BrianCunningham

Carbon Fiber body panels.


With all the posts I’ve seen about owners wanting carbon fiber body panels, hoods, roofs etc., only to give the idea up once they find out how much it costs, they currently go for around $5,000 :eek:. I started talking with the boat designer I helped build the carbon fiber racing trimaran.

If I did direct replacement panels, I could get the cost down somewhat.

On the other hand the skins, or shell, could be done for a lot less.
Which might be better for racers anyways, easier to modify, put the reinforcements where you want.

Or a kit you finish it out.

We could also do special versions.
Hood vents
Headlight delete option
Bigger side vents for more air extraction.
Splitters

Any interest?.

blk95

How about a better looking GS fender flare that wraps around to the back..better yet some wider rear fenders. :thumbs:

lampedusa

That's a great idea, Brian. :yesnod: :cheers:


[Modified by lampedusa, 10:09 PM 7/24/2003]

vader86

I would be really interested if they were direct replacements for the stock body panels and hood, and cut weight down.

johncazin

Something for nothing is always nice...... give us firm prices, delivery schedule, and a track record of quality, and you might have takers- otherwise, supply/demand dictates pricing of current offerings- I'd love a new source, but in reading threads from other sites about the problems in getting a mere flat panel c/f hood manufactured, I know it isn't easy or cheap to do- good luck in your venture.

Black 'n Blue

Are you sure you won't have to pay some licensing fee to GM?

premiervette

:iagree: maybe even a whole CF body kit that actually looks good.

DieL

YES YES YES .. Im Interested in a Hood, vents for a hood or a vented hood.. im looking for something vented above the throttle body.. so the air that comes thru the rad can go out. also, vents above the wheels ... for higher speed stability.. Very interested :cheers:

1996man

if you could manufacture replacement ZR1 body panels you could make a fortune! i know i wold buy the peices for a wide body kit! i would be ur first customer in a heartbeat

4DRSS

You may want to check with ACE http://www.advancedcompositeseng.com/ After the Impala guys wanted a carbon hood for our heavy cars they stepped up and made one. They may do something similar for the C4's too.

cdsmith

I would love to see GS fender flares that are molded into the panel.

BrianCunningham

Anything is possible.
As far as custom parts, that all depends on how many people want the same pieces. The cost of the tooling needs to be recovered.

If I did doors, they'd be custom.
My friends are so strong he tests them with a sledgehammer :D

I'll start small, custom vent pieces first.
I've got a meeting Monday.

larrybsp

As an SCCA ITE racer with my C4 I've been scared silly about banging up my Corvette. Even minor body damage is big bucks. I've backed off more than once against an aggressive driver with a $1.98 door panel. At Laguna Seca I saw a Viper spin in the corkscrew. He caught the RF and LR corners.
It didn't look like much until a Dodge body shop manager who was there raciing his car told the owner how much it was going to cost to fix. How about $42,000 !!!:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: Back to the point, racers and a lot of street drivers would want a hood skin because of the weight savings
I'd get one, a gutted stock hood is a flxible flyer. The second item would be a roof shell. Picked up a roof lately. They weigh around 60#. Frankly gutted stock doors are pretty light so it wouldn't be worth the mold cost. A carbon fiber front and rear bumper would be nice but the weight saving would be marginal and the stock bunpers have some compliance. The real weight savings is in the hood and roof. I'm sure you could save at leasr 100# with both in carbon fiber. Let me know if you proceed. I'm in. :party:

larrybsp

I forgot something. If you proceed, a part everyone should get would be a Chevrolet GT design racing front bumper. Diversified Glass Products stopped making them in the mid 90's. They extend down and forward and are much more streamlined than the stock C4 design.

tkrussell

Agree with the others.
1) Hood, w/ or w/o high rise.
2) Wide Body Kit in ZR1 style to accomodate wider rear tires.
Thanks.
Put me on the list to contact when you begin production.

ASRoff

2004 Z06 will have a carbon fiber hood. I'll ask around my company and see if their interested in producing something like this. (I now work for Budd company) we produce SMC panels.

DieL

There is definitely a market for C4 parts. Look at the heads.. Gm sold tons, now edelbrock is making heads and brodix and canfield are on their way soon too. C4s are much cheaper now and people are spending llots on them.

Hpw about front fenders.. the small vented peice behind the front wheels. Not because it would save weight but there so many people that want the 95-6 fenders. Make a better vented style and they'll sell like hotcakes.

Im still in for the hood though... i want one badly. i wonder how much weight i would save with a lexan windshield, lexan rear hatch and now a cf hood!

:cheers:

BBA

How about making a miniran style composite intake manifold for the L98?

Soulja_350

Hood vents :smash:
Headlight delete option :smash:
85-96 HI-RISE Hood $1399.00
85-96 SUPER HI-RISE HOOD $1499.00


SUMTHING LIKE this cheaper i would die 4 plz help me i really want 2 be able to fit that S.R under the hood.

And no pop-up lights :cool:

VetteNoob

Highrise hood to clear a Stealth Ram with vents I think would be a good idea. :yesnod: