You guys know I have new products coming out on average of one per month. For October, I can't think of any new stuff to make and a customer emailed me on the possibility of making a one piece carbon fiber front end for the FD and that had my brain clicked.

For people who are not familiar with a one piece front end, it will have the front bumper, hood, and fenders integrated in one piece, like the Dodge Viper. While I am at it, I will have the wider fenders and vented hood integrated as well. If I can make a carbon fiber one piece front end for $3000, will anyone be interested?

Chuck Huang

 

You'll have to understand that this type of product would definitely be for race only. When used on the street, an accident would do severe damage. The metal body panels on a car would help to absorb some of the impact. Technically it would protect part of the frame because the metal panels help "cushion" the impact. With a carbon fiber front end, you're eliminating some of the protection that a metal front end provides.

 

how much would the weight reduction be?

 

I think it is a great idea Chuck I'll call you tonight to talk about it

John

 

For $3000, you're probably not going to get a ton of interest. Even though it might seem that FD owners have a lot of money, a CF front end would be retarded to own unless your'e going to be tracking your car (not dragging) all the time. CF is one of those things that ppl will want to show off all the time (i.e. not paint) because it's trick and it's expensive, but a CF front end would just look stupid, IMO, on a street car. Talk about a wacked out look...CF nose, CF hood, METAL fenders....you see where I'm going.

If your cost to develop it is low enough it probably wouldn't hurt to make a prototype and a few production units, but outside of that I'd imagine that you'll have a tough time getting buy-in from FD folks.

My $.02, but YMMV.

Patrick

 

You might get more interest/buyers for just replacement "widened" CF front fenders.

A one-piece front end? i'd be curious as to how i'd be to get access to the engine, be secure at speed, and work around the headlights.

 

the fenders would be metal. and looks wise it would look just as clean as stock, it'll just have no seams being that it's a one-piece. it's just that 3g's is kinda steep. how about a fiberglass one?

 

rather have some carbon rear difuser.. or the "bow generator" re amemiya has.

 

So... if i'm thinking right, then one would have to get rear flares or something to match the width of the front.. otherwise would the front be physically wider than the (stock) rear? I'd rather see a CF diffuser, cause I'd be more likely to get that in the future. I'm not paying 3 G's for a full CF front end. Maybe some RE amemiya style scissor door KITs?

 

if you look at chuck's site, a diffuser is already in the works

 

Yes, I understand. I never said it's street legal and actually I sell my all parts as off road use only. If you want to use it on the street, it's your choice. My target customer is for people who road race or drag race their car and they want some weight reduction.

Chuck Huang

 

The whole front end portion including the bumper, hood, and fenders will be around 30 lbs.

Chuck Huang
http://www.rotaryextreme.com

 

hey chuck,
how about a cheaper alternative to a lighter rear hatch?

 

I will post a picture of the Panspeed FD with the one piece front end and that will answer all your questions.

Chuck Huang

 

The one piece front end has the fener portion integrated. You can paint the carbon fiber but if you choose to leave it in the original texture, it's ok too. Drag racers use one piece front end or even the whole carbon fiber shell.

Below is a picture of the Panspeed one piece front end.



It's in carbon fiber and it's painted and have the fender portion integrated.

If you are not interested, it's ok. I am just want to see who is interested.

Chuck Huang

 

A fiberglass one will be about $2000. I mean it's really not expensive if you think about it. When you add the cost of getting a fiberglass bumper, fiberglass hood and fiberglass fenders all together, it's more than $2000 already.

Chuck Huang

 

Yeah, that can be done too. Need 20 buyers up front though. Should be about $700 for the fiberglass one and $1000 for the carbon fiber. I know some company already made the lexan glass. Just don't know how much. I can find out on that.

Chuck Huang

 

30lbs isnt much of a weight reduction. You still have to fabricate some latches so the front end will be secure to the chassis without too much wobble, make accomodations for lights, etc etc.

Generally, a one piece front end's benefits are for easier access to the engine bay as well as other components. Weight reduction is a plus, but it's not significant enough to be the sole purpose of buying such a kit. As DomFD3s already stated, it would not be good for any crash, track or not.

If a hit is hard enough, the carbon fiber will shatter... I dont know if anyone wants any carbon fiber shrapnel tearing into the belts. I think most track cars with removable panels are made of polyurethane because there is always some kind of bumping and rubbing involved in hard core track racing.

 

I just stated the obvious benefits of metal body panels versus carbon fiber. (I never said anything else in regards to your target customer, etc...)

While the idea of carbon fiber can be good, the application and use of it is a totally different matter.

 

**** that's what i meant the fenders would be cf. i completely said the opposite of what i meant.

 

hey what style front bumper is gonna go w/ this.

 

God ... I had this idea what ... 4 years ago?

 

i'd be interested in the cf rear hatch...is the rear lexan window dot approved???

 

no lexan is dot approve for road use. its lightweight, but it is flimsy and scratches extremely easily

 

I would be interested in a one piece front end.