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fiberglass door panels

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Old 04-16-03, 09:32 PM
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fiberglass door panels

my interior is all cracked, alot of the pieces need to be replaced, and i want it a diff color anyways...since ive been learning to fiberglass lately i figured i would go ahead and make some new pieces.

I want to fiberglass some new door panels, and maybe change the visual design of them a little bit. I've already started to make my mold and all that good stuff, and ive been tossing around some diff idea about how i would attach the panel to the actual door. Anyone have any original ideas? The panel is going to be black/blue and i figured i would just use the stock locations for the screws and just use those little plastic pieces to cap them off...anyone else have a different way? i want it to be a nice and clean install...nothing ugly showing

also i plan to incorporate some lettering/design in the panels...any suggestions for that? ive thought either something like a rotor and then FC3S (somewhat like the teamfc3s.org logo, but with the rotor on the left hand side) or maybe have it just say RX-7....just looking for something that would go with the rotary theme

any input would be great! thanks guys

-Tommy
Old 04-16-03, 09:38 PM
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I like this idea. planning on selling any?

I think just putting "RX-7" would look a little too much like a CRX.

I like the rotor idea.
Old 04-16-03, 11:00 PM
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to help with the cost of the mold I'd be willing to buy a pair, Ill even pay extra if you can do a blue carbon\kevlar top layer.

I can show you where to get some if you don't know.
Old 04-16-03, 11:06 PM
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CUP HOLDER!
Old 04-16-03, 11:53 PM
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well i dont really know much about working with carbon fiber...i hear its pretty much the same as fiberglass......just havent actually used it. Things that i have made with fiberglass....just some kinda basic stuff, like a sub box for a friend of mine..it held 2-12s and it sounds pretty good. a cold air box...alot of simple stuff like that.

right now im making a box...kinda like a jewelry box or something. But its the same size, shape, depth as a rotor....the bottom is all done, and the mold for the lid is ready to be fiberglassed. its nothing real special, just thought it would be something cool for the house.

when i get the door panel molds done i'll take some pics and let you guys see what you think. I have some designs done for a front bumper....i think it would sell ALOT if i can make it real high quality....everyone who has seen the sketches absolutely loves the idea. but its hush hush for now ;-) like i said...im not REAL experienced in this, so im trying to tackle some small projects before i attack the front bumper...wish me luck!
Old 04-17-03, 12:14 AM
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oh yes, about the cupholder

when i get off of work i'll take a look at the car and see if i get any inspirations for placement of the cupholder.....any bright ideas? if someone wants one that bad....just lemme know where you want it and i'd be glad to make it for cheap/free (prob free...i'll just look at it as another learning project) it wouldnt be hard at all to make one.

any ideas...shoot them my way

-Tommy
Old 04-17-03, 12:29 AM
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CF and CK are more plyable "sp?" than FG, other than that it should be the same
Old 04-17-03, 01:57 AM
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as far as ideas..i say use the same holes as the armrest screws into the door...except if you are good with the fiberglass then you coul fasten the door sized panel with those holes..then add a snap on ( with the many various metal or plastic auto fasteners) cover that is integrated with the lines of your interior...this cover could be any shape you want. but the underlying door panel thats attached to the door is just flat and not a bulging type of thing..

man i doubt that without any visual help you can understand what im saying but it would basically be like a layering that you could do..leaving alot of possibilities for design

you could go out and look at some of the newest badass cars that were released this year and use their design as an influance on some modern shaping..the possibilities are endless if you are good with glass..you could basically pick a car that you sit inside and really like the interior..then just mimic it while still maintaining the integrity of the door...you probly dont follow me but thats what i plan on doing once i get my new seats

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ME:B:EOAB:US:6


those are my new seats for my vert..they are tan fd seats, and my car is black on black...i plan to do some custom interior with a black and tan two color deal...i will customize the doors like what you want to do but im gonna have some influance from either my z or maybe some of the other nice sports cars that are out there...basically the cars that i sit in and i like...il get a visual image and then go with it..
i have a 90 z and its in great shape on the inside..when you sit in it you just fall in love( even though its old it still feels awesome)...i always say to myself that if i could take thinterior out of my z and put it in my vert id never get out of that vert...but i have alot of work to do to get something like it

by the way ive never sat in an fd but im sure id say the same about its interior.

