Carbon fiber hood and decklid ? Vendor

One thing to keep in mind during this discussion is whether one is talking about TRUE carbon fiber, autoclaved and all that.....or fiberglass with a carbon fiber sheet as final layer. Big difference in weight, and price.

Larry

I can say I know the differences of what on the market vs. cost ...but I;m here to learn ?

True carbon fiber my quess is expensive .. $$$ ? and less wieght ?

Carbon fiber over fiberglass ? is heavier and less expensive ??

What are your best guesses in wieght and price of each ?

Thanks
Ron

quote:

I can say I know the differences of what on the market vs. cost ...but I;m here to learn ?

I meant .... I " CAN"T " say I know the difference ....

Here's a great thread from last year on the subject (long but a good read):

http://pantera.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6450045562...910010194#6910010194

Thanks I'm lovin that post.

I will contact walter@program-motorsports.com and see if he is selling the hood and deck lid.

Ron

Hi Ron,

I know of lots of people who have tried to contact Walter at program motorsports including myself. He is no longer making carbon fibre and does not respond to email.

I am not aware of anybody in the USA currently making carbon fibre Pantera panels. I have seen lots of ripply heavy fake stuff though.

Johnny

Sigbjorn Eskeland on the e-mail list posted a while back about someone manufacturing them in Europe and was looking for a few owners in the US that would commit for a shipment into L.A. I believe they were full on CF autoclaved (or I wouldn't have been interested) and selling at $3700 for the decklid and the hood, which sounded pretty reasonable to me. Quoted weight was 10-12 lbs for decklid and 5-6 lb for the hood.

I wrote back with interest but never heard anymore on it.

Here's a link to the post and it contains a link to the Composite manufacturer.

De Tomaso List CF

I know of a carbon fiber guy creating a GT5S in carbon fiber fenders (at least that was what I saw in his shop about 4 months ago). I lost contact with the dude he is building the car for, as we were going to do a dual article. Maybe the builder would consider hoods as well. The stuff is damn light. I easily picked up a mustang hood that he had with one hand, and I'm no Arnold...thing was maybe 10 lb. Email me at ciao4u2@aol.com and I will check with the builder if you want.

Johnny ..thanks I will check it out .. and about the cross member I can use the stock length ..so please email me the cost with shipping.

Joules I will try that lead also .

Does 200 ... I will shoot you an email and lets exhaust all the options.

So basically what are my options ?? fiberglass ??


Thanks Guys
Ron

I was just going throug an old issue of PI because that's all we got (Poor George, he's working hard to get us new), and I saw Wilkinson had carbon fiber hoods: $850 front hood, and $1,150 deck lid. This was in Issue 97 Winter 1998. Maybe give him a call, see if he has these any more.

I'm gonna try PI first and see what Jerry says.

Ron

I found what I want two vendors are the same price so I need to jusdge quality by pictures .. anyone near PI and Wilkinson can give me an assesment of the Carbon Fiber Decklid and Hood ??

I guess I have a perfect condition steel hood and deck lid for sale ? What they worth ?

Ron

Ron,

Be aware these are fiberglass lids with a CF overlay, so aesthetically they look good, but you don't get the weight saving of a true CF unit.

I have been in touch with Johnny and there will be more information coming on Sigbjorn's units, I think they are in the early production stages and ensuring they are a true fit to various cars. They will have 4 hood configurations (I assume vent styles) and 2 decklid types. The decklid weighs in at about 10lbs! So if you are not in a hurry it may be worth the weight....(wait )

quote:

I found what I want two vendors are the same price so I need to jusdge quality by pictures

They are likely the same, sourced from the same builder.

And as Julian said, they are fiberglass with a CF overlay. I am not sure that you are getting ANY weight savings over the stock steel units.

As for your stockers? Keep them. The CF fascination will die in another five-ten years and you or whoever then owns your car will pay dearly to get the original steel units replaced.

Larry

Deck Lid $3000.00

Hood $1000 - $1200

Both vendors want 1200 hood and 2500 decklid ... complete carbon fiber hoods and decks with my research are not available thru any vendors. The reason they are too exspensive to make and not enough people want them and to expsnsive to sell. That was the same comment from 5 different vendors.

Oh and they save 60lbs as compared to stock ...that excludes eliminating the rear deck lid struts ..that should subtract 8 - 10 lbs.

How much horse power do we gain by posing 60 -70 lbs ?

Ron

Ron if I remeber right that guy from south africa that made the GT40 film was talking about making his Pantera ALL carbon fiber. I had heard a Pantera monocoque in steel weighs over 850 pounds. The same thing in carbon fiber would weigh less than 40 pounds. This would make it theoreticaly possible to make a Pantera that weighed under 2000 pounds if you went nuts on weight reduction. Also you may want to ask Gary in INdiana because he has made some carbon fiber parts before. Maybe you can make your own? But I do know the material itself is real expensive. There is a shortage because almost every airplane being made today uses at least some carbon fiber if not the whole aircraft. Also be carefull working with it as it can turn your hands to hamburger real quick.

I have always wanted to do this. Maybe when I win the lottery I will (I guess I should start playing the lottery). With a bit of carbon fiber and honeycomb you could make a Pantera monocoque that was mostly air and as DeTom said less than 2000 Lbs. Imagine a car just as fast with 1/3 the HP requirements. Not to mention taking some aerodynamic liberties and making a Pantera that wouldnt sweat running with the big $$$$cars at high speeds. Anybody got an extra $200,000 they want to donate??? Ok I gotta go watch some Rosie Odonnell to cool myself off.

Blaine