Thoughts on Carbon Fiber?

[SnD3]

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate all the criticisms and thoughts on the matter. I like the look of carbon, but no, I am not willing to drop 10lbs, for that much cash... lol This is my daily driver, and I do have a need for the back seat, as I have a baby, and another on the way, and would like to still use this car, for family. lol Wheels, might just be a better option, with the right tires, and that suspension. I was thinking F&F coil overs, unless someone has a better idea for suspension.

I also plan on getting some, or making some strut bars, uppers and lowers, but again, that is adding weight, to the weight reduced by carbon fiber. so I am thinking that it would be pretty pointless. Has anyone ever just modified a stock hood to reduce weight? I.e.: cutting out a chunk, and somehow replacing it with aluminum paneling, or such?

I am going to have a buddy of mine make some panels for the interior out of aluminum, with all the same contours, as the originals. I figure this will save a couple pounds at least, and look pretty cool also! Well, minus the heat they might produce inside the car, in the summer months... I would assume that would be just as much as my charcoal/black interior anyhow... Though, it will also be painted, and I am getting some tan leathers, to try to keep that heat in the cabin down, also...

Really, I am a pretty good driver, so I don't need all the weight reductions, but more driving practice would probably better than thousands in carbon/aluminum parts... lol Anyhow, I am rattling on about this... Thanks again for the replies. I will be looking forward to more, on this subject!

 

[JGvtec]

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate all the criticisms and thoughts on the matter. I like the look of carbon, but no, I am not willing to drop 10lbs, for that much cash... lol This is my daily driver, and I do have a need for the back seat, as I have a baby, and another on the way, and would like to still use this car, for family. lol Wheels, might just be a better option, with the right tires, and that suspension. I was thinking F&F coil overs, unless someone has a better idea for suspension.

I also plan on getting some, or making some strut bars, uppers and lowers, but again, that is adding weight, to the weight reduced by carbon fiber. so I am thinking that it would be pretty pointless. Has anyone ever just modified a stock hood to reduce weight? I.e.: cutting out a chunk, and somehow replacing it with aluminum paneling, or such?

I am going to have a buddy of mine make some panels for the interior out of aluminum, with all the same contours, as the originals. I figure this will save a couple pounds at least, and look pretty cool also! Well, minus the heat they might produce inside the car, in the summer months... I would assume that would be just as much as my charcoal/black interior anyhow... Though, it will also be painted, and I am getting some tan leathers, to try to keep that heat in the cabin down, also...

Really, I am a pretty good driver, so I don't need all the weight reductions, but more driving practice would probably better than thousands in carbon/aluminum parts... lol Anyhow, I am rattling on about this... Thanks again for the replies. I will be looking forward to more, on this subject!

This is a shocker. I think you are the first person to not respond in a bad way. Half the time people come spazzing out at us about there problems. You are very kind sir. You should check out samari blue's thread. He tracks his car. Many people don't even do the whole weight reduction thing i think. It's just how you drive your car. Just needing to learn how to track in in the corners and such. If your going to track your car I don't think F and F coils are your best bet. Don't worry about rattling on about it. At least your not demanding the answers like some people are.

You sure you want to go ahead and loose your door panels? Since you still DD your car?

Well anyway...

Welcome to CI. Im Jordan. :hi:

Im more into detailing car's, but i know some things.

Hope everything works out for you!

 

[SnD3]

This is a shocker. I think you are the first person to not respond in a bad way. Half the time people come spazzing out at us about there problems. You are very kind sir. You should check out samari blue's thread. He tracks his car. Many people don't even do the whole weight reduction thing i think. It's just how you drive your car. Just needing to learn how to track in in the corners and such. If your going to track your car I don't think F and F coils are your best bet. Don't worry about rattling on about it. At least your not demanding the answers like some people are.

You sure you want to go ahead and loose your door panels? Since you still DD your car?

Well anyway...

Welcome to CI. Im Jordan. :hi:

Im more into detailing car's, but i know some things.

Hope everything works out for you!

Yeah, demanding things is not the way to get answers to something, that is just asking opinions, anyhow. lol I am an adult, and it seems that if anyone does that, then they must not know about life. lol I have lived life, and understand that to get the answers we desire in life, that we must be patient, and do what others would do to us.

