I make "aftermarket" fiberglass oem style bike fairings for sportbikes, and was thinking about going a bit bigger. As in 1 piece formula, trans am and camaro bolt on front end kits. Hinged vette style, hi quality prelayed gel coat, with hand-layed glass sanded and prepped for paint from the box, with mounting hardware and instructions at an affordable price. (not determined yet) I want to know if people out there are interested in this. IS there a market? If so, and I get good replies on this post, I WILL produce them, my car being the first one to come, which will be where all the pictures and etc will come from before I start selling. I do my work with a professional glasser that builds 28' glass model-a coupes. Quality is SUPERB. What do you guys think, please, everyone post here. -Colt

i don't think many people would want to build the fram that would be needed to do this

they would have to cut away the strut tower along with many other peices and reweld a tubed frame

very hard and expensive if you cant diy

my

not nessesarily, I'ce done 2 cars like this so far with my "glassing *** mentor", lol, and we didn't need to tube frame it, only re-enforce-frame the structural areas. works like I charm, don't assume things people, this is an idea in progress. Testing the water here. -Colt

I had seen that done for c3s, I think the clamshell style opening is kickass, not to mention looking cool and having easy acces to reaching everything, probably a pita if some person were to crash into any part of it.


Im pretty curious as to how such a setup works in the conversion.

Sounds like it would look tight and cut weight down alot.... I'd be in if i could afford it.

it's already been done, being done by several companies right now. who knows what the market is for it as it would depend on how much change to the body "your" kit required. the fact it's been out for years and you don't see it as much as you would hope makes me think otherwise as a business venture though. i was looking into it myself with my new project but later backed out after realizing how much of the engine bay had to be cut away and how it looks driving down the road. if you could build a setup that was light, structural stable i'm sure it would be worth an interest to some.

now the real market, a reproduction fiberglass or c/f z28-iroc style hood. you'll sell many if they are good quality and priced reasonably with everyone else. i know i'd buy two or three for my cars.

What I'm seeing this boil down too over the few f-body sites, is that people seem to be unsure about the whole 1 piece deal, as it IS a sketchy topic to be held and discussed. BUT, the idea of fiberglass hoods and fenders is pretty hot. The question IS what is wanted MORE, the weight reduction and some styling in between, or the flashy look of tilting the whole thing forward when you open the hood? As well, it would be much easier for me, the fabricator of such things to do the hood and fenders seperately, and we all know that the front ends to these cars are ALREADY EXTREMELY thin (light) plastic or glass. Also, there aren't any "body kits" out there for us 3rd gen'ers. Or at least front and rear bumpers with styling added to them. I think the greenwood styling used for the corvettes would be exceptional for these cars. Also on my mind is fender flair kits and rocker panels. -Colt

well as i said it's been done, doesn't mean i wouldn't like to see someone else make an attempt. there are currently two companies making them. i say go for it if you like. competition doesn't hurt the consumer!

yeah, but here's a challenge, find someone who does it for FIREBIRDS. ( and those front end's dont look hand layed, they're most likely sprayed, and not re-inforced) -Colt

built it, hand layed or sprayed it really doesn't matter as most of them will need fit and finish work anyhow. now if you can build something and promise very little fit and finish work you'll have something.

not only fit and finish, but structure, strength, and superior engineering. THATS what makes a good product. -Colt

I think if you have one thats:
Relatively inexpensive, its alot of work but it doesn't exactly shave THAT much weight
Relatively easy to install, maybe give detailed instructions and ideas, brackets, etc to help,
Get lots of clear shots to prove it lines up nicely,

... then you should be good. I'd like to get a setup for my bird if someone makes one for a reasonable price, but installation really kills me.

As Jeff said, Quality is what makes a product.

MOST(not all) dont want to pay the price for a piece that need verry little work.Most responces are well xxx company already has that for xxx price.

Hand layed or a Injection mold. Only diff is time spent making product.

The molds Im doing for the CFand class inverte cowl hood are costing me around 3+k each. 90% of that is mold material. Not including water heater/curculator to keep the mold at a certin temp for cure time.

Gelcoat is sprayed,let somewhat dry,materials are layed in, mold is clamped shut.(were talking hydrolic locks) resin is injected in.


anyways... If you make a quality product Im sure it will sell. Limited exposure on this site you might sell a few.

hit the local shows,swap meets and Big shows like PRI,Hotrod and restoration etc... I handed out business cars at PRI and the Hot Rod and Restoration show and have had numerus calls since then.

Sounds like it would look tight and cut weight down alot....

