Would you guys be interested in having an entire fiero, made strickly of carbonfiber? I hope to have time this summer to make molds of every panel on my car, customized in any way possible.. Who would be interested in buying CF panels for our cars?

& If anyone has anymore ideas on creations they would like to see, and have enough people behind you, I could be the one to make it happen! Thx Again Guys & Gals!

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Custom Fiero 2M4 - 3800 Swap Coming Spring....

Boy, that's been talked about a few times before.

Trunk and Hood I can see that being a lighter part, body panels I doubt you'll create something actually lighter than OE parts but they sure will be more expensive and likely to take damage..

Someone did make a carbon fiber engine cover but the prototype had quality issues and no one put any money down on actual production parts.

If you do go ahead with the idea, try and design parts to use stock mounts, lose weight and remember price is going to be a factor that most Fiero owners are going to have a hard time justifying. I'd personally like to see a vented hood and a vented engine cover. I don't personally see any point in carbon fiber body panels unless someone wanted 'the look'.

There's no real interest in carbon fiber stuff with Fiero owners. I could have gotten a carbon fiber vented hood made but no one would put the money down to start production soo it never happened.

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quote Originally posted by 84Fiero2M4: There's no real interest in carbon fiber stuff with Fiero owners. I could have gotten a carbon fiber vented hood made but no one would put the money down to start production soo it never happened.

I think a lot of the problem is asking for money up front. A lot of people have been screwed by paying money up front for parts that aren't made yet (myself almost being one of them) I know I'd be a bit leary of shelling out $500 for something I've never seen. I think you would get more attention if you had a finished product ready to ship. Just my $.02

Kris

what would be the use? fiero body panels are plastic, you would be adding weight, so there would be no advantage.

quote Originally posted by tednelson83: what would be the use? fiero body panels are plastic, you would be adding weight, so there would be no advantage.

i belive that the panels would be replacing the plastic panels. like say fenders, hoods, decklids ect made out of them. it owuld lighten the car, thats for sure. take the hood off your car, and you'll see how heavy it really is

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the unfortunate history of my GT here

I think there might be a market for fiberglass replacement parts. It seems that there are a lot of Fiero owners that like to customize. Modifying the flexible body parts is difficult. Fiberglass door skins, bumper covers, blank lower panels behind the doors: I would buy these.

quote Originally posted by Scott-Wa: Trunk and Hood I can see that being a lighter part, body panels I doubt you'll create something actually lighter than OE parts but they sure will be more expensive and likely to take damage.. If you do go ahead with the idea, try and design parts to use stock mounts, lose weight and remember price is going to be a factor that most Fiero owners are going to have a hard time justifying. I'd personally like to see a vented hood and a vented engine cover. I don't personally see any point in carbon fiber body panels unless someone wanted 'the look'.

Well said, I totally agree.

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Ron
aka: Blackrams Fieros

i would like to see some CF fenders. i agree with shop_rat45 about the money being up front and no parts being made. im out of a few dollars myself, about someone making or trying to make CF fenders

quote Originally posted by gusshotrod: I think there might be a market for fiberglass replacement parts. It seems that there are a lot of Fiero owners that like to customize. Modifying the flexible body parts is difficult. Fiberglass door skins, bumper covers, blank lower panels behind the doors: I would buy these.

Amen...

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I really like the look of some Carbon Fiber accessories.
Like dash and console pieces.
But I honestly dont think an entire car, especially a Fiero, would look good.
I truly don'y even like the CF hoods on some cars. Although they do look good on others.
Just my opinion of course

If it could be painted, and not look goofy (because i really don't like the CF look), and if you are waiting til summer, i'd be interested. I'm going to start working full time jan 2nd, so i'll be making a lot more money than now, so like i said, if you wait til summer, and the parts look good, i'd be in for at least a hood, and decklid. and i've also toyed with the idea of doing this already, so i'll make my suggestion of the rear clip also. the only obvious problem with doing a rear clip would be the fastback VS notchback thing (i have a fastback). also might think about a spoiler, but i'm pretty sure i'll be ditching mine.

basically, if it's fiberglass right now, i'll replace it if i can save a significant amount of weight (significant means 75 + lbs).

-Fish

to do light weight body panels you would need an autoclave to do them properly as true carbon fiber has to be heated under pressure to cure properly using epoxy resin and carbon mat in a mold is heavier than the panels on the car

Not to mention that the body panels on the Fiero are light to begin with. Sure, you can make them a bit lighter, but the real weight is in the space frame.

I liked the carbon fibre decklid, I just couldn't justify the expense for a cosmetic part and saving 14lbs wasn't a big issue for me.
It sure did look good, though.

Well yes if I were to make these panels, I would use carbon matt.. I can make molds out of fiberglass quite easily now, and as many of you know, I am in the process of building a body kit, I was just curious how many people would be interested in me producing the parts I am making for my car.. I am making them anyways, might as well make a mold and shoot off a couple more, I wanted to see what my car would look like if I made a carbon matt body kit and put it on my car.. my car being black I thought it would look intense... and yes carbon matt can be painted, it resembles fiberglass to an amazing degree, and it will not be much lighter if any, merely just for looks. I WILL NOT ASK FOR MONEY UNTIL IT IS FULLY MADE AND READY TO SHIP, I am against this, and for alot of people, trust is a huge issue here. That is why even though some people have PM'd me wanting to order on of my kits, with money in hand I told them to wait. In case of some technical difficulties, that I had to push the deadline a month for example? I wouldn't want people to be after me.

(1) I love the look of carbonfiber
(2) My car is black, and its just easier then painting all fiberglass panels again
(3) In the fall my car is getting an orange paint job, so I dont want to have to run around the car more then once in a year.
(4) Painted carbonfiber looks intense, its shiny, its colored, from afar it looks just like paint, but close up it still keeps the carbonfiber 'look' and texture!

I haven't worked with this carbon matt before, but im sure if you didn't like it after a couple years you could still sand it all down, coat it with alot of primer and get rid of the texture? Feel free to correct me on that one.

So are you guys more interested in 'blank' panels? what if I were to add some vents, etc. and just make that? Its all up to yall! I usaully have a good idea of what something will look like when I am making it, and I just want to know what you are looking for, to be produced! Thanks again !

My POS Norman hood is twice as heavy as the stock hood. If you could make a car-fib norman-style hood, that would be cool. I have an 88 rear deck lid on my car and it's material is that high-tech stuff that cuts out radio noise from the sparkplug wires, the pre87's use that metal sheet. I don't think I'd want a car-fib decklid.

if I were to do decklids / hoods, I wouldn't ship the whole thing.. merely just the skin.. you would have to cut off your old one, and bolt mine down on your old framing.. Its cheaper, and lighter to ship.. tends lead to issues with alot of people.

I personally thiink for the money that would be spent many would be more likely to go with a full kit like the fino or AD 355 kit. like stated above your not going to save a major amount of weight and carbon fiber is not cheap. A complete AD 355 kit costs app $7K other kits can be had for $4500-$5k where would the stock replacment CF panels fall in the range? i mprettty sure it would be exspensive,

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'87 GT
93 3800sc series I / 4t60e
7.597 1/8mile ET
1.579 60'
88.53 mph

The kit I am making the molds for.. the invader 4pc.. I am only charging around a grand for.. when I am done the 10-12 pc it may be around 2500... I dont think I would charge much more for the kits to be made from CF matt instead of FG matt ...

quote Originally posted by Custom2M4: The kit I am making the molds for.. the invader 4pc.. I am only charging around a grand for.. when I am done the 10-12 pc it may be around 2500... I dont think I would charge much more for the kits to be made from CF matt instead of FG matt ...

Why would you use mat for your pannels? It's heavy, it's huge and it isn't nearly as strong as properly layed up cloth...
If you were to do wet layup carbon fiber with mat, you wouldn't get the "carbon fiber look", the look comes from the cloth itself. Also the part would most likely be heavier than stock pannels, IE fenders, doors, ect... Also, you wouldn't be able to control the amount of resin in each pannel, the weight and strength would vary from pannel to pannel...

Now, if you were to use varying layers of Pre-preg CF CLOTH, like you should, you would need an auto clave to cure it, you would need a freezer to store the un-cured pre-preg in. Do you have access to an auto clave? Do you even know what an auto clave is??

I'll give you a lesson, Pre preg is cloth that already has the resin on it in a semi-cured state. By doing this, the resin is distributed EVENLY throughtout the cloth and you get the same results from every part EVERY time..

If you want to have a look at pre-preg CF, stop by my place sometime, I've got CF, Kevlar and fiberglass all pre-preg.....

quote Originally posted by fiero_silva: Why would you use mat for your pannels? It's heavy, it's huge and it isn't nearly as strong as properly layed up cloth... If you were to do wet layup carbon fiber with mat, you wouldn't get the "carbon fiber look", the look comes from the cloth itself. Also the part would most likely be heavier than stock pannels, IE fenders, doors, ect... Also, you wouldn't be able to control the amount of resin in each pannel, the weight and strength would vary from pannel to pannel... Now, if you were to use varying layers of Pre-preg CF CLOTH, like you should, you would need an auto clave to cure it, you would need a freezer to store the un-cured pre-preg in. Do you have access to an auto clave? Do you even know what an auto clave is?? I'll give you a lesson, Pre preg is cloth that already has the resin on it in a semi-cured state. By doing this, the resin is distributed EVENLY throughtout the cloth and you get the same results from every part EVERY time.. If you want to have a look at pre-preg CF, stop by my place sometime, I've got CF, Kevlar and fiberglass all pre-preg.....

