I will visit a shop located in Sofia that is working with fiber glass and carbon. I will ask the for a hood and engine lid first so I wanted to know if there is any interest in these. I want to ask for a Group Buy price, turn around and so on. The total price will be way less than similar products on the market.
If genuinely lighter weight then me, me, me 8)
Quote from: Petrus on February 26, 2020, 11:55If genuinely lighter weight then me, me, me 8)
I touched a civic hood made from the same guy. It was light as a feather I could lift it with a finger.
Bear in mind average costs for such panels in the past have been 500+ GBP per panel. Hence nobody has them :)
But definitely get a price from him. It's on thr wishlist for a lot of people
Quote from: shnazzle on February 26, 2020, 13:48Bear in mind average costs for such panels in the past have been 500+ GBP per panel. Hence nobody has them :)
But definitely get a price from him. It's on thr wishlist for a lot of people
The cost for 1 is going to be crazy because the mold has to be done first but once it is done more than 1 can be manufactured. If I can gather 10 ppl and we can split the mold cost its going to be good for all of us.
On the price I meant significantly lower than 500, lets say around 300-350 mark per item plus a percentage of the mold. We could also design vents and so on that can be incorporated in the mold so no additional modding will be required.
Maybe try and understand the levels of pricing with 5-10-15 people, then way he wants to do billing and the expected lead times.
With those clarified, it'll help a lot of people to commit as they'll have better idea of what they're getting into.
Quote from: Nvy on February 26, 2020, 14:09We could also design vents and so on that can be incorporated in the mold so no additional modding will be required.
I´d go for OEM design. Will add vents to the bonnet myself.
For me 300-350 per panel is already pushing it too far. Add shipping, fittings and paint = 1000 € for 10 kilo saving.
Buenas Ivo, what is the status??
Quote from: Petrus on April 2, 2020, 12:26Buenas Ivo, what is the status??
Status is Corona but I will check if the guys are working and if the wife permits ill visit them on the weekend. Plus its snowing rly bad here so not sure. Ill give my best tho.
Quote from: Nvy on April 2, 2020, 12:53Quote from: Petrus on April 2, 2020, 12:26Buenas Ivo, what is the status??
Status is Corona but I will check if the guys are working and if the wife permits ill visit them on the weekend. Plus its snowing rly bad here so not sure. Ill give my best tho.
Thanks for the feedback.
May be a surprise but this morning snow here too!!!
Not even ´just´ the mountain in our view but a full blown, literally, snow storm right hére, covering the olive groves and caminos.
Adding a surreal dimension to a surreal situation.
Anyway, no essential thing those panels so just take care.
If you can communicate by phone/electroniscs, the shop might be very interested though in anything keeping them going.
Quote from: Petrus on April 2, 2020, 13:08Quote from: Nvy on April 2, 2020, 12:53Quote from: Petrus on April 2, 2020, 12:26Buenas Ivo, what is the status??
Status is Corona but I will check if the guys are working and if the wife permits ill visit them on the weekend. Plus its snowing rly bad here so not sure. Ill give my best tho.
Thanks for the feedback.
May be a surprise but this morning snow here too!!!
Not even ´just´ the mountain in our view but a full blown, literally, snow storm right hére, covering the olive groves and caminos.
Adding a surreal dimension to a surreal situation.
Anyway, no essential thing those panels so just take care.
If you can communicate by phone/electroniscs, the shop might be very interested though in anything keeping them going.
Yeah, they would be interested I think but dont like to communicate in FB or phone, I have tried couple of times. Need to go on site thats why it is taking forever.
On the snow thing, this morning cars had around 20-30 cm on them, which for April is insane, its melting now but will be ice tonight :D Lightness is on my list and once I have an update will share it here.
Quote from: Nvy on April 2, 2020, 14:47Lightness is on my list and once I have an update will share it here.
Thank you.
Found two sellers for MR-S lightweight body parts. No doubt same source. Doors, bonnet, rear lid in vacuum produced FRP.
Bonnet + read deck just under 700€ and that is ;D but the killer being shipping >:D
Quote from: Petrus on April 21, 2020, 00:41Found two sellers for MR-S lightweight body parts. No doubt same source. Doors, bonnet, rear lid in vacuum produced FRP.
Bonnet + read deck just under 700€ and that is ;D but the killer being shipping >:D
Whats their location? If US I can think of something.
Quote from: Nvy on April 21, 2020, 06:54Quote from: Petrus on April 21, 2020, 00:41Found two sellers for MR-S lightweight body parts. No doubt same source. Doors, bonnet, rear lid in vacuum produced FRP.
Bonnet + read deck just under 700€ and that is ;D but the killer being shipping >:D
Whats their location? If US I can think of something.
