How much weight can i save with a full fiberglass body?
02-09-02, 09:28 AM
#2
Rotary Enthusiast
If you value life as it is, you will not get a full fiberglass body. They are not approved to be running on the street (only drag strip). If you wanna be faster you got to spend money some other way.
02-09-02, 04:44 PM
#7
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Originally posted by Aico
Isn't fiberglass more fragile than steel?
Isn't fiberglass more fragile than steel?
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02-09-02, 08:55 PM
#8
I'm a boost creep...
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RX-7 bodies are of monocoque design. Apart from bolt-on panels (doors, bonnet and front fenders) it's a complete stressed unit. You can't replace any of it unless it's with a tube frame chassis. Camaros and Corvettes have a completely different type of chassis under their fibreglass bodies.
02-09-02, 09:09 PM
#10
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Originally posted by Felix Wankel
Camaros arent fiberglass!!!!!
They use the same style unibody as an RX-7.
Camaros arent fiberglass!!!!!
They use the same style unibody as an RX-7.
02-09-02, 09:28 PM
#12
Super Newbie
Originally posted by Ryde _Or_Die
What are they then? Don't tell me they are metal because I have one sitting outsite with a fender and the front bumper cover with are fiberglass. The door is not metal either & am pretty sure the 1/4 panel is not metal either but never paid too much attention to it.
What are they then? Don't tell me they are metal because I have one sitting outsite with a fender and the front bumper cover with are fiberglass. The door is not metal either & am pretty sure the 1/4 panel is not metal either but never paid too much attention to it.
Originally posted by Felix Wankel
4th gen Camaros are composite plastic, not fiberglass. That is only the doors, fenders, and hatch. The unibody is steel.
4th gen Camaros are composite plastic, not fiberglass. That is only the doors, fenders, and hatch. The unibody is steel.
02-09-02, 09:40 PM
#13
Super Newbie
Lets compromise and say composite fiberglass 
http://www.media.gm.com/division/che...ro/cambody.htm
"All Camaro models share a body structure that includes a full-unitized steel frame, steel-reinforced composite body panels and honeycomb-constructed front and rear bumpers. Extensive anti-corrosion measures include the use of composites, two-side-galvanized steel and electrode position primer (ELPO)."
http://www.media.gm.com/division/che...ro/cambody.htm
"All Camaro models share a body structure that includes a full-unitized steel frame, steel-reinforced composite body panels and honeycomb-constructed front and rear bumpers. Extensive anti-corrosion measures include the use of composites, two-side-galvanized steel and electrode position primer (ELPO)."
02-09-02, 11:42 PM
#15
Old [Sch|F]ool
Camaros (and Fieros and Saturns and some minivans) have composite plastic body panels. They bolt to a steel spaceframe. This is basically like having two bodies and is pretty heavy, except Saturn did a much better job of implementing it - they essentially have tube-frame doors and the rest of the shell is very light. (A Saturn SL2 weighs a little less than a 1st-gen RX-7 yet makes 120hp 
I think that's an even better power/weight ratio than a N/A FC) All horizontal surfaces are steel in all implementations because the plastic has a tendency to warp from all of the direct sunlight the hood, roof, and trunklid get. They are not "plastic cars" but are normal cars with plastic skins instead of sheetmetal skins.
Incidentally, fiberglass (or Fiberglas(tm) ) is technically only the reinforcing fibers. Fiberglass body panels are FRP composites - fiber reinforced plastic. (Just like carbon fiber body panels or Kevlar panels - the CF or Kevlar is only there to strengthen the plastic - CF and Kevlar panels are also FRPs)
AFAIK nobody makes a fiberglass FC bodyshell commercially. And you'd need a tube frame or body on frame design... is it any wonder why Corvettes are so heavy for their size? Pretty much the only weight loss you'd get is from all the money removed from your wallet
I think that's an even better power/weight ratio than a N/A FC) All horizontal surfaces are steel in all implementations because the plastic has a tendency to warp from all of the direct sunlight the hood, roof, and trunklid get. They are not "plastic cars" but are normal cars with plastic skins instead of sheetmetal skins.Incidentally, fiberglass (or Fiberglas(tm) ) is technically only the reinforcing fibers. Fiberglass body panels are FRP composites - fiber reinforced plastic. (Just like carbon fiber body panels or Kevlar panels - the CF or Kevlar is only there to strengthen the plastic - CF and Kevlar panels are also FRPs)
AFAIK nobody makes a fiberglass FC bodyshell commercially. And you'd need a tube frame or body on frame design... is it any wonder why Corvettes are so heavy for their size? Pretty much the only weight loss you'd get is from all the money removed from your wallet
02-10-02, 01:09 AM
#16
SOLD THE RX-7!
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Originally posted by boostmotorsport
Where can I find more pics of that rex race car? I have seen it once before and want to see the rest of the pics/info!
Where can I find more pics of that rex race car? I have seen it once before and want to see the rest of the pics/info!
http://www.1300cc.com/indy/jack01.jpg
http://www.1300cc.com/indy/jack02.jpg
http://www.1300cc.com/indy/jack03.jpg
http://www.1300cc.com/indy/jack04.jpg
http://www.1300cc.com/indy/jack05.jpg
http://www.1300cc.com/indy/jack06.jpg
http://www.1300cc.com/indy/jack07.jpg
http://www.1300cc.com/indy/jack08.jpg
http://www.1300cc.com/indy/jack09.jpg
http://www.1300cc.com/indy/jack10.jpg
http://www.1300cc.com/indy/jack11.jpg
http://www.1300cc.com/indy/jack12.jpg
http://www.1300cc.com/indy/jack13.jpg
http://www.1300cc.com/indy/jack14.jpg
and a bunch more from someone else I was with. I'm in one pic but not telling which one
http://members.tripod.com/rotapowered0/indy/
02-10-02, 01:19 AM
#18
Old [Sch|F]ool
I thought I did... 
The answer is it's not worth it, since it would cost so much (unless you're in REALLY good with a custom fab shop) it'd be cheaper to just make more power or get a car that's lighter to begin with. Since there are no commercially available fiberglass bodies, and the racers that have 'glass bodies use one-off fiberglass skins draped over a custom tube frame, you can't say "you'll lose X lbs" because it all depends on who is doing the fabricating and what kind of chassis you have built.
The answer is it's not worth it, since it would cost so much (unless you're in REALLY good with a custom fab shop) it'd be cheaper to just make more power or get a car that's lighter to begin with. Since there are no commercially available fiberglass bodies, and the racers that have 'glass bodies use one-off fiberglass skins draped over a custom tube frame, you can't say "you'll lose X lbs" because it all depends on who is doing the fabricating and what kind of chassis you have built.
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