Carbon composite parts?
 

Hello everyone. I run a composites shop in Missouri. we mostly make carbon fiber racing parts and bodies for dragsters but also do other carbon parts for other industries. All of our work is high end. I am curious if anyone is looking for any highend parts for the Z that may not be available now or the quality just sucks. pricing would be much higher than your standard chinese part so Im interested to see if people would be willing to pay more or not? Feel free to share any ideas. Thanks.:tup:

Dry carbon fiber? If so than what about a rear quarter panel and front fenders. New front bumper designs would be good too.

yes, we do prepreg. those are all possible.

Good quality parts would be a great addition, but many will want to know the price before jumping on board.

-Are you able to do new parts or just recreate stock OEM pieces?
-2x2 or 1x1?

we can do anything when it comes down to it. pricing depends on the part, process, and materials used. Are you reffering to the carbon weave(2x2,1x1)? If so 2x2 twill is in our stock. also have Uni-directional carbon which is much stronger than wooven, also looks better in my opinion.

Yep, was referring to the weave.
I think right now the only think I personally am looking for is a good hood with proper ventilation to remove heat from the engine bay. I like some of the JDM options but most are overpriced from import fees & conversion rate.

did you have any vent design in mind?

I am a fan of the Seibon TS style which is a pretty standard hood design a lot of companies do, though most suck at it.

:iagree:

Also, I would love to keep the same hood lines, I have really come to love the stock hood design but incorporating some proper vents with those lines would be prefect.

I swear its like your reading my mind.

/These are not the droid you are looking for

I am also looking for a hood.
My problem is I'm 50 years old.
I'm not looking for anything aggressive, I'm looking for something very subtle.
Here are a couple of things that I've seen that I like, but have not been able to find.

These are BMW M3 vents, but I like the idea: (about halfway down the page)
Google Image Result for http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp81/JL-Motoring/BMW/DSC_9398.jpg

And these are from Zeto, here.
(Zeto - I hope this is okay to re-post)
Nissan 370Z Forum - Zeto's Albums

One other thing I forgot to add, and not sure if this is possible, but would like it to function with all the hood locks so no need to use aftermarket hood pins.

subscribed...this piques my interest!!! haha

When it comes to a CF hood three words come to mind. Simple, sleek, and functional.

I have another item to add, but you might not be able to do this or might need some help from others.
Everyone makes a hood on what they want to look good which is great, but I would love to see some solid tests done on where the heat of this engine is coming from (front, rear, sides, etc.) and how the air flows while driving the car (front to back or back to front). I know it might sound weird but just throwing on some vents is great but having functional vents which pull air out is even better while looking good. :tup:

:iagree:
I was talking to one body shop guy about "escape vents", and one of the comments he made was that some vents can create positive pressure up top and force the heat out the bottom helping to cool the exhaust pipes.

I'm sure there is interest. However, you need to do two things to truly judge how much there is.

1) post detailed pictures of your work
2) estimate pricing for a variety of different pieces to give people an idea of what "much higher than your typical Chinese part" really means

Feel free to send me parts to test and keep afterwards :)

Ill post some photos tomorrow if I have time. Pricing is difficult to say with out doing a detailed cost analysis. For example, If we made a hood it would be all carbon and cored, without a frame. the process would either be infusion or prepreg. The part would be much lighter and stronger than your standard chinese part by a lot. Retail price could be as low as $1200-$1500 and as much as $2000.

well if the quality is top-notch, those prices don't seem to farfetched

those do seem like very reasonable numbers, subscribed for updates.

oh and someones gonna say it so might as well be me, when you get around to selling stuff please support our forum and become a vendor :tup:

I believe that a carbon hood would be the best place to start with as a mass production product. A stock carbon replacement would be good for ones looking to drop some weight without trying to be noticed. A good engineered vented hood to help escape heat is a good seller by all means, and last but not least IMO a simple low (1" to 2" max) cowl induction would look nasty! Hope to see you get something out soon.

Prices sound good, will wait to see the quality. :tup:

Hojo, I live in O'Fallon, MO and would love to come see your work first hand. I have been desperately looking for a vented (sexy) hood and also a diffuser that eliminates the fog light in back. If your work is good, I can report back to the masses the awesomeness of your product , thus increasing possible sales (after you become a vendor, of course :tup:)!!!

Cool, not too far from me. Unfortunatly our factory usually isnt open to the public. However if I decide to do a hood you may be a good canidate, I will need to be able to test fit the first one. We might be able to work out something. Keep in touch with me.

Definitely. Car is in Cali right now at GTM getting supercharger and stuff put on. Will be gone for a bit. I will PM you my cell. Would love to talk about the possibility of having you do something.

sounds good

PM sent.

How about some handle replacements that Re more streamlined? That would certainly be unique...

we also need a real good carbon hatch..like really good, good fitment, good weight..hoods are easy, everyone and there mom does it(although it would be nice to see a high quality product)..you rarely ever see the hatch done..also carbon fiber front fenders as well, maybe like with options, oem style, 10-15mm wider but oem style fenders, stuff like that, i can tell you right now, good quality(*with also good weight savings*) you will most definitely have my business

This.

Something like this would be a big winner.

If you did front and rear fenders that would be perfect.

for instance take the front fenders and pull them an extra 1" on both sides and take the rear fenders and pull them an extra 2" on each side. That you will definitely get some interest in!!!!

+1 for vented hood that's cosmetically pleasing and functional. I've heard horror stories about CF hoods warping due to environmental factors which is why I'm still stock.

Wider dry cf front and rear fenders, What about a functional rear diffuser that actually functions. Do you have access to wind tunnels since you do carbon partsa for race cars? I would definitely be interested in all those items.

:iagree:

heres some photos as you requested

The quality looks outstanding.

Thanks, heres our website if anyone is interested: Velocity Composites

ugh..why did you have to show a pic about a viper..ugh..

anywayssss lol, i'm telling you right now, if you can make something along the lines of this, and have good proven gains, i will buy it tomorrow..obviously not exactly like this, different engine set up obviously. BUT something amazing, different, crazy, something out of the norm like this.. proven to be one of the best intakes for the s2000, and to be honest, i think it looks so amazing

i'm tellin ya, something crazy like this would be awesome

http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/x...0/DSCN2853.jpg
http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/x...ngine_shot.jpg