hope this helps.
Old 04-17-03, 02:06 AM
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Rotors on the door panels would be cool. And a new cover for the arm rest with cup holders would be cool too
Old 04-17-03, 02:13 AM
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I am going to try this also, plus I will be making a different center gauge panel, maybe even a whole dash. Good luck.
Old 04-18-03, 08:24 PM
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man i feel ya with the 300Z interior...a friend of mine has a red 87 z with mint black interior.

you have to love the way the gauges are integrated into the dash! its just damn sexy
Old 04-28-03, 01:04 PM
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you still working on this?
Old 04-28-03, 03:02 PM
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I could be mistaken, but I thought kevlar and carbon fiber epoxies had to be baked to set. Anyhow, I like the idea of a rotor on each door panel. Cupholders could be integrated into the design by reshaping the map-holder-bin-thingy already in the door.
Old 04-28-03, 03:09 PM
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i would love to be able to purchase some sort of cupholder that didnt look like i bought it from walmart...(the kind that hangs from the door)..
i would for sure be interested if you made a good cupholder that would go into a good tight location....
i cant imagine not getting a wet crotch in between shifts from a beverage....
i know i know....sports car this and sports car that, but in the end they are just so damn convienent
Old 04-28-03, 03:48 PM
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Epoxies are exactly that... (its a form of plastic which is formed when two elements are combined)

Thermoset plastics need to be baked to take their form. Epoxies do not. However, if you mix an epoxy, you can slow its cure time by keeping it cold so that the endothermic reaction which causes the accelerated curing, does not take effect as rapidly. Pre-preg is treaded in this manner when it cannot be made on the lay-up site. They loosely pack it in refrigerated containers untill they can lay it up on the form.
Old 04-28-03, 05:12 PM
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Jimmy did his homework...
Old 04-28-03, 05:17 PM
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I have to say ditto on the cup holder thing this car has no way to hold a cup!!! Every car I have had either had a holder or you could wedge it in somwhere between the seats or something. this one only gives you one option.......... the cold and possibly SOGGY nuts option. I don't dare take a corner too fast or.....WHOOOWHOOOOOO WHOOOO!!!!! that's cold!!! or hot if it's some coffee.

J
Old 04-28-03, 09:16 PM
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Jimmy got an A- in Advanced Sythetic Composites...

I didn't even whip out my reference book for that one.
Old 04-28-03, 09:22 PM
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i'd just put a rotor on it. Or maybe a pot leaf. That'd be sweet. Or some naked chick.
Old 04-29-03, 12:23 PM
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well...my engine blew last week. so for now...my fiberglass projects have been put to the side while i work overtime to make some money for the new stuff i need to do to my car.

i'll let you guys know when i start it up again

sorry

-Tommy
Old 04-29-03, 12:28 PM
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please do.....i need a cupholder
Old 04-29-03, 03:03 PM
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No we have cup holders, at least I do. Two of them, just open the glove compartment, and there they are on the inside of the door.

they work great, I use them all the time... when I'm not driving.
Old 04-29-03, 03:37 PM
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I am not really fond of having a cup holder but I sure would like some lighter and different options of my door panels. Because I own a heavy *** vert and I need to lighten it up.
Old 04-30-03, 11:34 AM
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You'd be lucky to save 4# per pair of door pannels. They really don't weigh all that much. You probably have more undigested red meat in your intestines. Yum.

I agree that cupholders would be nice though. You can't be playing with people off the lights and have a supersize pop in your crotch. It just doesn't work very well.

I've been thinking about making a cupholder bracket out of some plate aluminum I can get free from a prof at school. (drops from some factory that were donated) Then mounting it between the door pannel and the grab handle so it sits just in front of the seat. I'll take pics when I actually get around to making it. (last week of classes right now, and finals next week)
Old 04-30-03, 12:31 PM
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tell you what--if you can make a cup holder that can pass the Super BigGulp test, then count me in!! because of my work, I spend TONS of time in my car, and those supersize drinks are a requirement!! Cause it is kinda hard to drive around with a 2-liter pop bottle sticking outta my face!!

also--the air box would be a good idea to sell. Several people on here don't have the time or know-how to do some of these things, and I be you could make a killing with an airbox that was clean and they could paint to match their car.


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