Anyone into making fiberglass stuff? Hoods, fenders, wings etc.? Is it hard to learn?

 

my dad made the hood and fenders (one piece like a c4 corvette) and the decklid on our spitfire in fiberglass.

It's not hard to do once you have the right materials but it takes a long time to make it look right.

 

Thirdgens started in 1982. It would be cool if we could fit 18s easier like newer cars. New fenders would make it easier.

 

This summer I might try to learn how to lay fiberglass. Then I can make a tall 3-piece spoiler and make everybody here jealous!! Hey..........I could make some money here........

 

I sure would like to know! I would love to fabricate some of my own pieces in either sheet metal or fiberglass.

 

You would be an Offical TOOL if you made a wing like that!!

 

If you could fiberglass a ram air box to seal to a ASCD ram air hood I would gladly pay you and kiss your *** for it

 

Alright, i will try to help u out. I have been thinking about fiberglassing for a while. I will try to get the site that my friend has that has everything u need to do fiberglassing. WHat u have to do is make a mold out of like cardboard. THan u need to spray down the mold with this stuff that makes it not sticky and than put like 10 layers down. THan u have to sand like 1 layer off to make it look right. Me and my friend are going to start it in like a month, i am going to make alot of molds for different things like spoilers and stuff, just try, i will post the site in a little, i just have to run over to house and get it

 

That honestly doesn't sound all that hard. Just get a cardboard box about the right size you want. cut to fit. Remove. Wrap it or cover it in something fiberglass won't stick to. Cover it in fiberglass, I would do the outside and not the inside. Take it off the box, then reinforce it by laying fiberglass inside it. Once its done sand and paint and do whatever else you need make it stay. Shouldn't be to hard, but then I've never tried so.......
Anyway it's just an idea. Now making something kinda rounded and as big as a hood, dang. I guess it's the molds that sound kinda difficult.........

 

Yeah it doesnt sound hard, but I'm either busy with college ****, like class or getting drunk, or when im at home over the summer I am working full time. Plus I'll be doing a T56 swap. Basically learning how to fiberglass isnt an option right now. Also, its something that takes craftsmanship- Youre going to have to be skilled with your hands and have a good eye for things, and a good imagination so that it turns out professional.

 

Really, if u buy the video, it shows every step, u could learn it in like 1 hour, thats how my friend did it, i am going over tomorrow because he isnt home right now and i will find out the site name that sells the stuff just incase any of u want to fiberglass.

 

my dad did our racecar hood and fenders by simply laying the glass over a steel hood. he sprayed it with releasing agent and went to work. the only problem now was that the fiberglass pattern was on the outside of the new hood which required him to skim it over with bondo (don't laugh, it looks great and has lasted 5 years). a mold would be better and easier but you have to store it and take the time to make it. we chose to forego that.

It took awhile to do the tight compound curves like where the headlights are, but it cut the weight in half. we used 3 layers of fiberglass but in retrospect, we could've used 2 and been even lighter.

 

Any word on the site?

 

Hold on, i will try to get it soon, he hasnt been home, his parents said that he went to new york for the weekend and he wont be home until monday.

 

That's cool, just checking in.

 

Heres one hat i had in my bookmarks, its not the one that i was talking about, but it is still a good site

http://www.tapplastics.com/fiberglass/

hope it helps

 

I'm not sure its possible. I've not seen your hood in person, but I would think the inlets are too far back. Some have asked if the SunCoast box will work, but Year one said it won't. Thats why I paid the extra money for the Suncoast hood. Sure the ASCD hood is soo much cheaper, thats why. They did not work nearly as hard to develop the hood as Suncoast did. The Ram air inlets really need to be that far forward to give you the room to mount the box and be able to leave room for the mass air and such.

 

Where can i get the Suncost hood and will it work on a camaro, i have no clue what it looks like but i am for any hood that is functional

 

www.suncoastcreations.com

I did not see anything for 3rd gen Camaros though. Do a search online for Ram air hoods and see what you find. Thats how I found SunCoast to begin with.

 

Why waste your time with fiberglass. Go carbonfiber or kevlar. its paintable if you dont like the look. Or you can get it in solid black or colors

http://www.carbcom.com/index.html

e-mail me at tpi383@svol.net for detailed instructions how to make stuff.


I do fiberglass/carbonfiber/kevlar aircraft stuff for a living

 

Yeah, that would be cool, but wouldn't that cost more? Oh, and your link isn't working.

Any word yet on the other site? not to be impatient or anything

 

The ASCD hood is kinda weird. There is a lot of room over the radiator for clearance issues. The problem is the hood is not open there originally. I cut out the back to allow air to flow directly through the hood; normally it enters the nostrils and flows sideways to the stock air cleaner area. I plugged those and it goes right into the engine compartment. Im going to try out the suncoast one, we will see how it goes. If it doesnt fit right away, it will at least be a good template to make one that does.

 

One thing to remember for those who are going to attempt this.
The SunCoast hood it has a baffle to keep the rain from directly going into the air filter. You may have to mock something up or you will be raming water into the filter anytime it rains.