Markie Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 Just reading this and double checking the posts. Just to clarify. A stock bonnet is not mch heavier than a FG or CF one? Also, are both UK and J-Spec stock bonnets Aluminium? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajazyasin Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Ill concur that there is not point in a CF bonnet apart from looks as its made from FG. Ive got a soarer so it makes a BIG difference over stock. Takes 2 people to lift a soarer bonnet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr keef Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 i think the carbon fibre hoods look pathetic when they fade like wise with the rear wings...even when they are laquered back up they never look the same.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Most are a crap fit, flex too much and a total waste of money imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECK Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 hey i gotta say mine isnt any hasstle and is a really good fit im not too sure about the carbon is a rip off and is just fiber coverd in carbon as with mine when the hood is up you can actually see through it and they look the bizz still on a N/A it may not be going fast enough to cause a problem and as for weight id say there is nothing in it the stock hood is really light Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I have yet to find a Supra or Skyline fibreglass or "carbon" bonnet that weighs less than the stock alloy one. Some of the aftermarkets ones have appalling fit and finish, too. So unless you want to leave a "carbon" bonnet unpainted (and bear in mind the gel coat and lacquer is usually so poor it will whiten in no time, or even de laminate), they are a waste of money, technically. Those with vents and scoops often have them so placed as to demonstrate the makers cluelessness on basic aerodynamics, and instead of removing hot air form the bay manage to pressurise it and cause left and a reduced efficiency from the radiators. You could get a proper autoclaved bonnet made, which would be ultra stong, durable and very light, I had to go that route when i found the aftermarket "carbon" doors for Skylines were such junk. A good moulder doesn't necessarily charge a fortune these days, and if you can get an order of say 10 units together, it becomes a very viable option. I got these doors done as one offs, and they are 2.8 kilos each. Stock bare doors were 38 kilos each.http://www.gatesgarth.com/toys/toys.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul mac Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 wow this is a blast from the past, me and Rob nearly came to blows in this one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk-rich Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 [ I got these doors done as one offs, and they are 2.8 kilos each. Stock bare doors were 38 kilos each.http://www.gatesgarth.com/toys/toys.html just to scare us, how much chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angarak Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 (edited) When Im not working for myself I work for my mate at his composites company. We tend to make numerous things for race/rally cars. Most of the work is 'wet lay' (cheap and cheerful) but recently we've started doing vac formed composites cured in an oven. As a test, we created a pure CF bootlid for an Alfa 75. A standard bootlid weighs 8.3kg, a 'wet-lay Kevlar/Carbon one weighs 3kg, the pure CF vac formed one weighs 1.5kg. The pure CF one is really strong with little flex. As Chris said, you'd probably need a pure CF vac formed bonnet to save weight over the stock one, though they cost a lot more to make (both the tooling and composite) and it may be easier (from a weight saving point of view) to just go on a diet With regards to 'bling' composites, few gelcoats are UV stable, and whilst you can get UV Inhibitor to mix into a gelcoat there's no way of knowing that it has been mixed perfectly, which over time can cause the gelcoat to go milky in certain areas. Edited January 14, 2010 by Angarak (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul mac Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 When Im now working for myself I work for my mate at his composites company. We tend to make numerous things for race/rally cars. Most of the work is 'wet lay' (cheap and cheerful) but recently we've started doing vac formed composites cured in an oven. As a test, we created a pure CF bootlid for an Alfa 75. A standard bootlid weighs 8.3kg, a 'wet-lay Kevlar/Carbon one weighs 3kg, the pure CF vac formed one weighs 1.5kg. The pure CF one is really strong with little flex. As Chris said, you'd probably need a pure CF vac formed bonnet to save weight over the stock one, though they cost a lot more to make (both the tooling and composite) and it may be easier (from a weight saving point of view) to just go on a diet With regards to 'bling' composites, few gelcoats are UV stable, and whilst you can get UV Inhibitor to mix into a gelcoat there's no way of knowing that it has been mixed perfectly, which over time can cause the gelcoat to go milky in certain areas. good write up dude, its allways nice to hear from someone who actually knows what he's talking about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 [ I got these doors done as one offs, and they are 2.8 kilos each. Stock bare doors were 38 kilos each.http://www.gatesgarth.com/toys/toys.html just to scare us, how much chris I can't remenber, I know I lied to the wife about the price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spidermonkey Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 just to scare us, how much chris I can't remenber, I know I lied to the wife about the price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imi Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 I didnt realise a cf and fibreglass debate could get so heated. lol The topic has no bearing, its simply an excuse i think the carbon fibre hoods look pathetic when they fade like wise with the rear wings...even when they are laquered back up they never look the same.. completely agree....but then again....for some its that chavvy look that matters.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imi Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 I got these doors done as one offs, and they are 2.8 kilos each. Stock bare doors were 38 kilos each.http://www.gatesgarth.com/toys/toys.html now thats called weight saving.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 I'm completely ambivalent about carbon fibre but those doors, omg work of art -Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxcat Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 the carbon that we all use is nothing more than glorified fibre glass and purely cosmetic (dont get me wrong i do like them), proper carbon spends months in and out of ovens so if your on about strength there will be no difference, if its weight again the difference will be minimal and i doudt it would be lighter than a stock bonnet, i think it all comes down to how much your (or your mate) prepared to pay What about this one (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280131490361)? Is it "fake" cf? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul mac Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 What about this one (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280131490361)? Is it "fake" cf? they are all "wet lay cf" if you like it buy it but and i quote "replaces old heavy OEM metal bonnet. Choose Vis products for perfect fitment, stunning looks and reduced weight (only 13pounds)" they obviously know their stuff "heavy OEM metal bonnet" the stock bonnet is aluminium and light as a feather, and as Chris states i haven't seen one yet that fits properly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nap Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 love or hate. i love.dont give a toss if lighter than stock or not. my TRD fits just fine. if you want a stock one got a black one.come and get it foc.i need the room:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angarak Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 The fit can vary for numerous reasons, one of the more common mis-alignment issues is when you have a 2 part mould (ie:bonnet) where you have one mould that makes the outer skin and one mould for making the inner frame. When you come to bond them together, getting the alignment of the inner and the outer composites wrong will have noticecable effect (ie: bonnet edge will align closer to one wing than the other). The thickness of a composite can also cause alignment issues, especially on 'wet lay' composites where the thickness of the composite can vary depending upon how well it was rolled out (and how many layers of composite it is comprised of). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.