mkaing fibre glass bonnets wings etc

[fezza_mat]

i realy want to drop the weight in my fiesta so first step is lights panels but all the fibre glass parts ive fount just dont fit well and arent that cheap so ive bin thinking it cant be to hard (famous last words) i know its probably gunna be long hours but i still want to ave a go ive bin looking on google and a quick search has turned up this site but it seam just a tad to easy and i would brace a bonnet

http://www.hotrod.com/howto/60478_fiber ... index.html

dont know if you could use that method to make bonnets and wings

 

has any one made one any tips are donts any info will be greatily appreciated

[caprinerd]

never done it but looks interesting though

[V8ian]

Ive done it, and its VERY time consuming, be prepared to spend a good amount of time just getting ready to make the buck, then pre prep of the panel, and probably end up making 2 or 3 of these for each basic panel as you wont get it right first time, thats why FG panels are so expensive, having to make the moulds, Usually means getting the panels to a condition where they are arrow straight and "Ready for paint" you then have to make the buck from the panel, using large amounts of glass and resin, reinforcing it with wood so when its released from the panel it does not deform, assuming you get the buck released from panel !!! without destroying either, then you have to make the inner skins, window rebates, reinforcing pieces to mount locks and hinges, it goes on and on,

then of course you have to buy the Resin, Glass mat, and cloth, Gel Coat, Release agent, mixing /measuring cups, lamininating tools, brushes throw away overals, dust masks, millions of consumable including gloves, acitone, thinners EtcEtc,

by the time you have made a decent panel, and learnt how to do it correctly, its really easy to end up with glass panels that are weak, badly fitting and above all in your case heavier than you started with.

Did I mention the SMELL, you will stink out the neighbourhood, you will smell the same as its really hard to get rid of it, and dont forget the infernal ITCHING, allow any part of you skin to come in contact withthe raw glass and sooner or later you wil be itching and scratching for queen and country

[fezza_mat]

oh right sounds pretty hard do you reckon its worth doin thought

is there any other ways of doing the job

[V8ian]

without a doubt, its hard smelly itchy work, normally for doubtful results, not saying you cant do it, but it takes a while to master the skils, TBH I would be looking for other ways to lighten the car, GRP bits are of, but if you have doors you then have little or no side impact protection, so then you have to fit door bars and cage, so the car is now heavier than it was before,

[fezza_mat]

yer shame realy never mind was worth a shot thanks pal

[azz-bo]

There was a bloke on hear not so long ago toutin for work, sounded like he had bin in the industry a while n knew what he was talkin about, anyway he's prices were very cheap, you just need to find him first

[stephens_xpack]

The guy is dyt397c but after numerous attempts to contact him he went very quiet so not sure if he got it off the ground.

[fezza_mat]

shame realy need to lose weight

of my car that is

[capri71]

have you triede Smith and Deakin GRP panels? I have their bonnet, wings, valance and tailgate and all of it fitted o.k. One wing was a bit odd but nothing the painters can't sort out.

[fezza_mat]

no i havent just bin on there website a bit vague biut will give tham a ring 2moz thanks falla

[capri71]

Yeah, givem a go - they are meant to be better than fibresports anyway (who burnt all their capri moulds)

Ive done a fair bit to lighen mine as it goes... the panels certainly help. ive got a plexiglass rear screen, alloy gearbox bellhousing, lighter front seats (recaros are soooooo heavy), alloy brake callipers and done a fair bit to lighten the engine like alloy timing gears and a lighter flywheel and replacing parasitic fans and pumps wiv lighter, more efficient electric items. Ive ditched the rubber boot spoiler and side rub strips and i'm going to fill the glovebox wiv helium next actualy more interested in getting it on the weighbridge than the rollers when its done

 

Ive also moved the battery to the boot as well so hopefuly it will be closer to ideal front/rear weight distribution.

[fezza_mat]

sounds spot on what does the insurance say about all the fibreglass parts

[capri71]

I dunno bout insurance, spose I'll cross that bridge when I come to it but I kinow loads of people have them so not worried... its the fookoff great TO4 stage3 turbo I'm worried about

[Conor]

I worked in GRP as a trimmer/finisher. We used to make custom moulds for all kinds of stuff. It takes an experienced guy with decades of experience a good few weeks working fulltime just to produce one mould from scratch. At least a week of that is spent polishing it up.

 

But then again, we were doing it to an extremely high standard where a flat bit would be perfectly flat and not rippled and there were no imperfections allowed at all, not like the quite poor quality that all car GRP panel manufacturers turn out. Basically it was due to the fact that what came out the mould was the finished product, save trimming, whereas a car GRP panel is going to be painted so it doesn't matter as much.