Thinking about doing composite parts again...

[Blacdout96]

I miss working with composites, so I'm looking to maybe get back into it. I'm thinking about starting out small, and work my way up to large body parts.

What do you guys think of carbon fiber valve covers? I was thinking maybe starting there. I can only be as one member put it here, a " parts jockey" for so long, the pay isn't good enough by any means, and my talent to work with these composites is going to waste.

I was thinking SBC valve covers to start with since they are the easiest, and most common of valve covers to produce for our engines. It would be a 3 layer design, 2X2 twill as the first layers, then a mid layer of Kevlar for strength and rigidity, and then a final layer of unidirectional carbon fiber for additional strength and help with the mating surface, and possibly an aluminumpiece that would run around the perimeter for gasket mating assistance, but I believe using some RTV would seal that right up.

So who would maybe be interested in looking into a set of these? I really want to bring my experience to our group, and to our chassis. I'm just looking to gain interest right now, see if it would be worth doing.

[sweetbmxrider]

http://www.scootersperformance.com/sbsb__sbcb2_photo.jpg

I think they look really good when it goes with the rest of the motor.

Pending the price and how mine look after some time, I could be into it.

Nother shot

http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/qc97z/1997%20Camaro%20F1A%20Build%202%20-%20SEXIFIED/2010-11-26213703.jpg

[Blacdout96]

I see they're coming in at around 380 from that company, I think I'd be able to come in lesser on my price since I'm the only one doing the work.

FYI, I only vacuum bag, which saves weight, and evenly distributes the epoxy resin for a smoother finish.

[sweetbmxrider]

I'd like to see what you come up with for sure.

[V]

could you make other parts like rad covers and such? (mainly wondering about CTS one)

http://www.submariner.org/thepno95/Pictures/CTS-V%20pics/Dress%20Up%20Mods/Exterior/CF%20radiator%20shroud1.jpg


what about brackets and other one off items?

[sweetbmxrider]

Yeah I could be into 1 off's but I don't know how the pricing will be.

[Blacdout96]

problem with one-offs is you have to pay for a one off, meaning you have to pay for the mold and the part since a mass produced part would usually help pay off the production of the mold.

Paul- That could be something I can do, but I would need a donor, and that would potentially get damaged from reinforcing it to make a mold since it flexes too much as is, which might make the finish product hard to install without minor modification if not reinforced. ( I.E. the end tabs.) Right now I could do simplified stuff like those.

Things like 3.8 valve covers, which use a rubber gasket that sits inside a track around the bottom, would require two molds bolted together to get that, and I'm not looking into getting that involved just yet...but just about anything is possible if the demand is high enough.

[LTb1ow]

Carbon fiber dash pads.

Make mad monies.

[Blacdout96]

Carbon fiber dash pads.

Make mad monies.

Thought about it. Demand it enough, and it may come true.

[sweetbmxrider]

Full dash would be cool too. a pillars with the option of gauges!

[LTb1ow]

Thought about it. Demand it enough, and it may come true.

GM sells em for ~300, and these cars are not getting any younger...

[sweetbmxrider]

6LE sells them for a little over $100 to around $150

[LTb1ow]

6LE sells them for a little over $100 to around $150

F that guy.

[Blacdout96]

A-Pillar's? I'd have to take a look and see how complex they are, but they seem doable for the most part. I could do just about anything, but I would need enough people for the first batch to make it worth it, like 8-10 orders minimun. If the Jersey shore Pals (JSP) can get enough people interested, or even other places like LS1tech ro something, I can't see things not getting enough interest to produce.

[LTb1ow]

Any pics of your work ?

[Blacdout96]

Haven't made a part since I left Viking, but basically look up their 46 and 82 yatchs, I either built or had a hand in just about all the parts from the hull, to the transom to the live wells and tuna tubes.

I'll make something now that I have a reason to get out of the house to show you guys my attention to detail and workmanship.

[LTb1ow]

Bah, I know some crappy Viking glassing...

:lol:

And cool, would be nice to see some A pillar pods for hard top cars.

[Blacdout96]

Absolutely, there's tons of parts on our cars that aren't too complex. I'd like to hear more interest from others, glad to see some interest in the first place.

[LTb1ow]

And just simple stuff like radio/HVAC delete plates would prob sell.

[Blacdout96]

Ah! that's right, forgot about those, maybe I will start with those, since that is nothing more then a flat piece with possibly some bolt locations. I would only use either two pieces of carbon fiber ( 2x2 and unidrectional) or if there will be buttons and knobs, possibly one piece of carbon, and one piece of Kevlar to prevent flexing when you go to push a button or flick a switch.
I'll have to take a look at my price list at home, and do some quick math.

[WildBillyT]

Absolutely, there's tons of parts on our cars that aren't too complex. I'd like to hear more interest from others, glad to see some interest in the first place.

Depending on your pricing I may ask you to do a 3 hole pillar gauge pod for my Nova. I have another guy doing it but his is a mashup of a stock pillar and a universal one. I'd have you use that as a base and make a one piece. I'll let you know.

[Blacdout96]

Depending on your pricing I may ask you to do a 3 hole pillar gauge pod for my Nova. I have another guy doing it but his is a mashup of a stock pillar and a universal one. I'd have you use that as a base and make a one piece. I'll let you know.

send me some pics of the progress, Id like to see what he's got going on, see if I have to blend the guages into the pillar. is that pillar metal or plastic too?

[WildBillyT]

send me some pics of the progress, Id like to see what he's got going on, see if I have to blend the guages into the pillar. is that pillar metal or plastic too?

