Carbon fiber tailgate

[Syborg Twin Turbo]

Re: Carbon fiber tailgate

yep - that was my tailgate. I sold it to another member on the Board. I was going to use it however i realized that i wanted to sit on the gate at cruise nights and car show's so i sold it.

It was very light - can't remember how much.

I even had a carbon fiber hood - two different versions. Both were under 5lbs

 

[crashing_sux]

Re: Carbon fiber tailgate

Maybe I'm missing something but if the majority of the cost is in developing the mold's I'd think people wanting a hood or Sy tailgate would just use the guy Marty used since he allready has the molds, and have Vinny do a part that hasn't been done before.

 

[Syborg Twin Turbo]

Re: Carbon fiber tailgate

unfortunately the guy that did the mold has no interest in doing them

 

[crashing_sux]

Re: Carbon fiber tailgate

Too bad. Did they come out nice? If they are good molds I wonder if any other CF guys would want them to save the trouble of making their own?

 

[chad114]

Re: Carbon fiber tailgate

So Vinny something likethis wouldn't be strong enough for a couple of people to sit on? I thought depending on how it was woven itcould be strong enough for that?? Maybe I thought wrong.

 

[Syborg Twin Turbo]

Re: Carbon fiber tailgate

So Vinny something likethis wouldn't be strong enough for a couple of people to sit on? I thought depending on how it was woven itcould be strong enough for that?? Maybe I thought wrong.

You would have to get a hold of Shawn Morris as he is the guy that had the molds made.

Just an FYI - Paul @ Pauls Select already has all of the cladding molds and is more then willing to make any of our cladding in Carbon Fiber. Give him a call and ask him about cost.

Did i mention that the price will be shocking.

 

[chad114]

Carbon Fiber front bumper

Carbon Fiber front bumper

Has anyone went this avenue with a front bumper? It seems a good way to get weight off the extreme front end and I think it would look bad azz. TIA

 

[Flyin Ryan]

Re: Carbon fiber tailgate

yep - that was my tailgate. I sold it to another member on the Board. I was going to use it however i realized that i wanted to sit on the gate at cruise nights and car show's so i sold it.

It was very light - can't remember how much.

I even had a carbon fiber hood - two different versions. Both were under 5lbs

This the hood Marty?

 

[CarbonFiber AWD]

Re: Carbon fiber tailgate

So Vinny something likethis wouldn't be strong enough for a couple of people to sit on? I thought depending on how it was woven itcould be strong enough for that?? Maybe I thought wrong.

You know......I'm not sure, But I would think if properly built for that weight load it could handle it fine. Being a semi-flexible material though ....2 bigg butts on it would probably bow it and then return to zero unloaded repeatedly with no concern for damage.

I was chatting with Sean Morris yesturday about some Skyline things.......I'll ask him about his past parts made.

Its sounding like this ball has been talked about before and dropped a few times here ? I certainly don't want to get any panty's in a wad. I have plenty of other items to continue with and build . I have seen no organized efforts applied regarding this subject since I logged on here........thats why I mentioned it. The last thing I want to do is step on any toes.
These Molds you speak of for cladding ??.......are they Infusion molds or just wet lay-up ? There is a big differnce in the end results of techniques and the componets durability. BIG !
I'll look further into making the plugs for molds construction. I'll do a time and cost analysis and post up a cost per estimate with minimums . If this is where evryone wants to go.?
I would imagine the Ty and Sy prices would be simmiliar.
Vinny

 

[CarbonFiber AWD]

Re: Carbon fiber tailgate

yep - that was my tailgate. I sold it to another member on the Board. I was going to use it however i realized that i wanted to sit on the gate at cruise nights and car show's so i sold it.

It was very light - can't remember how much.

I even had a carbon fiber hood - two different versions. Both were under 5lbs

I'm sure you guys realize a "RACE ONLY" gate is not for sitting on .And weighs in the least. AS in the 5 lbs mentioned.
A weight sturdy version capable of a load is built internally different and mount points are reinforced as well.
Probably weighing in at 12-15lbs. Possibly less. I'd have to do a test for destruction points.
All of these could factor in a cost per item. I know once the molds are correct and cycle cured to avoid surface texture....the robustness could be dialed in per order. If someone wants a feather weight race only-done ! If someone wants a worldly useful one -done. The more materials and steps ..the more cost for the item. Thats the fairest way to describe this I think.
I know I'll be expecting mine to be useable and shut as factory. The only mods I was considering was the open handle placed in the bed face and a smoothie outside. I know some will want that to go further and have a body line removal where its undercut now as well >??
So really.........we just have to be real and choose.
Vinny

 

[Junior1]

Re: Carbon fiber tailgate

Any chance of getting a lower air deflector and skid plate made out of CF ???

 

[Syborg Twin Turbo]

Re: Carbon Fiber front bumper

Re: Carbon Fiber front bumper

Has anyone went this avenue with a front bumper? It seems a good way to get weight off the extreme front end and I think it would look bad azz. TIA

I have the fiberglass bumper from Paul and it couldn't weigh more then 5 or 6 pounds. I don't think you could possible save more weight.

