paul_huryk

In searching the internet for vendors of replacement decklids for the thirdgens, I have not found any company who makes them in carbon fiber.

Thinking of going with a lexan rear window and a CF decklid for my upcoming shop car - looking to save about 85 to 90lbs of dead weight...

Anyone know of any?

Thanks in advance.

the solitaire

VFN has them in fiberglass. They also do CF work. You might contact them and ask?

Other then that, I do not see any structural benefit in having a decklid out of CF over fiberglass.

paul_huryk

Solitaire,

I did see that VFN has the fiberglass ones, which is a start.

The hatch gives zero structural impact in either steel, FG, or CF; but CF weighs less and is possibly a small enough piece to not be a fortune.

FueledSoul

iTrader: (18)

Don't know of any anyone that makes them in carbon fibber and honesty why? your not going to save any more weight on a deck lid in terms of fiberglass vs carbon. If your going for something appearance wise im sure they can lay up some carbon fibber mat and make one but i highly doubt they will vacuum forum and heat treat it. carbon fibber deck lids are not necessary especially if you are planing on going with lexan... beside these cars need the extra wight in the rear...

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (15)

vfn will usually make anything they offer in CF if you call and ask.

paul_huryk

I'm not sure how much weight you can save with CF vs FG, but I'm sure it's going to be something as it is a thick piece from the factory.

While the thirdgens are no where near as heavy as the new Camaro, they can stand to lose some weight, especially dead weight like a non structural hatch glass and decklid, ditto for the steel hood and other things. I have a fiberglass notchback on my street Camaro and never had a problem with the car having too little weight out back, in fact it helped the handling a tad.

91RedBigFinZ

Carbon Creations makes these:

http://www.extremedimensions.com/13186.html

on ebay it is called: MESH 82-92 camaro carbon fiber oem hatch NEW IN BOX A+

If you get one let me know, I'd like to know the weight difference. If it is significant I'll be buying one in the future.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

70% weight savings on a maybe 30lb part for 700$ Yowza
I do like it tho!

uknowwho23

i seen them on www.carid.com in cf. theyre over 500 last time i looked. but i did think of doing it for the look. if they made the 5" spoiler in cf, i wouldve got the spoiler, hood, and decklid so the whole top of my car would be cf. i think it would look bad ***. almost like a 2 tone but with cf

Patrick Day

For that price you could always make your own. Not all CF is vacuum formed. Most is hand layed anyway. And it wouldn't be that hard to make a mold from your old deck lid then make the new one from cf or fiber glass. And if you are only wanting it for the look of cf they do make a fiberglass matt that looks like cf.

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

If your after just the look wrap it.
http://store.carbonfibergear.com/3m-...on-fiber-vinyl
Ive use this stuff and it wraps great and last . I did a few dash pieces, had leftover and did my droid phone parts. and its been in my pocket getting abused for 2yrs now and still looks great.

CF vs FG is a hude debate. unless CF is autoclaved , etc is not that much better then FG for the huge price diff.

http://www.carbonfiberfilm.com/blog/...i-noc-wrapped/

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

its amazing they actually sell it for 700 bucks. if thats what it takes for them to make a profit I guess so. I wouldnt mind slimming down my car but I wouldnt fork over 700 bucks. Id go on a diet first. lol

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

it's not very hard to lay up CF, if you have the time try to make your own

paul_huryk

91Red - thanks for the link!

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (15)

its hard to make it look good though, there are processes involved other than just laying the material.

as for the deck, from what i gather, that steel piece weighs almost more than the glass does, its quite heavy.

mattmerritt89

It's not to hard to lay carbon just takes a little more time if you don't want to mess up the weave. And as far as extra work just vacuum bagging the part. I would just go for the fiberglass one same weight savings as carbon.

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (15)

oh i would too, especially since i would just paint the CF anyway, and the small weight savings is not worth the expense IMO. However, the CF is stronger, so certain applications its superior.

If i could get a bolt on fiberglass hatch piece, with all factory attachment points, i would go that route, and probably use a Lexan/polycarb hatch window too. Thats a lot of weight right there, and its all up high.

Project 3.4 Camaro

I am pretty sure CF is lighter than fiberglass, but even if not, it is more rigid, allowing less material to be used to make the part, thus resulting in a lighter final product, hoods are a good example of where this can make a big difference. And I agree $700 is a lot, but it will pretty much beat anything you could make outright on fit and finish, unless you yourself do that stuff on a professional level, but even then, I am sure there are tools that make the difference as well.

mattmerritt89

Carbon and glass 1 for 1 weigh just the same, but like you said you do get more strength. But you only get it in one direction. There isn't really any special tools that you need to do it. Brush and a slick and you're good to go. Just takes time to make a proper mold. If you were going to make one it would cost you about 400 or 500 dollars just for the first one.