carbon fiber is going to weigh less (and be stronger) than most of the materials used in our cars anyway. What are you guys so worried about?

 

No, there are 2 styles. Split with one on each side and another style with both on the right side of the driver

 

That is exactly what we are making, and should be finished within a month. There is another model as well with 2 gauges right next to each other versus split

 

As soon as I can aquire one, I will make it in CF.


Also I forgot to mention...we are also in tooling already for CF doors and CF fenders

 

I can look at making those again. Shouldn't be a problem with the guy that is doing our CF work. We make a Honda 50 motorcycle fairing kit through him and it is bitchin! We sell those to the local Honda and other dirt bike shops and they can't keep them in stock. Absolute retail quality.

As for the interior kit, the cost would be too high to do real CF and make it look right

 

It might or might not be or just a little lighter.
It depends on the process, and very heavy epoxy or glass filler will create a really heavy piece.

One of the reasons I refuse to buy a (wet lay-up) CF hood, is that it is not that significantly lighter than the stock aluminum hood.  Paying all that money for just a 5 lbs. weight reduction is not worth in my book.  We made a CF hood for the FC, and we kept the filler a minimum but still managed to break 10 lbs. easy - this had no underhood support, so a proper hood will be heavier.  The stock aluminum hood is around 30 lbs.  I would be willing to pay for a CF hood if it's 15 lbs. or lighter.  I don't think you can hit this number unless you use pre-preg and that gets expensive...


-Ted

 

oohh.... CF idiot guages sorround

 

Well, I see your point there, but if money isn't an issue, 5 pounds is simply five pounds less, and if you're trying to loose weight, that's how you do it. (Although from your perspective, I'd never have a hood shipped to Hawaii either ) If we were that worried about price we'd be buying junkyard parts and not carbon fiber :P

Admittedly, I know approximately dick about making carbon fiber. I'm really more interested in interior pieces, so I won't have to worry about cracking plastic. Although I assume a new piece would accomplish about the same thing.

Ok, rambling. My point was, any weight savings is weight savings, and CF surely must be stronger than the cheap plastic Mazda used.

Victor

 

For me, I had the option of going with a used hood and new paint ~$500, or a group buy carbon fiber hood, ~$500. It was an easy decision to make. I'm glad FC3S.org is offering products like the CF hood. Once you get your foot in the door, it only means bigger and better things to come.

Steve

 

OMG You mentioned soooo many things I would buy!!!!!!!!!

You guys are gauranteed a sale on a CF TII hood in a couple months once I get the money.

A mickey mouse pod or a one side double pod is something I am designing now to fit over the broken vents I have. It is in the VERY beginning stages so I haven't even made a mold. If you made something moderate in price and good before I finish mine then I'd probably get it too.

 

You guys should feel a 14 lbs. Mazdaspeed pre-preg FD hood.
It's a work of art, and stupid light.
It also costs $700.


-Ted

 

RETed- you forgot catches on fire- (j/k, awhile back they were recalled for going up in flames due to underhood temps- i assume they fixed it)



I would like the gauges in the idiot light area, or even just a nice 2 or 3 pod that mounted above the vents-



How about posting some prices, i need to know how much reading this post just cost me

I am interested in the hood, m.mouse gauge pod, and the radio surround and shifter bezel (sp?)

 

Hmmm, I always thought they were recalled because of the latching mechanism?


-Ted

 

is CF that flammable?

also, Ted, explain "pre-preg" for me?

 

CF itself is not flamable! Is depends on the resing! If you use a resin that has to be autoclaved then No it will not be flamable until extreme temps! if you use a glass resing it can be flamable at realtively low temperature!

 

how about the lil triangle covers behind the side mirrors in cf?? considering they always break. maybe carbon fiber gauge faces?? maybe mirrors if thats feasable, or a carbon fiber gas door..lol

 

oh also how about an air intake piping replacement in cf from the afm to the throttle body

 

If you make carbonfiber guards for above the exhaust tips on the bumper to protect the paint I would buy them. I have a White FC and my rear bumper tends to get Crispy from the N1

 

I can't believe no one has said this yet.... CUPHOLDERS!!!!

For the 'vert at least, make a replacement for the stupid "box" thing in between the seats that has cupholders and no box just maybe a dish or just a plate to cover the rest of the top of the trans tunnel...

If it was reasonably priced I'd probably buy one around summer time.

 

Vert carbon fiber trunk

 

Vert carbon fiber trunk

 

What I would really like to see, is a hard, CF version of the rear lip spoiler found on early Sport models. I have one, but its seen better days, and im not sure if theres a way to paint it.

I think you could sell a few of these.

 

I also suggested this in Ted's thread. A cup holder that is integrated into the right side of the shifter surround. Make it a litte bigger than a soda can, and about 3 inches deep. This will accomodatecans, and most of todays 32 and 44 ounce drinks are tapered at the bottom to fit into cupholders like this.

I would buy one from here, if Ted didnt make one.

I would buy one from here before ted only if a radio surround was also made, because I think having hald of the total trim CF would look goofy.

 

Any estimating pricing yet? I need to start saving if this stuff will be available within the next few months.

 

I would buy-
mickey mouse guage pod thing with two guage holders on same side.

sport type wing that tony brought up.

a spliter that matched a FEED lip.

Maybe a t2 hood vent, next year...