 

[Syborg Twin Turbo]

Re: Carbon fiber tailgate

This the hood Marty?

yep that's one of them

 

[CarbonFiber AWD]

Re: Carbon Fiber front bumper

Re: Carbon Fiber front bumper

I have the fiberglass bumper from Paul and it couldn't weigh more then 5 or 6 pounds. I don't think you could possible save more weight.

........well, not that its a biggy........but unless it was an Infused part, it does weigh more than CF infused. That is....unless its floppy thin.Not to mention ,,,,chances are its been made from low strength Polyester resins ??
One of the great strengths about proper CF lay-up is to cross hatch the weaves on each layer. Glass just doesent have the same properties and becomes resin rich for its stiffness,unfortunatly.........Vinny


Junior1

Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 537

Re: Carbon fiber tailgate
Any chance of getting a lower air deflector and skid plate made out of CF ???
__________________
.............I can see doing an upgrade design for that too. One thing at a time unless someone wants to step and run with it.
....................Vinny :tup:

 

[Syborg Twin Turbo]

Re: Carbon fiber tailgate

you know - i am about to have some sonoma gt cladding remade, but it sounds like i should have you make it

 

[CarbonFiber AWD]

Re: Carbon fiber tailgate

you know - i am about to have some sonoma gt cladding remade, but it sounds like i should have you make it

Marty,.......did you get a quote from them yet ? If the parts won't see much UV sunlight exposure or heat.....Polyester would be the cheapest build costs. I assume they are working in wet lay-up ??
If your going to paint the parts and not race seriously....glass would be the way to go ,I would think...don't you ?
I'd love to help where I can. Its just a bigger undertaking then it appears sometimes.
I was on the phone with Sean Morris this morning and he doesent feel the guy who made the molds is into it anymore.
So ...we're back to deciding whether or not the majority wants a smooth faced Tailgate or just a hidden handle or both ??
..............Vinny

 

[Try Me]

Re: Carbon fiber tailgate

I know i would definitely be interested in a "race only" replacement tailgate for a sy. I dont think anyone buying one would consider it much for function. It would look awesome, and saving 25-30 lbs would be great. I know myself, i wouldnt care about functioning latches or its ability to support weight. As long as it fit well, didnt require a ton of modification to install, and didnt fly off at excessive speeds, i would be all over one.

Also, what kind of availability is there on cf hoods, and other parts for our trucks?

*another thought - couldnt you use pretty much use any 91 s10/sonoma/syclone/etc tailgate for the original? that shouldnt be hard to find...*

 

[SYO237]

Re: Carbon fiber tailgate

The person who made the mold/CF tailgate pictured above was Torrey Ward.

Dont waste your time getting in contact with Sean either about it... he was the original owner of the gate and just bought it off Torrey and thats as far as it goes.

Ive tried to contact Torrey (Sean has too) about purchasing the mold or having him do another gate. There is no interest and he doesnt want to do another. Plus, Torrey is almost impossible to get ahold of.

From what im told, the gate wasnt THAT great of a piece anyhow...those pics above show some sloppy work IMHO. :squint:

 

[SY2932]

Re: Carbon fiber tailgate

Likewise, I would be interested in a "race only" tailgate "skin". I could try to pull some strings where I work and see about getting a mold cut. My guess is Renwood isn't an option as far as carbon fiber is concerned. That would be the ideal material to make a prototype mold that isn't going to be making hundreds of parts. We use it quite a bit for quick turn around times with our customers.

The other option is CT&J (cast tool and jig) aluminum but that will be VERY expensive. The surfacing tool path for ONE tool alone would prolly be close to 48 hours straight. Material cost plus machine time will put the cost well into several thousand dollars just to cut the mold... Let me know if I can help out on the tooling end any.

 

[CarbonFiber AWD]

Re: Carbon fiber tailgate

I was planning on just sacrificing my steel Sy gate for the plug. Getting a factory straight gate isn't as big a obsticle as getting buyers to committ to the design .
We need to buckle down and decide before this is worth going further.
I'll be doing a full flanged multi-piece mold for the ones I make and Infusing for a best cloth to resin ratio weigh out. If some of you would rather do a lesser technique for a faster turn around or just to avoid the cost.......I say go for it . :tup:
I would love to justify the above alloy tooling ....but I think its apparent that the low number of pulls will not warrant such a great favor. Best saved for a bigger parts order or once I'm done setting up for Pre-preg ans Autoclave.
Thats not where I'm taking this, certainly no hard feeling here. I'm just trying to better some Sy/Ty's where I can , mine included.
Perhaps I should make mine the way I want it and build the mold as I always do in epoxy and sport it. But I doubt I'll do a different version once I commit. Too time consuming and too many other cool parts to move on to on my list.
I'm sure you guys can understand this ?
.........Vinny