss lip in CF and the TBO one the same.. but hes asking 195 + 80-100 in shipping but that wont shy me away from doing other parts that would match.. im going to start on the plenum and headlight covers, maybe the power window switch covers and center console pieces then move up to the stock side skirts and stock wing.. but once i get into this job im about to lock onto.. my first bit of cash is going into a cf kit and exhaust for the z.. but i deffinately plan on making this happen.. it would be dope to have the vis made CF hood with the headlight covers to match.. and etc. i will keep yal posted because i dont plan on half steppin!!

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'''adamvann3:''' <small>(2011-09-11 01:07:44)</small>

Have you worked with CF before?

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'''z31_hardb0dy:''' <small>(2011-09-11 01:16:45)</small>

no but i get the general concept.. and im not stupid so i figure its worth a shot at trying… especially if i get it rite

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'''SATAN:''' <small>(2011-09-11 02:16:40)</small>

I want carbon fiber T tops. No not T top shades… actual t-tops.

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'''z-flash:''' <small>(2011-09-11 02:30:05)</small>

^What he said^

Actual CF t-tops !

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'''floridaZ:''' <small>(2011-09-11 02:51:25)</small>

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I've worked with CF before. It's hard… not as bad as one might think, but if you don't have any time in making fiberglass molds, you're gonna fuck the first ones up. Then again, maybe that's just me. But my advice would be to practice making FRP first since its much cheaper. Then jump into the carbon.

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'''z31_hardb0dy:''' <small>(2011-09-11 03:02:43)</small>

satan, you are deff on the same track i am. me and my buddy where talking about that yesterday. i have the perfect idea for the t-tops. once i can get my skills up thats one thing ill be looking into for sure. thinking about just remaking the glass part in CF, and putting the trim and locking mechanism around it. but if i can make the entire thing (which would be hella harder) ill do it. im gonna get my hands on an extra set of t-top glasses, 84-86 headlight lids and 87-89 lids, along with an extra side skirt set and whatever i can think of and start small and work up. ill be hittin the j yard up soon for sure. ill keep yal posted [archived image: biggrin.png] i think i start new job next week

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'''akronz:''' <small>(2011-09-11 03:15:34)</small>

hahaha just posted a topic like this didnt even see this one GRRRR

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'''Guest:''' <small>(2011-09-11 07:45:42)</small>

If you build it, they will buy.

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'''1sikz:''' <small>(2011-09-11 11:46:46)</small>

Guess I need to find some time to get back on my fiberglass t-tops before somebody else steals my thunder

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'''84naz31:''' <small>(2011-09-11 14:40:10)</small>

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lol love you're sig.

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'''JN210:''' <small>(2011-09-13 07:28:59)</small>

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lol haters :nanan?re

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'''Ven:''' <small>(2011-09-14 05:06:39)</small>

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[archived image: skeptical_hippo.jpg]

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'''ZFast88Z:''' <small>(2011-09-14 05:33:56)</small>

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No roll cage = shattered carbon t-tops. Not an issue for those of us with cages. I guess shattered might be an exaggeration but I bet stress cracks form pretty rapidly.

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'''z31_hardb0dy:''' <small>(2011-09-14 14:54:17)</small>

dont roll it lol and there wont be any stressing, or cracking :nanan?re

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'''ZFast88Z:''' <small>(2011-09-14 16:15:24)</small>

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I beg to differ on that. Drive your car with the T-Tops in, and then immediately after with t-tops out. That chassis flex being transmitted to full carbon fiber t-tops is going to cause some issues. But then again, maybe no one drives their car really hard.

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'''1sikz:''' <small>(2011-09-14 17:55:47)</small>

Then why wouldn't the glass tops shatter? I understand they are tempered, but still adding force to the outer edge of tempered glass will cause it to shatter.