As for the interior panels, I am not sure about what to do... I was almost thinking about doing the aluminum, and maybe a layer of vinyl, or leather, to keep the feel of the original panels, but in aluminum form... lol I am just being random, and such... But then again, the originals could also go on a slight diet, if I remove the fabric, and such... I think they would look better with a compete paint, in two tone, anyhow!

The F&F coils don't sound like a good idea? Huh... Do you have any suggestions to a suspension setup that might be better? They don't even have to be coils, as I have never dealt with them anyhow, and have very little experience first hand, with them... I would be fine with a set of Tein, or even eibach springs... lol I would just need some kind of info on shocks/struts, as I know little to the effect of those... I assume Koni adjustables are the key, since it is what everyone likes, according to most of the posts on here?

I appreciate all the help that all of the members, here at CI give. There is much knowledge to be had from this group, and you guys are very helpful! Just reading responses, I can tell that I am going to fit in here, pretty well!

 

[j13]

Just look at the R34 Z-tune and you'll want all the CF parts possible haha

 

[jznsn2u]

Carbon fiber doesn't hold up too well against heat. It is inevitable that it will loose its clear coat. If you want to loose some weight, just strip your interior, take out a/c and p/s before you go to your events.

 

[SnD3]

And by the way, my name is Dennis, but you can call me DJ. Thanks guys! nice to meet you Jordan!

 

[ixcocoyxi]

for the hood, many of my friends cut out the skeleton underneath. and it still retains its shape.

 

[ixcocoyxi]

you just have to take stuff out that you dont really need.

oem sound deadening material
power steering
air conditioning
abs system
and replace the crank pulley with a civic type r. it only has 1 slot for the alternator.

 

[SnD3]

I think I will retain the power steering... I don't want to fight the wheel when I want to drive in town... lol And ABS is a must with children in the car... I had an 89 celica that didn't have it didn't have ABS.... This was a little over a year ago, when my son was born. I thought it was a death trap, and wasn't fit for him to ride around in... But the AC, and sound deadening can go. Not to be a PITA, or an ingreat to the info, though! I appreciate all the input you guys are giving me. There are just certain things that I would like to retain, in order to be safe for my family you ride in, with me daily.

 

[JGvtec]

Good Luck Dennis! :thumbs up

Keep us updated! Post pictures when you can.

 

[Prozon]

I want to track my car later down the road, but i'm putting all the money towards the suspension and engine. If anything i'll be adding more sound deadening. I don't like hearing road noise, and compared to my blazer the sound proofing of the Integra sucks.

Another thought I had, would aluminum panels really be lighter then the stock plastic ones? I think it would be damn close. As for the hood you can just chop out the inside of it. I doubt you will need to reinforce it with aluminum lol. However, you could make a full aluminum hood, that would be cool.

 

[ixcocoyxi]

my car came without abs from the factory. oh! also, no cruise control. i also deleted my ps because i personally didnt like it. the road feels tons better when going thru turns. i like the feedback it gives. i daily mine every day and i dont even notice the no power steering. if you loop it at the rack, it feels way better than just taking the belt off.

had to keep the ac for those random hot days in california tho.

 

[thenoxus1]

My '92 escort wagon has no abs, and the other day in the snow it was quite evident. If you have kids with you and safety is a priority, then yes keep it, don't risk anyone else's life. Let us know what you do. I'm mitch!

 

[dlo253]

I DEF. would not get the cf doors especially still being a DD. think about how well they would hold up if you got t-boned or something. unless you have a cage, they would probably be a death trap....just my 2 cents

 

[SnD3]

my car came without abs from the factory. oh! also, no cruise control. i also deleted my ps because i personally didnt like it. the road feels tons better when going thru turns. i like the feedback it gives. i daily mine every day and i dont even notice the no power steering. if you loop it at the rack, it feels way better than just taking the belt off.

had to keep the ac for those random hot days in california tho.

There isn't a noticeable difference, without PS? I figured it would be pretty tough to turn, without it? I know that once you get forward momentum, it makes turning the wheels easier... I would hate to have to parallel without it... lol You know what I mean? I don't have to do it often, as I don't live in the city, and don't go that way, all that often... I guess I could delete the PS, if it isn't too hard, and I wouldn't notice it... lol I would love to drive a car without it, first, though... So that I could feel it.

As far as the car goes, it's sitting in my shop, in pieces, waiting to be rebuilt, so it isn't my daily right now... I want it to be, though! lol My wife has the only running car right now. I just figured if I was going to work on the engine, I might as well do everything at once. Less shop time in the future, you know?