Carbon Fiber Vs Fiber Glass

[JCCR]

I Was Just Thinking. From What I Know Carbon Fiber Is Stronger Than Fiber Glass But Is It Also Lighter?

If Its Lighter How Much Weight Would I Be Shaving Of My Z By Replacing The Hood, Front Fenders, And Front And Rear Bumpers With Carbon Fiver?

If Its Affordable ,would It Be Worth It?
How Much Weight Would I Be Shaving Off My Z?

[neogenesis]

Uhh, I don't know if that is a good idea. It might cost you some more money then what you might expect. I would always go with CF over FG just becuase of the strength. You wouldn't want the FG to crack on you lol.

[freakonaleash1187]

the stock hood on a z32 is lighter than a carbon fiber hood. also, you would be very very suprised at how expensive that will be to have all those body parts as carbon fiber. but i would definitely choose carbon fiber over fiberglass.

[ZedEx]

www.uscomposites.com gave us a great deal on all of the supplies we bought from them to make carbon fiber components.

Its harder than you think to make CF Components. I wouldnt suggest attempting to duplicate body panels, with fiber glass, or carbon fiber, unless youve had some experience with it.

I would suggest contacting US Composites, and buying the starters kit from them, its about $300, comes with instructions, and all proper resin, and composite.

Then just try making little things, like shift knobs, E-Brake handles, interior panels, etc etc.

Anyways, good luck.

-Wes

[neogenesis]

I think someone said CF is heavier than OEM becuase of the hinges and stuff they have to place to keep the hood on the car.

[Broke_as_****]

From what I've seen its not so much the hinges as the fact that carbon fiber needs to be many times thicker then a metal hood to have anywhere near the same strength. Take a fender for example. Its just pressed sheet metal thats like 1/32" thick. They weigh like five pounds. Carbon fiber fender is usually going to be atleast a 1/4" thick, thats alot more material.

If you really want a vented hood or something, they got pre-made carbon ones you can buy that aren't going to be too much heavier then stock and it does help cool things down under the hood. But if you are looking for a performance upgrade by loosing weight, aftermarket body panels are not the answer.

[k3smostwanted]

plus...all that money your goin to dump into your car attepting to make it lighter you could have just put into the car to make it faster and got a better result probably. i would fully strip the interior before even starting to mess with shedding weight from the body. just my opinion.

[ZedEx]

Zeds such a heavy car, you may as well not worry about it anyways... Little Shitvics have to worry about that kind of stuff.

I would say the thousands of dollars it would cost you to get those panels right, you may as well spend on some bigger turbos and injectors.

-Wes

[freakonaleash1187]

i agree with the last two posts, with the money you are going to spend on body parts you could of spent on huge performance upgrades.

[E Honda]

Originally Posted by freakonaleash1187

the stock hood on a z32 is lighter than a carbon fiber hood. also, you would be very very suprised at how expensive that will be to have all those body parts as carbon fiber. but i would definitely choose carbon fiber over fiberglass.

What has this guy been ?......The factory hood id aluminum. Carbon fiber is 10 times lighter than alum and 5 time stronger than steal....Do a search on the web and find out yourself. I have a complete carbon fiber front end on a civic that I have and can tell you that the difference in weight is HUGE......

[Broke_as_****]

Originally Posted by E Honda

Carbon fiber is 10 times lighter than alum and 5 time stronger than steal....

I would really have to see some actual tests to believe that. Alot of comparisons along those lines use some rigged setup. As far as weight losses for any particular set up, well thats easy, get some people with each together and weigh them. Personally I'm more concerned with whats under the hood.

[Zgringo]

I suppose you guy's are going to ask me weigh all my body parts. No way am I going to remove all the parts just to weigh them. I have some carbon on one of my cars, the hood, doors, rear hach and front fenders from FiberTec. Their .040" and very light, but by the same token VERY $$$$$$$$, and I mean VERY VERY $$$$$. I wouldn't put them on a street car unless I run out of other things to buy for my car and had lots of $$$$$ burning a hole in my pocket.
The doors and rear deck was the biggest weight loss. The hood and front fenders are lighter than stock, but really noticed the difference with the doors and deck.

[Broke_as_****]

An older automotive entusiast once told me the cheapest most effective way to remove weight from the car is to run laps.

[Zgringo]

Broke you saying I'm fat?

[Broke_as_****]

Originally Posted by Zgringo

Broke you saying I'm fat?

Sounds like someone has self-image problems.


Just joking with you, however we demand that you strip your carbon fiber equiped car down to bones and do a complete weight comparison between stock pieces and the CF. Not to mention you must now put the stock pieces on and do corner weights, then repeat that procedure for the CF. Do a complete computer model and report back.

Or just give a ballpark figure or something. That will work.