The hood, due to the underlying reinforcement is the only reason it has weight. The fenders, feather light. The fascia/gfx valance, light as well.

The only place weight would realistically be lifted is your wallet.

I'm not downing the idea but, everything (sheetmetal-wise) on these cars is pretty 'ultra-light' as it is. An equivilant strength fiberglass part as compared to the 20ga hss part is going to be nearly identical in weight.
Unless you're ultra hardcore dragracing where every gram of weight counts... it's a rather impractical proposal for a DD car.

Even for a showcar... w/o extensive beauty mods... who would want to show off the nasty--s unibody frame that is hidden by the current sheetmetal ?

I commend the ambition... just don't see it as much of a seller (based on every group purchace I've seen here which, has basically turned into a huge flop) on this board.

Just a meaningless comment from this person...

and...BAM!! there's the first shot on this post. lol, although SOMEONE has to do it. oh well. The reinforcement under the hood IS there, too bad, it IS weight, and AINT comin' off. the fenders are alot heavy then my buddy's 72' nova glass fenders as well. and the fact of the matter here is upgrading and accesorizing. some people ADD weight when then do. At least this will give a weight reduction, even if small, while at the same time adding styling and accesory to a car. But hey, props to those who have confidence in their heavy oem steel parts, and would rather dump a **** load of cash into an engine to make up for it. but the fact of the matter is, if you ran 2 identical cars,( minus the fiberglass on one) identically drivin', etc etc, the lighter one's gonna win everytime, and thats what wins bets and races, and thats what it's all about, and hey, if you can loook good doing it too, all the better. -Colt

my only debate is structure... ever see a non-pinned fiberglass hood doing 80 mph. you should see one of these. support it well so when it is closed it's as tight as factory and i'm all for it.

Anyone have more pics of that clamshell setup on an actual vehicle ?

http://www.cecoatings.com/images/oth...0Front%20Clip/

How about a front fascia for the 91/92 Firebirds/Trans Ams? I know the original ones are made to bend and flex, but I think I would like to see one that is sturdy for a change. I'd also like to see someone make all of the OEM gfx too because some have been discontinued. Just my $.02

There's your market!

Chris' picture of the whole front clip tilted up made me realize a potential problem.

You're going to need a pretty funky hinge mechanism to keep the front chin off the pavement when it's tilted. Chris' car looks like the front chin is awefully close to the ground with the nose tilted, and on a lower car, it probably wouldn't work.

this was the disappointing thing that i realized with my car when i had planned to do it. with the air ride on this car the front spoiler is only 2" off the ground... i'd have to raise the car just to tilt it a significant amount. i love the look, just wish there was a way around that problem.

Make some fiberglass doors that accept factory glass and power window motors. I'd buy a set of those.

Maybe rear quarter panels? I'm just trying to think of stuff that isn't readily available, the only way I see you selling hoods, fenders, etc. is to sell for dirt cheap or sell something unique that no one else is offering. I have yet to see a cheap notchback, I bet you could sell at least a couple dozen if they came with lexan windows, 91-92 style spoilers, and a price of 425.00 plus shipping.

Kandiedz- I've thought about that problem 2, there must be a way to modify those hinge kits so that they lift more UP, thennn forward to open? I'm sure some trunk lid hinges could be made to work and mimmik the motion that would be needed for this type of frontend on a lowered car like yours.

Jim,

Ya that looks to one the one challenge I dont look forward to when I get to that part of the project. Right now Im waiting on Master Craft to finish bending my back and new side roll bar pieces.

I'm still debating the title setup because of that fact since my car is low and will be riding on a art setup.

Really two inches???Wouldnt the air dam be dragging on the ground??

You CAN solve your clearence problem in the front if twin axis hinges are used. ( the type used on regualar hoods), and possibly even mounted in the same position facing forawrd, but at the fron of the car, where one lifts the front of the car up first to raise the hinges up, then is hinged on the front hood mounting surfaces, so that one maybe now lift the back, effectively tlting the whole thing forward.
Also, fiberglass doors would be cool, and man, imagine the weight different, but hey, that'd be a BITCH to mold. the hell with that noise until later on. -Colt

Ya I talked to Eddie lastnight and he said he did a hindge system like that. He has about 1/4inch ground clearance when its tilted forward.

if it was factory yes.

so you have a custom or aftermarket air dam???Ive always wanted one that was shorter than stock both for looks and the constant bottoming out...

well im looking for fiberglass fenders and doors that support windows
and fiberglass iroc hood that wont need pins something made like the 82 z28 hoods

the one peice front end sounds to much for track/showcar only

i'd buy decent fiberglass doors that accepted glass windows and locks, etc. the other stuff i don't see as having a market at all.

