Looking to educate myself on DIY CF

[uflnuceng]

I have read an article in the Grassroots Motorsports magazine discussing DIY CF, as well as seeing the results of some people on this forum.

I keep getting bounced back to this website: Fiberglast.com for supplies and info. However, their website really sucks (don't know if I am just super critical or what), but with all the spelling mistakes, shitty layout, etc. I just get disinterested in it and try and look for other stuff.

Basically I'm looking to find a kit (how much and who makes a quality kit?), some instructional information on how to make the mold, how to vacuum bag it, how long the peice needs to cure, etc. Its the molding that I'm really trying to wrap my thought process around at the moment. I'm interested in making a lot of carbon fiber pieces to drop the weight of my M6. Interior pieces (dash, center console, door panels, etc.), exterior pieces (hood, trunk lid, sunroof, etc.) and maybe even an intake manifold if I get brave enough.

I know this shit isn't going to happen over night, but its just another thing I want to learn how to do. I'm sure it will be expensive, but I'm in for the long haul on this car stuff 8)

Thanks for the help...
Jared

[nefarious7907]

try this

http://www.acp-composites.com/ACP-CAT.HTM

or if you want to see some prices

https://selectproducts.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page8.html

[nefarious7907]

I know how to work with fiberglass and I wanted to move up but the vacuum bagging was a little expensive to me and a tad more difficult. Have fun trying to make a dash out of CF, it really doesnt like to bend and its really sharp, I would know it nearly sent me to the hospital.

[uflnuceng]

Would it make more "sense" to just make something like a dash out of FG then? I don't like the idea of having a super shinny dash blinding me in the eyes so whatever it was made of would just end up getting painted a matt black, or something like that.

Then maybe just make some grooves to insert CF inlays or something like that. You see what Im picturing in my head?

[uflnuceng]

I know how to work with fiberglass...

What do you need to work with fiberglass? A list would be cool... it would atleast get me started and the expense wouldn't be quite as harsh.

[uflnuceng]

The weight difference between FG and CF is hardly significant in the day-to-day real world, right? Its just that CF is so much stronger that it is used in racing applications.

[DEV0 E30]

A good challenge for sure. Can't wait to see progress I had some ideas for the interior too but a hood and stuff wouldn't be easy. Me and my friend are making a custom sub box but it's coming together slow because he doesn't work much and it can get expensive.

Good luck, keep us updated on the progress.

[nefarious7907]

here are some tutorials about how to work with fiberglass this explains it better than I could.

http://web.njit.edu/~cas1383/proj/main/

or If you are interested in a sub box

http://performance.clubrsx.com/fiberglasssubbox.html

I made fibreglass sub boxes with a friend of mine last summer just using that tutorial each one sold for over 150 and we made around 7 or 8 boxes[/url]

[uflnuceng]

To be honest... here are my goals:

The interior of the M6 is just weighed down with too much leather. center console from the parking brake up to (but not including) the dash. It has what they call the "halfline" treatment. I can just feel how heavy all of this crap is and after almost 18 years old it is showing its age. Nothing terribly bad mind you, but Im trying to bring the 3500lb M6 within 3000lbs or maybe even lighter. I also want an interior that is a bit stronger than 18 yr old leather that has been beat by the sun.

I guess for now I could do the interior in FG, with like a matt gray paint job. Then maybe use the FG pieces to make sandwhich molds for the CF pieces.

The exterior on the otherhand needs strength so I want to make the pieces out of CF, but i guess once again I could make the original pieces out of FG and then use them to test fitment and then make a sandwhich mold.

I get paid well enough so cost isn't a huge issue, although the wife would definitely frown on single purchases over $1000 or so. I just don't want to throw away too much money by making mistakes, or end up in the hospital from lacerations.

[uflnuceng]

Wow... those were some really good reads. Especially the first one.

I dunno... am I close to getting banned for thinking of making a custom interior using a lot of composite? The shitty OEM dashboards are $650+freight and don't take sun abuse well, but I don't want my car to look like it belongs at SEMA next to the 2001 Eclipse with the gold fish tanks where the fog lights outta be.

I need (mental) help

[Digitalwave]

There are a lot of other ways to bring your weight down before starting your own carbon fiber workshop. Creating things as large as body panels are going to be extremely hard as well. Hard laying a sheet of CF big enough to cover a hood or even a trunk would be unbelievably hard for a beginner. Interior pieces are one thing, but there isn't going to be a whole lot of weight saved there.

[DEV0 E30]

Haha. I'm sure after a few runs you'll be able to make something good.
Just need practice. I'm doing some custom stuff on the inside of an E30 at some point to, I'm sure some will hate it ohwell.

[uflnuceng]

Well... I'm trying to bring the weight down without gutting the car. I did that to my e30 and found it highly enjoyable at the track, but clanky and noisy on the road. Amazing how much the rear seat insulates against the differential wine... man is that annoying.

I also just want to... well... not modernize... but take a bit of the oldness out of the M6. Im not really going to make huge custom kick panels for 12" speakers and shit... more so put a place for my change and a couple cup holders like I have in my E46. Even the E30 had a place for change.

I feel like I am sitting inside of a cow though in this car. So much damn leather. :roll: I just think the interior would look nicer with a bit more plastic or fiberglass or carbon fiber or whatever. Just want it to look nice and maybe learn a little fabrication skills in the process.

[nefarious7907]

you can make a nice one piece console out of fiberglass no problem, you would need to use either chicken wire/some tight weave mesh or molding fabric. Lay your fiberglass on it like 4-5 layers, then lay some bondo on it, sand it smooth,primer, sand, primer, paint. They look badass. it would take a whole day to make a console start to finish.

[uflnuceng]

That first tutorial you through my way, along with looking at some of the stuff Jordan et. al have done definitely makes me thing FG is the way to go during my learning phase.

What's a good kind of paint to use so that the dash doesn't come out all glossy and shinny?