Carbon fiber TARGA TOP

[SoCaliVette]

What's up guys?

Have anyone seen this kind of targa top before for the C4?

 

[vetteoz]

Have anyone seen this kind of targa top before for the C4?

Is it full carbon fiber ( super lightweight ) or just CF finish?
There are companies out there making true CF pieces for C4's but expensive.
Like $3500 for a hood

 

[SoCaliVette]

Is it full carbon fiber ( super lightweight ) or just CF finish?
There are companies out there making true CF pieces for C4's but expensive.
Like $3500 for a hood

Yes, it is a full carbon fiber roof.
Actually, it is a skin mounted on a OEM aluminum frame

 

[Marv02]

CF roofs are they worth it.

I work around CF all the time.

It light it's stong it high tech looks cool and cost a lot.

But if it gets a scratch in the outside finish and gets wet it soak water Ect up like a sponge after that It will start delamination on you then it Junk.

If I remember correctly you can for a temparay fix put some clear nail polish of it to seal the scratch (Only if no water has got in it yet) but I dont know how long that will last.

So it up to you if want to chance it go for it remember a couple years ago you seen all those Tunner cars with all the CF stuff you dont see them very much any more but on race cars and show cars not much on street cars.

Take a look at some street bikes with CF exhaust cans that have been out in the sun also lot of them get dull and ugly.

CF is Stong but dont drop it or drop anything that has a point to it either it with starts comming apart where it was hit it like CF bicycles light Strong looks very cool but drop on a rock curb ect you better get X-rayed to make sure you didn't crack the frame.

I dont think it worth the hassles my self get a standered Fiber Glass Roof, I know when I replace my lexan roof I just mite get a Fiber Glass roof my self.

If Fiber Glass cracks Ect it can be repaired by you CF needs to be vacumed bagged for curring I think it need to be in a oven or at least a heat lamp has to be a temp for it to cure right.

 

[SoCaliVette]

I work around CF all the time.

It light it's stong it high tech looks cool and cost a lot.

But if it gets a scratch in the outside finish and gets wet it soak water Ect up like a sponge after that It will start delamination on you then it Junk.

If I remember correctly you can for a temparay fix put some clear nail polish of it to seal the scratch (Only if no water has got in it yet) but I dont know how long that will last.

So it up to you if want to chance it go for it remember a couple years ago you seen all those Tunner cars with all the CF stuff you dont see them very much any more but on race cars and show cars not much on street cars.

Take a look at some street bikes with CF exhaust cans that have been out in the sun also lot of them get dull and ugly.

CF is Stong but dont drop it or drop anything that has a point to it either it with starts comming apart where it was hit it like CF bicycles light Strong looks very cool but drop on a rock curb ect you better get X-rayed to make sure you didn't crack the frame.

I dont think it worth the hassles my self get a standered Fiber Glass Roof, I know when I replace my lexan roof I just mite get a Fiber Glass roof my self.

If Fiber Glass cracks Ect it can be repaired by you CF needs to be vacumed bagged for curring I think it need to be in a oven or at least a heat lamp has to be a temp for it to cure right.

I use to do composites for 10 years and i have not seen any carbon fiber part which will soak the water like a sponge. That is a new for me.

 

[Marv02]

Here a Link about delamination

Basics of Design Engineering - Fastening & Joining - Joining - Joining Composites

I use to do composites for 10 years and i have not seen any carbon fiber part which will soak the water like a sponge. That is a new for me.

I also can do CF work where I work but like I said for some things it great but other is not worth it.

But I have tosed the idea around start making a mold of my Targa top and start laying out a new Fiber glass roof.

 

[SoCaliVette]

Here a Link about delamination

Basics of Design Engineering - Fastening & Joining - Joining - Joining Composites



I also can do CF work where I work but like I said for some things it great but other is not worth it.

But I have tosed the idea around start making a mold of my Targa top and start laying out a new Fiber glass roof.

I just wondering, how a peace of solid carbon fiber laminate which was impregnated with an epoxy will soak the water?! I just do not understand that ( from my experience)
There is only one possible way the carbon fiber or other materials will soak the water, if the composites were laid by hand (wet lay up) which can trap many air bubbles in the laminate. The water might get into these trapped air places.
I have done ALOT of vacuum infusion laminates and i can tell you, they are solid as a rock

Why do you want to create a mold and making fiberglass roofs when they are available from factory?

 

[Marv02]

If I make my own mold this way I can make my own roof Why do I want give those guy all my money when I build my own.

I knew a guy that had a CF hood on his Mustang it came apart driving down the freeway I know he spent a lot of money on it but he had on his car for a couple years before it came apart on him.

Then again if your luck anything like mine what can go wrong will go wrong LOL.

I also have thought about hand formming a Aluminum roof for the car and use the stock Roof frame and bond to it.

The draw back about a full Alumiunum roof is way it transfer heat and cold with out a head linner you going to feel the temps comming thought it.

I just wondering, how a peace of solid carbon fiber laminate which was impregnated with an epoxy will soak the water?! I just do not understand that ( from my experience)
There is only one possible way the carbon fiber or other materials will soak the water, if the composites were laid by hand (wet lay up) which can trap many air bubbles in the laminate. The water might get into these trapped air places.
I have done ALOT of vacuum infusion laminates and i can tell you, they are solid as a rock

Why do you want to create a mold and making fiberglass roofs when they are available from factory?

 

[SoCaliVette]

Let me explaine something. When you are saying a carbon fiber hood, it IS NOT really carbon fiber. These hoods made out of 1 single layer of carbon fiber and 1 ton of fiberglass.
The carbon fiber is extremely stronger fabric than fiberglass. Your mustang guy had one of these cheapy made in china in someone's basement hoods and probably was hand laid too.

 

[Marv02]

Do what you want it's you time and money.

I just know what happen out here in the aerospace world and what happens when things go wrong.

I dont know who or where the mustang hood was made but I do know it came apart on him.

 

[SoCaliVette]

Do what you want it's you time and money.

I just know what happen out here in the aerospace world and what happens when things go wrong.

I dont know who or where the mustang hood was made but I do know it came apart on him.

I already did it back in 2008 and it is worth it.

 

[WhalePirot]

I just wondering, how a peace of solid carbon fiber laminate which was impregnated with an epoxy will soak the water?!

Nor does my 'body guy' who builds world championship racing jetski hulls from CF and/or 'glass, as customers demand. We discussed just this yesterday while doing initial fabrication of my new headlights.

I guaranteed they don't sink from soaking up water in the scratches, sometime deep, that they get. Done properly, the CF is fully encased in solid resin with NO bubble or spaces to trap water. This can be accomplished with hand laying if proper tools and technique is used, but such materials and labor in the USA would not be of interest to most C4 buyers due to cost/performance.

True, most CF car parts are a single thin veneer over another material, not full CF.

 

[SoCaliVette]

Nor does my 'body guy' who builds world championship racing jetski hulls from CF and/or 'glass, as customers demand. We discussed just this yesterday while doing initial fabrication of my new headlights.

I guaranteed they don't sink from soaking up water in the scratches, sometime deep, that they get. Done properly, the CF is fully encased in solid resin with NO bubble or spaces to trap water. This can be accomplished with hand laying if proper tools and technique is used, but such materials and labor in the USA would not be of interest to most C4 buyers due to cost/performance.

True, most CF car parts are a single thin veneer over another material, not full CF.

I agree with you.