Carbon fiber.. function over form?

Dixnot

I realize this is totally my opinion but i wanted to get some other peoples views on it as well.

To my understanding, carbon fibers main purpose originally was for weight reduction. Now it just seems like a lot of people are jumping on the carbon fiber band wagon and wrapping everything they can in it. I totally understand body panels and such for making the car lighter.

(again my opinion) I think as a "look" it looks kind of silly and people are going way overboard with wrapping anything they can get their hands on just for that look. In my best analogy i feel like its close to buying a base model mustang and putting shelby badging on it.

My intention is not to piss anyone off and to each their own, its your car do what you will. I just want to see what other people feel about carbon fiber wrapping and overlays.

leighspped

i agree there is a lot of over wrapping imo, but i also used it when i needed a single din with mounting locations for my laser jammer so... for me it was the mix of both

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shadoquad

This may be obvious, but I'll post it anyway.

Replacing body panels/parts with parts composed of carbon fiber usually results in weight reduction. Wrapping a part in a CF wrap does nothing to change the weight and is for fashion.

I'm not personally a fan of CF in my car. I've seen it done really well (2theextreme's hood, much of billet370's interior), and I've seen it done not so well. But as long as the owner of the car enjoys it, that's all that matters.

And if a track rat wants to swap out stock parts for CF ones to maximize vehicle performance, then that's cool too.

Apoc370z

It makes little to no difference if you only swap parts of your body pannels with dry carbon parts. You will most likely get more gains by removing your passenger seat and spare tire.

If the entire car is made of dry cd then yes, it will make difference, but its for looks for most cases.

Some people like the look of carbon fiber, i like some cd accents on darker cars, but i alwys feel like i have the need to smoke the cf parts so the weaves are not that visible. More of a stealthy look.

Mt Tam I am

over and over.

Adding weight by wrapping is silly. Swapping out to make lighter is expensive, and my hat is off to you.

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robones

Are we talking in general about cars here or specifically about the Z? Wet Carbon Fiber or Dry? Manufacturing process? There are many variables before accurately providing a response.
Because if we are talking about the Z, you would know the Z comes with very light weight aluminum hood and fenders. The aluminum hood and fenders will weigh the same if not less than the CF counter parts. However this is entirely dependent on how the CF part is made. Some manufacturers wrap a fiberglass mold in Wet Carbon Fiber to minimize costs when fabricating. In other words, the piece is not entirely made of Carbon Fiber but only the top layer. This process does not result in weight savings and actually adds weight of the final product.
Dry Caron is a different manufacturing process and it will result in weight savings over the stock Z parts.
Now if you compare OTHER vehicles, you may see weight savings from all forms of CF parts over stock BUT when it comes to the Z, its not likely.
I also want to discuss how CF parts will react in case of an accident. Keep in mind, that stock aluminum hoods and fenders come designed with crumple zones. The material (aluminum) used will bend easily and not shatter into a million pieces upon impact. The Carbon Fiber hood will not bend and crumple as Nissan designed it which can result in serious injury and even death.
I would go as far as, in an event of an accident and you (the one with CF hoods and fenders, etc) are at fault, and your “aftermarket” parts caused unusual damage to my vehicle or myself, I would sue the crap out of you for reckless endangerment, along with any other possible crime I can sue you for.

coltrain

OP,

I understand what your saying, and I agree for the most part. I think everyone that wraps their stock parts with CF knows they're not saving weight. It's only for looks.

- To the untrained eye ... no one cares.
- To the car enthusiast ... "Look at all that carbon fiber!" ... "What? It's just wrapped parts"

Although ... I like the look of CF in small quantities. CF on a rear spoiler or inside door handle inserts is very classy. Just a touch of CF to add taste.

Most of those interior parts are wrapped, which does irritate me! I would like to see some companies casting the original parts and making molds with modified tabs for mounting.

All in All ... it's a trend that has become easier and more affordable for people in their living room to make "real" carbon parts by simply wrapping their stock components.

cooltoy

Ahhh, the American Dream.

robones

I only like CF as an accent piece. That's why the only carbon fiber piece I have is my carbon fiber fangs. Its just enought to give it an edge but not over the top

coltrain

robones

hmmmm interesting.... I wonder how you would "REALLY" react if you got seriously hurt because as you got side swiped an a part of the "CF" Hood ripped apart and went through your driver side window and lodged itself in your head, chest, or eye. Would you look the other way? Would you feel remorse and say, its ok, don’t worry I forgive you?

Uhm... waiting for your thoughts.

VDC_OFF

I think as long as its quality carbon. I have a Top Secret front lip and was scared to damage it but have realized that its super hard to damage it. I can kick it hard and nothing. I now leave it on at drift events and it serves as a cone blocker, plus I save on repainting expensive pearl paint.

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Dwight Frye

I understand the function of CF but find it hideously ugly. And the bizarre fascination with wrapping exterior and interior parts with it escapes me. It scream ricer and boy racer.
It's almost as ugly as the "white out" fad of the late 80's for those that remember that Pep Boys supplied affectation.
Your car, your right to look like a dork.....

Nismodean

And this is where ignorance kicks into high gear ladies and gentleman. It has been proven time and time again that carbon fiber parts (full CF not wrapped aluminum pieces) give a higher margin of safety and survivability due to the fact that it shatters when involved in an accident.

Reason being is that the shattering of the CF pieces carries away the impact energy rather than trying to absorb it in crumple zones. Crumple zones lessen the impact by slowing the energy transfer down, however, that energy being inhibited is still transferred to the occupants in the car though reduced. The shattering effect of the CF takes the energy from that spot and removes it from the car completely effectively reducing the intensity of the crash. Any amount of energy carried away from a car in an impact is a plus.

Your insight on suing makes you a burden on our court system sir. Think about this. If you get injured because shards of CF hits you, you might want to consider what could have been if it was a piece of metal hurling at you....

Here is (though at its most extreme) CF working its magic.

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robones

You are comparing apples and oranges here wow! How can you compare Formula One carbon fiber chassis, research, development and manufacturing processes with what's supplied by backdoor CF manufacturers for the Z? Did you miss reading the portion some of these carbon fiber pieces for OUR 370z are not even full carbon fiber? How would this hybrid material react differently than full carbon fiber designed specially for Formula One? Wow, I cannot even comprehend how you would even compare the two.

OK buddy, am a burden to the court system? Dont stand here and tell me you would not do the same, if you lose an eye due to a freakish accident from one of these pieces flying and landing in your eye. What would you do? Not sue? C'mon lets get real here, lets be honest.