Would some of you guys be interested in carbon fiber body panels?

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1GTMOPAR

1GTMOPAR

65 DART GT CONV
Joined
Dec 6, 2010
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FAIRFIELD CA.
My buddy and I are thinking about molding carbon fiber body panels. Between the 2 of us we have 5 A bodies and we are testing the waters to see interest. Looking to do trunk lids, hoods, fenders, valences etc. All aerospace composites with factory holes and nut plates. We are going to start pieces on a 69 cuda then move to early A's 63-66 darts, 67-69 darts, Demons and eventually dusters. We figure we can make it to where we can shed 4-6 hundred lbs off the car. A deck lid would weigh roughly 6 lbs total and look completely stock.


Feedback is much appreciated and I'll keep people posted on the progress.
 
I recommend hoods only til things get rollin. More people want them, very easy to install, and less complicated. Good luck on yout new venture !
 
hood fenders doors trunk lid bumpers. i havent spend enough money on the car yet.
 
Yea they will mount up just like the OE stuff with nut plates and rivnuts. Not sure on estimated cost on parts quite yet but initially it will be a small run and we will use our cars to make molds. We are excited about offering stuff no one is making yet. My buddy who is a composite expert use to work for Burt Routan making pieces for the voyager and space ship 1. They will be premium parts and won't go out until they are perfect. I'll keep you guys posted. I figure I'll shed about 300+ lbs off the front of my 65 Dart which should make for a totally different driving experience. With my body, paint and fab skills, it should look totally stock which is what we are shooting for. More to come just trying to get an idea of who may be interested.
 
I might be interested in fenders for the front. Depending on cost
 
Hey 1GTMOPAR. I was actually planning on starting doing the same with my '68 Dart whenever I'd get it back from the shop. I studied composites while I was in college and made some body panels for a small off-roading vehicle I used to race with. I also did some load testing to calculate valid methods of when a composite would delaminate.

I actually have some vacuum bagging material just sitting in my garage. I just need a compressor, material, and some spare body panels for molds and I'm good to go.
 
Test the waters on a 66 Barracuda hood and talk about expense, I sure would think they would sell becouse we can't find them for sale
 
memike said:
Test the waters on a 66 Barracuda hood and talk about expense, I sure would think they would sell becouse we can't find them for sale
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What makes it expensive isn't necessarily the material. I mean, don't get me wrong, but the material is expensive, but what costs more is the labor and time involve. Just like doing body and paint work to a car, there's a lot of labor that's involved in just the preparation. Then there's the lay up which has to be done perfectly to avoid any air pockets or "scrunching" of the weaves in the carbon fiber. Once you lay it up, if you're using vacuum bagging methods, you've got to ensure that you're achieving a proper vacuum that's distributing pressure equally around the part. Then, depending on the resin, you have a wait time usually of at least 12-24 hours. If your mold was designed correctly and you used a good releasing agent, the part should just pop out. Otherwise, you could be fighting the part and the mold, possibly damaging the finished product.

I know of a guy who had a company do him an AAR hood for his '70-something Cuda and it cost him well over $3k.
 
This is a good idea, you can shave a couple hundred pounds with just a carbon hood and bumpers. The how to videos make it look easier than I'm sure it is
 
Although I am into the early a bodies, I would not be interested in carbon fiber parts unless they were reasonably priced. I know what the cost of that stuff is and what layer would be in pain anywhere from $500 to $1,000 for a hood or other body panel for short-run production is really not in the early a- body guys budget. I know you haven't mentioned the price, but I can just imagine how much they're going to cost and I'm just giving you my two cents. Please don't take it as being negative, I'm just saying I wouldn't be interested. I would rather fix up an old metal fender. Thanks for the opportunity, though.
 
Valiant63 said:
Although I am into the early a bodies, I would not be interested in carbon fiber parts unless they were reasonably priced. I know what the cost of that stuff is and what layer would be in pain anywhere from $500 to $1,000 for a hood or other body panel for short-run production is really not in the early a- body guys budget. I know you haven't mentioned the price, but I can just imagine how much they're going to cost and I'm just giving you my two cents. Please don't take it as being negative, I'm just saying I wouldn't be interested. I would rather fix up an old metal fender. Thanks for the opportunity, though.
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There are no repops for 67-8-9 barracuda front fenders. I would have been interested in some a couple of months ago. was going to go fiberglass, but finally found a metal patch panel, I had to massage and weld on it before my body man could finish it.
 
If they fit good, that would be great. I have of time in my glass fenders just to make them fit like a steel fender.
 
1GTMOPAR was last on here March 27, 2017. I think it’s safe to say it’s still very much an idea that hasn’t made it into the design/prototype stage yet. Best to look for sheet metal....
 
Many 64-65 valences are dinged/damaged... but 300 lbs off a nose with CF hood and 2 fenders may be a little inflated. I estimate a hood to be about 60 lbs, and fenders maybe 30/pc as I have never had an early A off but an LS400's was like 10. Bumper maybe 20? Easy money would be Carbon Fiber 64-65 headlight bezels.
 
I agree the costs and quality is the issue.
Like greymouser7 just said too about the costs of F body grills,.... costs of parts has to be relative to value of a given car!! Unless you are a racer, then SPEED costs money! lots of money!!!!!
 
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