I've been thinking about this for a bit now as I'd like to buy a decent amount of material and the equipment to make the molds, etc. I was just curious if anyone has done it or tried and failed, etc. The plan would be to make my own interior pieces, basically EVERYTHING that can be made into carbon fiber I would do. Then once I get good at it use my own vehicle as a mobile advertisement at car shows etc and begin selling the product.

I'm more curious about smaller interior pieces than fenders/hoods/etc. But eventually I will lead to that. I know that making the molds is the expensive part, but once they're done they can be used to make as many pieces as I want. I've only watched a few videos on the subject so I don't know much about the process, but that's what reading online and trial and error will help fix.

Any advice/tips?

 

Stereo Trim, I cannot underscore this enough. Quadranscentennial plastic does not hold up.

 

I would plan on making everything in carbon I could in the interior. Would be even cool to make functioning vents. But I believe much more difficult to make. My dash vent(one that makes air go up windshield) is broken and isn't in place anymore. Passenger door vent is broken, both corner vents(dash triangle vents) are broken.

 

Start with fiberglass and work your way up. To keep things cheap, once you move on the carbon fiber, just throw down a layer or two ontop of a fiberglass base. It's not too bad if you take your time and do some reading. Friend of mine has been doing his own stuff for years now.

 

I've worked with composite materials making molds and parts for racecars, UAVs, and space telescopes. It's considered a "mastercraft" or a skilled-trade just like a cabinet maker or a plumber or an electrician. You can read and read until your eyes fall out but you won't learn until you physically attempt to make some parts. It's fun, steep learning curve, and expensive. I'd start by doing a flat layup, a simple panel that's a few layers thick. Something like the stereo trim would take a long time to make the mold and a long time to layup. It won't mount the same as the OEM piece so you're going to have to design some simple brackets that can be accessed while the trim is in place. It's not an easy/fast job. It takes skill that you won't develop in a day.

That being said....the 2nd gen is really old and the market for such parts is shrinking. If you want to use your car to develop some composite skills that's smart but if you thinking you're going to become a vendor and get 20 people to fork over $200 for a composite trim... I don't think that's going to happen. Maybe 10 years ago but not now. I think you'd be better off finding a newer car like a Subaru or Evo and making pieces for that market. Those owners have more money to throw around. If you made a simple, flat, front bumper ground effect lip it might be worth your time.

 

The idea would be getting the experience to make the molds and getting good at making a quality product on my own vehicle. Then move onto other vehicles. My brother owns a 97 Civic coupe(my first car) and the Civic scene out here is bigger than anything else. I could sell parts locally no problem. But then again they don't have the money to spend like Evo and STI owners like you said.