NJGB's S4 Front Lip Project First Pics
 

I had the fiberglass and resin laying around, decided to give it a try and make a front lip for my S4 TII. This is just the very first layer of resin to stiffen it up a bit. I think it's going to stay pretty simple, probably just fill it out a bit and make more of an edge in the front. Once I have the basic form I will add a mounting flange on the spoiler so I can bolt it to the bumper. Then some sanding and black paint should do it for now.

Any helpful tips or advice are welcome, I'd like to hear from others who have some more extensive FG experience, I have just made some interior pieces prior to this. I'll keep this updated as I make progress but I am going to try to have it done over the weekend.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...d/100_2395.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...d/100_2401.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...d/100_2407.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...d/100_2409.jpg

looks like your making a fiberglass version of the $2 abs plastic home depot lip.

No offense, but I don't really like it. Too "vertical". It's all straight down. Needs to kind of come forward at the bottom. But... hard to tell right now as it's just goop on some cardboard.

^+1 yeah you should angle it a little more...then it will look sex!

Yeah I gotta add some material to make more of a leading edge on the bottom so it actually scoops air instead of just plows. Maybe bend the whole thing a bit as I build it up, I just wanted to start the thread with these first pics. I hope to have it finished by the end of the weekend.

I'll not comment on the design in general but there is a detail- which I also noticed on Rob's lip project- that drives me nuts and should be addressed.

Specifically, the very end of the lip where it meets the wheel arch...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/clocker/lip.jpg

The bumper has a slight radius here and your lip does not, so there is a small- but IMO, very obvious- gap.
Couldn't you match the bumper's profile more closely?

you should document this on http://fiberglassforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=12
great forum i have a few threads on there =D

Clokker, your right about the gap and I do plan to fill that in a bit and generally fill out the lip. This is just the very first skin to get an starting point to build from. It will be more filled in like this:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...2395edited.jpg

And I'll have to check that FG forum out a bit more but looks cool from a quick peak.

+1

well it's hardened and generally shaped now. I'll have trim it up a bit and build it out, strengthen and shape it some.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...d/100_2507.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...d/100_2473.jpg

you no like it??

i dont like it as of now, but ill wait to see the finished project.

its a somewhat interesting project...

well its a good learning process man!
im still working on my s4 extended rear spoiler i fiberglassed, probably not the best way to do it, but i cant complain that by making it I've learned alot from.

I tried experimenting with covering a piece of cardboard in fiberglass resin, and the cardboard will still be up to getting damaged in wet conditions imo.

it needs to point outwards, not go straight down.

As he already commented on his own project- he will trim that when he is done.

As I commented in my lip project- I left mine long so that end installer can trim it so that it fits thier application.
Out of the 2 lips I had on my cars that others have made I was not 100% happy with the way either of them terminated, if they were left slightly longer I could trim them to suit my car when they were installed.

Only thing I dont like about the cardboard is that you should have taped it and or mold release waxed it, this way you could have removed the cardboard when you were done.

If made thin enough you could have just made a straight piece of glass off the car and bent it on the car and used your bracket mounting method, the glass would have been thin enough to conform to the vehicle.

I appreciate the input, like I said this is only the first skin so it'll look different when I'm finished with it. I've used the cardboard as a base before, it doesn't matter what happens to it once you get enough FG behind it, it can even be removed and doesn't effect the final piece, just using it to get a shape. I really should have mold released it but wasn't thinking that far ahead, this is a very spur of the moment thing.

My first FG project:

First Skin
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...d/103_0770.jpg


Near Finished
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...30033951_0.jpg

simple masking tape will also allow the cardboard to release, a piece of mica is also nice so that the backside is smooth versus having the corrogated cardboard print on the backside. But thats more for a future tip, your method will be fine for the lip.

Using a piece of mica and laying the part onto the mica so that the front of the lip, or what will show, is up against the mica will result in a perfectly smooth part.

The console looks good. All it needs is a mount for an SAFC or PFC.

Also Where is that hood from, I have seen a lit of them popping up on the forum... (dont want one just curious.)

keep up the good work Bud

Rob,thanks for the tips, I was thinking about using tape to cover everything and pull it right off but like I said I kinda rushed into this without any real planning. I even have a ton of PartAll wax and PVA but decided to try it ghetto style. I admit I would have been content with a nice looking home depot style lip but they all seem kinda haggard, at least I can shape this perfectly smooth and get the exact look I want.

RRTEC, The hood is my new Knightsports copy, got it from a vendor overseas, took 10 weeks to get here but it works well with the VMIC setup.

And thanks for the props Alex.

I love fiberglassing :)