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'''adamvann3:''' <small>(2011-09-14 23:55:19)</small>

[quote]'''ZFast88Z wrote:''' 

{{Quote|user=z31_hardb0dy|dont roll it lol and there wont be any stressing, or cracking :nanan?re

I beg to differ on that. Drive your car with the T-Tops in, and then immediately after with t-tops out. That chassis flex being transmitted to full carbon fiber t-tops is going to cause some issues. But then again, maybe no one drives their car really hard.}}

If you would ever fab up those chassis braces..... maybe the car would flex less. Just sayin

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'''ZFast88Z:''' <small>(2011-09-15 00:18:07)</small>

I just caged the car. Why. Because race car.

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'''Guest:''' <small>(2011-09-15 00:21:15)</small>

No pictures? Because, no exist.

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'''adamvann3:''' <small>(2011-09-15 00:41:33)</small>

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Thats fine. You can make me chassis bracing.

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'''ZFast88Z:''' <small>(2011-09-15 01:17:43)</small>

Which ones do you want made? And what are they worth to you?

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'''adamvann3:''' <small>(2011-09-15 01:33:14)</small>

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Actually all I really want is a bolt in harness bar (c-pillar to floor with adjustment) and I will be happy for a while

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'''ZFast88Z:''' <small>(2011-09-15 01:40:55)</small>

How long til you put the car away for winter? Im sure we could whip something up for you to install over winter.

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'''Dr. Pepper PhD.:''' <small>(2011-09-15 01:52:09)</small>

Carbon fiber does not have the same tensile strength as tempered glass. You have to get a lot of force on a small contact area to shatter the glass. That is not the case with the CF. That being said, I doubt there is enough chassis flex for 99.9% of z31 owners to break properly made CF ttops.

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'''z31_hardb0dy:''' <small>(2011-09-15 15:30:04)</small>

im with you, its okay. gimme a few weeks and ill be starting on this t-top project, along with a few other goodies. just gathering my cash flow before i can start.

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'''Kimbro Slice:''' <small>(2011-09-15 19:32:51)</small>

I would be interested to see some of these pieces if you're able to turn them around looking pretty well, I'll keep an eye out on this.

Also, if you're gonna attempt to make some carbon fiber interior pieces (such as the pieces that go around the window switches), you may find it more profitable to not even make a carbon fiber version and just stick with some fiberglass. The weight reduction aspect would be nonexistant and some people would most likely get turned away from the prices when they could pull some from a jy car and just carbon fiber vinyl wrap them. But then again it would be carbon fiber and some people would buy it only for that reason, but it's just something I would think about if I were you. Good luck.

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'''adamvann3:''' <small>(2011-09-15 22:38:05)</small>

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The shiro is already away. But the mounting points should be pretty consistent for any z31 but I am sure you want to measure the height where the belts exit ect.... Only complicated part is two mandrel bends and possibly pipe coping.

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'''ZFast88Z:''' <small>(2011-09-15 23:52:49)</small>

[quote]'''adamvann3 wrote:''' 

{{Quote|user=ZFast88Z|How long til you put the car away for winter? Im sure we could whip something up for you to install over winter.

The shiro is already away. But the mounting points should be pretty consistent for any z31 but I am sure you want to measure the height where the belts exit ect.... Only complicated part is two mandrel bends and possibly pipe coping.}}

PM Sent

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'''iamrobed:''' <small>(2011-09-15 23:57:02)</small>

Am I the only one that hates my stock sun visors, and the way they look, and would come off a chunk of change to have, CF or Fiberglass sun visors…?@?

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'''z31_hardb0dy:''' <small>(2011-09-16 00:28:49)</small>

why carbon fiber wrap a glass if you can make the glass replacement, a 2-3 layer cf panel as the glass? would be lighter and should hold up.. and for you talking about the sun visors… to you mean the t-top cover visers?? or the actual sun visers to block the windshield blindness

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'''iamrobed:''' <small>(2011-09-16 00:41:31)</small>

I do mean the lil things that I can move around, that the passenger vagina always moves to check her lipstick, then never puts back in the right spot, the only thing in my 25 Y/O car that is cardboard, covered in foam, that is covered in fabric, the looks like bagged ass, that is always in my feild of view, that I won't take off my car if the pope asked me…

How many cars do you see rolling around with CF, of FGlass sun visors? NONE!!!, but how many cars need better ones? ALL!!!