Sadly China. Aksed whether they would ship by train but no.
So lets talk specifics on the topic...
The molds are around 2k euros as they will consist of 2 parts - one upper and one lower in a way that the OEM ones are. After that each item will be around 300-350 euros plus shipping from Bulgaria.
These are rough estimations based on a Honda EG hatch hood measurements. Of course ours are smaller and the numbers will be different. The conversation was over the phone and the guy invited me into his shop to see his work - molds and already done hoods and other parts. I can then take some pictures if he allows of course.
Please let me know what you are thinking on the numbers.
300-350 + shipping is ok with me.
Not so much the molds. He gets to keep them so he needs so it as part business investment.
If they are finished gel outer surface not needing prep/paint and bolt on the OEM hinges/latches, then I can swing 850€ all in at my door.
The OEM bonnet and rear deck add up to 42 lbs and the carbon/GRP ones should save about 2/3 of that, so 26 lbs. Since it is at either far end and relatively high up, it should be noticeable.
Options on the molds would be:
1. Group buy at least 8 ppl and he keeps the molds. Hes willing to invest into the molds but prefers the other option. If done this way the price will be a bit more.
2. The club buys the molds and then he(or anybody else) can create any number of hoods/lids for us. Meaning the 1st batch of ppl will invest into the mold and after that from each sell a donation will be done to the club or however we can think of it.
Havent asked about the time for manufacturing but can do so when I am on site.
Off topic: I am working on a bored out TB with the cost significantly down compared to StreeWerks that scammed lots of ppl. He was asking for 275 plus core and I am working with some peeps that will do 200 euros plus core. First need to test them and will leave a spare TB with them this week. Turn around is 4-5 weeks.
On the topic again:
The guy is willing to invest into moldings for at least 8 orders.
Rough weight:
Hood - 4-5 kgs, can be lighter but if you are not going for a show car condition as if the items are with less layers they are prone to warp.
Engine lid - 3-4 kgs, as the above can be with less layers and so on.
Price is around 350 euros each plus shipping, it has to be painted because the gel will not last long in the sun.
Optional: The items can be done in carbon, price is 3x the above and the weight is 50%.
Can post some pictures from his other projects if anyone is interested. He can also make doors, ducktails, side scoops, etc. etc..
I will look for some shipping quotes.
The aspect of the outer layer is ´carbon´? If so a clear coat would suffice. If not it´s a wrap agian. Works just less cool looking.
Being more sturdy means it is a straight bolt on no?!
Would love photos.
Still interested at the lighter end of the specs.; 4 kg front, 3 rear.
..and thanks, your time and effort is much appreciated Ivo.
Just a quick reference, how much weight saving does this work out to?
Edit- no matter I worked it out, so with front and rear fitted its roughly a 12kg saving
Quote from: Petrus on May 26, 2020, 18:43The aspect of the outer layer is ´carbon´? If so a clear coat would suffice. If not it´s a wrap agian. Works just less cool looking.
Being more sturdy means it is a straight bolt on no?!
Would love photos.
Still interested at the lighter end of the specs.; 4 kg front, 3 rear.
..and thanks, your time and effort is much appreciated Ivo.
Both version would be bolt on but the lighter one will have less layers of material. Its like 12-13kgs savings yeah.
The carbon version idk what is the material exactly but is not fiberglass.
@Petrus ill look for some photos to upload to my google drive.
@Petrus,
@jvanzyl Pics: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1k3PamWeY_yu3GgMXbUkILojyel1Sr2JS
Also he can do lexan windows for us.
Quote from: Nvy on May 26, 2020, 20:12@Petrus, @jvanzyl Pics: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1k3PamWeY_yu3GgMXbUkILojyel1Sr2JS
Also he can do scoops, ducktails and lexan windows for us.
Quote from: jvanzyl on May 26, 2020, 19:22Just a quick reference, how much weight saving does this work out to?
Edit- no matter I worked it out, so with front and rear fitted its roughly a 12kg saving
Nice no?! At the far ends and relatively high.
The rule of thumb in the US is 50$ per lbs which corresponds nicely with the European 100€ per kilo so this one does alright.
Id think that more ppl would be interested in this but me and Petrus are not gonna cut it. As it stands I cant continue the project. With zero interest on the forum I am not gonna waste more time with this.
Quote from: Nvy on May 27, 2020, 16:27Id think that more ppl would be interested in this but me and Petrus are not gonna cut it. As it stands I cant continue the project. With zero interest on the forum I am not gonna waste more time with this.
Sorry Ivo.
It's a very very niche product.
Someone like
@Stifler might go down that route. Or
@tommyzoom99 for the rear (think he already has front carbon).
This is generally why these things fetch such high prices; they're built to order
id go for a rear one
cheers tommy