Carbon fiber body panels/misc parts

Carbon fiber body panels/misc parts

@jcrwzr
Dude, check this out! A full carbon fiber Lotus Elise in the works!
http://elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36205
That is some hot custom carbon fiber work. They used a vacuum mold to form the panel shapes. That is some crazy shit! Maybe this will give you some inspiration. hehe

btw, I tried sending this to your PM box, but it's full. I can guess why. Has a certain someone been filling it up? HA∞

no... i just forgot that my inbox is full

yeah, the vacuum bagging is important for shape consistency

If anyone is doing custom CF stuff, I'd like a CF trunk for my Prizm.

If it's a carbon fiber trunk, it would have to be for the 8th gen Corolla. Unless you send a spare trunk to make a mold.

I'm not sure if the twill will be the same as a VIS carbon fiber hood or trunk. Keep in mind, this is not professional and little pieces are easier to make.

what would be pretty slick would be if someone made the interior trim panels in CF, like make a pillar gauge pod, then make the blank pass. side pillar and middle and rear pillars, so everything in the roof half would be carbon. that'd looks pretty cool

Yeah. Trial and error. Start small and grow big. CF interior would be so cool. Will do great complimenting CF seats and stuff. Someone here is selling his entire interior. I'd say grab all the panels and stuff to use them as molds and see how they replace the OEM style stuff. If stuff looks good, do the whole dash.

i'd buy a cf trunk..

i'd buy a cf trunk too if it didn't cost $700

anyway, since the body kit, i've been really interested in CF and fiberglassing. i'm totally down for making all kinds of parts for the corolla. if i'm successful, i will sell. but there are no gaurantees.

carbon fiber IS expensive. i've been studying the costs to operate, cost of capital, and labor worth. if i ever sell CF or fiberglass just like any other fabricator, don't expect me to sell anything that leaves me with a $5 profit. it's a business. these will be handmade, and it's hard work. the going rate for CF fenders is $440 from erebuni. the going rate of a CF trunk for the 8th gen corolla is $700+ from VIS.

oh i forgot to mention, it can take 1 week to complete one large panel. this stuff takes time.

it's not quiet that easy. the panels cannot be the molds. you use the panels to make the mold. that's one of the first steps. the mold has to be successful, and this will be the most frustrating part -having a smooth mold to lay your CF onto so that the CF part pops out of the mold real smooth.

i'm going to start experimenting in summer 2008. i'm buying CF supplies one at a time. for the meanwhile, i'll be going to the junkyard to examine how the corolla bolts up from the fender to the roof. doors sound really complicated becasue there are doors with power locks and mirrors or windows. doors would be difficult.

i'll be keeping this place updated.

but first are farmost... i'll be the first one to have custom CF body panels and interior parts for my corolla before I decide to fabricate for business.

I want one of these:

How much weight savings does that accomplish and does it make you go faster? hahaha btw I don't see any much needed hood pins. You don't want that lid flying up when you don't want it to.

Yeah, true. I was watching some of the videos for the process and I know what you mean. You could probably start with all the flat surfaced stuff like the panels for the front and rear roof pillars, seat belt towers, glove box door. airbag ovals etc. Doors are huge, both inside and out, so yeah, I'd do those later, like the roof/trunk/hood. If stuff turns out good, I might actually come down there and give you a hand for doing the trunk and stuff next summer!

this would be perfect for when i paint my car a dark color (currently factory silver)

The valve cover for the 8.5th gen is too complicated. Too many curves and dips. A really easy one to make would be for the original 8th gen. It's simply a small smooth piece of plastic.

What is this? Toilet seat?

They already make that, so I don't see a point. You're never going to see it anyways. LOL