To answer ur question, NO not the shades.., THE MF Visors!!!

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'''wasupman2:''' <small>(2011-09-16 01:18:05)</small>

Maybe there's a good reason nobody has CF sun visors lol. It's cool if you ever get some, but I'd like to keep fancy lookin with the leather and refurbished cloth. However, I do agree that many cars need better sun visors.

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I always wondered why people never ever put them back up! :lol:

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'''ZFast88Z:''' <small>(2011-09-16 02:25:04)</small>

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You could replace just the glass in the T-Top with a carbon fiber panel (however its been found it is not easy to anchor the carbon fiber to the t-top frame). However if you attempt to replace the entire frame, with a carbon fiber frame, you're going to have stress/fatigue cracking issues.

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'''NissanXRMA:''' <small>(2011-09-16 04:09:34)</small>

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Your guess is as good as anyones.

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'''z31_hardb0dy:''' <small>(2011-09-19 03:33:06)</small>

lol CF visors… thats an idea to play with. ya and you're rite on the stress issues with the t-top frames. but im still gonna take a few stabs at the t-top cf glass replacement!!! bwahahaha. but for real i gotta get movin on this stuff >.

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'''nismopu:''' <small>(2011-09-19 19:34:00)</small>

With cars that have CF roofs, and targa style CF inserts......how do they get away from stress cracking? I know the m3CSL's roof was CF but was it just an outer skin or a whole section? I would think a piece like that would be subjected to quite a bit of twisting force.

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'''iamrobed:''' <small>(2011-09-19 20:12:58)</small>

CF Visors=WIN! Whats a general price on those?

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'''z31_hardb0dy:''' <small>(2011-09-20 01:05:41)</small>

lol not made yet, my funds are low. im going to the junkyard in a few days to get some extra parts then i gotta order the cf and resin and all that once my cash flow is proper. gimme a few more weeks [archived image: biggrin.png] and ill work it out

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'''z31_hardb0dy:''' <small>(2012-05-12 18:29:25)</small>

ill be comin out with this stuff soon, VA SUCKS for work. but getting there, just hold in there people. it WILL happen.

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'''Kimbro Slice:''' <small>(2012-05-13 08:56:11)</small>

[archived image: Op_will_surely_deliver_RE_Weird_Video_Game_Facts_Part_7-s500x375-138152.jpg]

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'''gorekill:''' <small>(2012-05-13 23:27:13)</small>

Would be nice to see what you end up getting done. I plan on doing a complete fiberglass/carbon-fiber body. Haven't had a chance to see the actual stress points for the Z31 yet as I haven't driven it, but I plan on doing a full 10, 12, or 16 point roll cage.

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'''NizmoZ31:''' <small>(2012-05-14 03:40:51)</small>

If you make it they will buy…including me lol. I'd start with little things like a center console cover or maybe the climate control trim pieces? I think the CF T-Tops would be tits.

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'''FlyingT:''' <small>(2012-05-14 14:42:07)</small>

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Like these?

[archived image: carbonfiberdash.jpg]

[archived image: DSCF0047.jpg]

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'''tert72:''' <small>(2012-05-14 15:29:33)</small>

hey flyingT is that just the carbon fiber vinyl overlay stuff? looks awesome imo!!!

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'''NizmoZ31:''' <small>(2012-05-14 15:58:12)</small>

YEA! lol that looks great and it's simple so he gets practice and my Z looks better [archived image: biggrin.png]

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'''FlyingT:''' <small>(2012-05-14 17:16:05)</small>

Real carbon fiber sheets in .2mm thickness.

Bendable and thin enough to cut with strong sheers.

And it looks better than vinyl stickers.

[http://www.coolbulbs.com/carbon_fiber.asp http://www.coolbulbs.com/carbon_fiber.asp]

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'''Kimbro Slice:''' <small>(2012-05-14 18:00:46)</small>

That's something I need to get into. I remember seeing someone use a sheet in a digital cluster, but never saved the photo.