He hasn't started- still in infancy.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j78/dksdust/podsandApillarcover.jpg

68s are different slightly though. Again, if pricing is not bad I'd consider buying a crappy stock pillar and sending it to you to play with.

[Blacdout96]

Hmm, I might have to see a few other photos, but so far I see where he's going with it, and seems doable. I would have to sand it smooth because the epoxy gets distorted and bumpy and looks like **** if you leave the surface coarse like that ( damn ABS plastic lol). I might be able to make a cheaper mold then normal since all the curves give it strength and reduced flexing.

[jts98z28]

if you could make this (http://6litereaterdesigns.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=21_37_56&products_id=57) for less than $30 id buy it

[Blacdout96]

Holy ABS plastic batman!! the fit n finish on that is horrid!! 6LE's ideas are there, but his finished product never seems to be. How does that adhear in there? find a person with a junk center console,and I'll do one better where I'd tape off the surrounding area, make a piece that acutally forms to the curves by sanding it ( like a piece of 10lbs foam) and make molds off of that by gluing or screwing to a piece of wood, IO could basically build a better one with stuff I could find around the house ;) . find 10 people who might want one, and I might be interested in building it.

[V]

my friend has several parts produced for MR2s by a company out in PA and he says its all for a great price, he just had an MR2 dash shell done for his car. I may go through him to see what prices i can get. As for those radiator shrouds, GM sells them for 387+shipping, so to sell them id look into having 20 made and able to sell for around 250max.

this is the mr2 dash

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/183545_10150114552534304_142237384303_6044413_6222 74_n.jpg

[Blacdout96]

That's pretty awesome. That takes some time because it's several parts that are built, and then molded together, and then sanded and buffed to appear as one piece, very hard to do with bare carbon fiber since you see where it ends, and if your measurements are off, it won't fit right, or bolt up properly.

[KirkEvil]

ls1 head plates would be very profitable for you. Along with the fuse panel covers in the engine bay. A ls1 pcm cover would be nice too.

[Blacdout96]

anybody got an A/C control block laying out for trash?

[redsoxsstink]

id be interested in the plastic around the hvac vents, and the plastic piece that snaps off around the radio controls

[sweetbmxrider]

anybody got an A/C control block laying out for trash?

The thing with the knobs? If so, yeah from my 95 maro

[Blacdout96]

does that also fit the 97-02 dashs?

[sweetbmxrider]

I looked up part numbers and they are different. I don't know how the later ones look dimensionally.

[Blacdout96]

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/Balcdout96/carbonfiberface.jpg

[Blacdout96]

I think I'm going to start out with A/C delete panels just to start out small. Fiberglass is cheap, so I wouldn't worry if I screwed up a large part, but carbon fiber is completely opposite price wise :) I think I'll get the panel from Max the king to do 97-02 and if I can get a hold of sweet, and his setup is 93-96, I'll make then for both interior styles.

What do you guys think, interested?

Ah, another quick question, is the firebirds overall dimensions the same as the camaro's, or would I have to make a set for bird owners too?

[Blacdout96]

Want to thank Sweetbmxrider for getting the ball rolling by sending me an A/C switch panel to make it a delete panel. Crappy weather is crappy right now, so hopefully next week I can begin filling in the holes, smoothing out the part, cutting off unnecessary tabs, and setting it in a surface to make a mold from. It's going to tkae me a bit to get this sorted since I don't have much free time now that my work screwed with my schedule....AGAIN

[sweetbmxrider]

Can't wait to see how it comes out!

[Blacdout96]

id be interested in the plastic around the hvac vents, and the plastic piece that snaps off around the radio controls

Not to be rude, but what is this plastic piece that breaks around the radio controls? news to me, and pics?

[Blacdout96]

Alright guys, I've been thinking over on how to do this A/C delete panel, and there's three options to go with.

Cheapest- Make flat pieces of carbon fiber, cookie cut them out, and have them applied with adhesive.

Pro - cheapest to do and would hold up well.
Con - If you wanted to apply gauges, unless you use the 3M special composite adhesive, over time they will wear out the adhesive and it will come off.

Moderate cost - Build a mold to make the plate actually encompass around the secondary part that holds the switches and lights, and glue it on.

Pro - would hold up a lot better to usage of switches.
Con - you would need to modify the secondary part slightly to make it work. There are four tabs the old unit clicks into. You would have to cut those down with an exacto to get it to fit.

Expensive - Make an exact replica of the front panel with the holes for the tabs to clip into. I would have to manually cut each tab after pulled from the mold.
Pro- No cutting, no gluing
Con - Expensive

If you guys wanted to, if I make the moderate style ( which I recommend) you could send me your A/C control unit, and I'll modify it myself, purchase the special 3M adhesive ( goes for about 70 bucks a canister!!) AND ill even lighten it up even more then after all the switches are removed. let me know what you guys think. I'd really hate to just make flat pieces since it wouldn't allow me to have fun with this project, anybody could do it if that was the case.

[sweetbmxrider]

What would the prices look like generally speaking?

[Blacdout96]

When I get home today, I have a cheat sheet of prices from a couple companies, ill get a general price. I'm only going to use 1 layer of 2x2, and then one or two unidirectional for build up, and strength.

[WiMiMc]

id be interested in the plastic around the hvac vents, and the plastic piece that snaps off around the radio controls

the bezel? if yes then me too! one for a double din (if it wouldn't cost as much as the ones i see for like 150

[Blacdout96]

Just worked on the A/C panel yesterday. Glassed in the holes, and gave it strength so it doesn't flex as much while handling it. I do need to get some newer resin, the stuff I have is a little thicker then usual to work with, so it was a pain in my ass to get it to soak through the matting. When I get the chance, I'll take some pics to post up.