I seriously doubt that most Fiero owners mildly interested or even on the edge of a purchase decision would appreciate the added cost in overhead of using pre-preg materials. I also think that for 95% of the people interested, the weight-loss issue is just another excuse in the form of "Ooooh, pretty! (And it's .5 lbs lighter than stock!)".

Right now, all that needs to happen is to cut cost. There is no way this is going to work unless it's a decent price. Let's all look at the past attempts, and realize that if we have the same concepts about what a carbon fibre piece should accomplish on a Fiero, as what has been thought in the past, and if the manufacturers attempt the same manufacturing and marketing, we're going to end up in the same place as the attempt before.

Carbon fibre body panels for the Fiero cannot accomplish right now what other mass-produced pieces for more popular cars can. At this point, we need to ditch what we think we know, and take some sacrifices, i.e. hand layup of regular CF cloth, without expecting weights being .2 of stock items. We can't have our cake and eat it too, at this point.

That's just my $.02, anyway. Dunno if it makes sense, tired as hell.
Nate

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quote Originally posted by gusshotrod: I think there might be a market for fiberglass replacement parts. It seems that there are a lot of Fiero owners that like to customize. Modifying the flexible body parts is difficult. Fiberglass door skins, bumper covers, blank lower panels behind the doors: I would buy these.

Been there, done that, sold nothing. Still have moulds for the 1/4 panels and even have panels in stock.

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quote Originally posted by gusshotrod: I think there might be a market for fiberglass replacement parts. It seems that there are a lot of Fiero owners that like to customize. Modifying the flexible body parts is difficult. Fiberglass door skins, bumper covers, blank lower panels behind the doors: I would buy these.

yeah this is what I was thinking - fiberglass replacement - easy to modify

what about this hood an these front fenders modified to fit the Fiero an modified front bumper an sit on MR-2 headlights housing using the stock Fiero headlight it self in the new housing , GUYs yes or no on the front fenders, go to this link click on the 4th picture
http://superstreetonline.com/featuredvehicles/130_0410_nsx/#

quote Originally posted by CETICARS: what about this hood an these front fenders modified to fit the Fiero an modified front bumper an sit on MR-2 headlights housing using the stock Fiero headlight it self in the new housing , GUYs yes or no on the front fenders, go to this link click on the 4th picture http://superstreetonline.com/featuredvehicles/130_0410_nsx/#

Damn you, thats what I am sorta doing with my kit.. haha nice though! Well the fenders, I dont know if u've seen my front, but its still similar.. I'll post some pictures later into the new year....

So Al, I thought that CarbonFiberMatt... like the heavier blanket sorta thing, I thought that looked exactly like carbonfiber after its cured? This is interesting.. I'd like to take a look at some of your stuff! Besides I still have to pick up that rear clip from you

Carbon fibre is going to come out looking how it looked when you put it in the mold.

Long strand carbon fiber mat:

It will look just like that once you finish it, just shiny and smooth...

Carbon fiber cloth:

[This message has been edited by fiero_silva (edited 12-21-2004).]

quote Originally posted by fiero_silva: You see, A. With MAT you WILL NOT get that nice "oooo pretty" look from carbon fiber, you will get the look of carbon mat and probably end up painting over it. B. Without a VERY VERY experianced person doing the wet-layup, you will not get a very nice final result, you will have varying resin/cloth ratios which will result in weak spots in the part as well as a unneccessairly heavy part, or a part without enough resin... Personally, if I was to shell out the $$$ for carbon fiber parts, I would want them to: A. Be Carbon Fiber Cloth so they look right B. Be darn near flawless, which you will have a very hard time achieving with wet layup C. To be usefull, IE. Actually weigh less than a stock part and have propper resin/cloth ratios Sorry to burst your bubble, but doing carbon fiber right is NOT a cheap thing to do.. Personally, I've got access to a couple huge auto claves, I've got access to aerospace pre-preg for free, I've got access to do everything right, I simply do not have the time to do it or the money to pay someone else to do it.

I think you misunderstood me. I'm not saying to use CF mat. I'm also not saying that doing CF is cheap, I'm saying that using pre-preg will up the costs more. Guess what, I'm great friends with the owner of the largest composite aerospace tool builder in Wichita, I have access to autoclaves and a 5-axis CNC whenever I want.

That is if you want to shell out the $$$. Take a look around, and you'll see that most people here do NOT want to shell out the dollars. There has always been lots of talk, but very few items sold. Talk to AusFiero about that.

All I'm saying is that at this point the Fiero market cannot support high-cost carbon fibre items. High-quality is fantastic, but, hey, like you said, it costs.

As far as living in a bubble, I just spent nearly $300 on carbon fibre fabric alone. You do not need to tell me it isn't cheap.

Nate

While saving some weight over fiberglass, carbon fiber is only an extravagance, on a street car.

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On a little side note, I apologize if I have come across as harsh, most of my previous posts I made when I was exhausted and not in a very good mood.

Will, you have PM.

Nate