My 6 year FC project

[need RX7]

Yessssssss

I don't know how I missed this thread before. I read through the whole thing last night, I love it. Very impressed so far, and it looks like it's about to get even awesomer . if I could travel 3 or 4 days back in time, I'd vote for you instead of myself in ROTM .

[WE3RX7]

Originally Posted by need RX7

Yessssssss

I don't know how I missed this thread before. I read through the whole thing last night, I love it. Very impressed so far, and it looks like it's about to get even awesomer . if I could travel 3 or 4 days back in time, I'd vote for you instead of myself in ROTM .

Lol - Thanks man.. this thread gets burried easily since I'm a slacker at updates

So many little things go on that dont really justify an update and then sometimes weeks go by that I dont get time to work on it at all. I did however manage to build an addition to my workbench and get my new benchgrinder/buffer installed

[WE3RX7]

Another angle of the hood.


I'll take some more pics shortly. I need to weigh the individual parts too (an OCD thing I do with all parts). The hood/bumper/light covers/packaging only weighed 40#s though, so I'm already really happy!


Also, need to make new brackets to replace these:



I will probably integrate a new brace/mounting bracket for the FMOC system that ducks under the headlight buckets. Still working on hashing out the intercooler and getting the rear pulled apart (been really procrastinating on that one, it was a PIA the last time I did it, but practice is perfect I guess)

[TitaniumTT]

Originally Posted by WE3RX7

I want to preface this next bit ... with ... given the nature of our community

What, you mean tightwads???!?!!???

Originally Posted by WE3RX7

Need some thoughts on this as it stood out to be a pretty big defect to me right smack in the middle of the hood (in front of the scoop between the headlights).

What do you all think, I'll try to get some better pics of it (hard to do w/ the clear coat)? I'm limited experience with large CF parts as this is only my second CF hood and most other CF products have been fairly small....

Impossible to repair. They rushed and when the layed the CF didn't roll it out enough. Now, having never built a carbon fiber piece in my life I could be wrong, BUT I do have DECADES of experience working with fiberglass, I'd imagine the process is the same.

Here's how you build from a mold

Wax the EVER LIVING SHIT out of the mold. Spray your gelcoat. They probably didn't spray the gel, I wouldn't, I would go strait to the next step. Roll on a coat of of epoxy, wait for it to start to kick then roll on another coat, once that starts to kick you lay down the matte, or in this case, CF, then roll on another coat of epoxy. Repeat as necessary to get the strength that you want. Once it's fully kicked, break it free from the mold and you have your part. Hoods and other pieces need to be done in two different sections and epoxied together. Once that's kicked is when I would clear coat it. HOWEVER, it may not be an automotive clear coat, it could be just strait epoxy. I would've done the clear though for UV protection.

I'm curious as to what the backside looks like though.

So, I'm sorry to say, there is no repairing that. Now, I would go through the list and talk to a few other guys that have this hood in the CF and see if they have anydefects in that area. Two things could have happened. The hood was moved and the CF sagged, OR, the material didn't stretch and move enough in that area becuase of the contours. I'm inclined to say they rushed and didn't see it, or saw it after it was too late.

Sorry Bill, other than that, the hood looks MUCH better than I would've expected.

Originally Posted by WE3RX7

Also, need to make new brackets to replace these:



I will probably integrate a new brace/mounting bracket for the FMOC system that ducks under the headlight buckets. Still working on hashing out the intercooler and getting the rear pulled apart (been really procrastinating on that one, it was a PIA the last time I did it, but practice is perfect I guess)

I'd be VERY curious as to how you're going to do that, I want pics and designs, like now.