Not to get off subject but the tilt front end doesn't appear to be a one piece fiberglass front end. On the fiberglass front end there is no spot for the turn signal, no seam between the nose and the fenders or the ground effects, and the inside lip of the fenders is different. Just an observation.

because the one in white is a custom setup that was made out of pieces on the car.

to use the fiberglass front end you would need to make these noted adjustments. the factory pieces are just as light so if you wanted it bad enough modifying them wouldn't be difficult.

Exactally...

I think I like the setup on the white car Chris posted above. It looks more realistic and would look more stock when closed. F/G front ends allways look weird to me. I can see them from a mile away.

i dont know if anybody else seen that the white car is lowered....... i think.. besides the front is not that heavy.. i would try to fab a front bumber and hood to lose weight if anything.. look at this.. i dont know whos caR this is so i apolize ..

Another.........................

That would be a big part in losing weight. IMO

That looks sweet 84RIceEater I would buy somethin like that and a fiberglass z28 hood.

Hey guys, Colt here, I dunno about the whole 1 piece deal now. I might just start reproducing "ultralight" oem and modified styling fenders, hoods and front ends. I'm also looking to gain resonably priced access to lexan material, to start making lexan windshields, rear and side windows. the hatch on these cars is HEAVY!. I'm not too sure about doors yet. thats a venture in which I dont have alot of experience, well, none in. So I dunno, I'll leave that up to others to do. Also, I'm in the middle of searching for an old hearse for a street rod project as well, and if I find a late 50's style body for really really cheap, I'll prep it out and pop a mold of it to drop my 427 small block twin turbo nitro-burning motor in, as a home built funny car. (3000+hp ) Should be fun, but all together I wanna find a hearse thats in good condition and might just need an engine, tranny and paint. Anyways, I'm out of here. lemme know what you guys think. -Colt Cobra

There are two things needed for just about every one on these boards.
1) like Kandied said, a stock non-gowl fiberglass hood that is finished underneath and will work with the factory hinges as a complete bolt-on with absolutely no finish trimming needed by the customer- very good quality sells, and we do not have that option right now.

2) Camaro entire nose clips out of fiberglass with the same high quality and the cutouts and brackets to install all of the current lights and grilles. We need a sporty looking one piece bumber and spoiler setup instead of the factory replacements. I, like most everyone else would not take the time to fit a full fiberglass front end onto my car with fenders and all. However, I would buy in a heart beat a one piece nose clip to replace the bumper and spoiler that would bolt on.

fenders with a slight more flare, that would allow 11" wheels up front, might be a hot ticket also.

or a front nose/gfx with a functional integrated splitter setup.

true... the fenders arn't that heavy... on the fiberglass website it stated that it was 8lbs i dont know how much the steel one are tho. any ideas.. cant be too much over 8lbs. can it?

One of my big questions here though, is what gauge mat/cloth to use for the fenders etc. Now, of course thicker is stronger. but thinner is lighter. The only thing about making em thin, is A. (the worst) high speed vibration and B. strength. If I use a crosshatched double weave it'll make em almost twice as strong and regular weave, and 3 times that of mat. But do people want ultra light with the risks of it being a bit more fragile that stock (and I know you camaro guys have low front clearence) or think and sturdy, but about the same weight as stock, maybe a little less? I guess you could "make to order" and have them specify "fiberweight" (average glassed thickness w/gel coat) of ultralight, of course specifying that I'm not responsible for the ultralight material's proness to being easier to damage than the regular. Maybe I should post up in another forum, (do we HAVE a group purchase forum?) and see how many poeple really WANT glass fenders? -Colt Cobra

an 1/2" or so at most and that wouldn't be a problem at all. definately need a stronger front end though to turn those things. my 275's ate through a new steering box in a year.

I was thinking, I can make "semi-ultralight" front bumpers, that are still strong as far as bottoming out goes. All that needs to be done is the bottom glass layed heavier, and backed with 8 way cloth, while the upper portion and more non-structural area would be light glass. -Colt Cobra

do you have pics of your work?

thats a good idea, Ishould get a few pics. -Colt

Hey just a thought but how about making bolt on 4th gen parts such as dash, center console, and door panels for our thirdgens. I would definitly purchase one and I am absolutly positive that many others would be interested as well. It would definatly take alll the hassel of cuting and fiting pieces tell me what you think.