Carbon Fiber Body Parts

[texinxin]

Does anyone know of anyone who makes carbon fiber hoods, fenders, etc for the 67-72 pickup/blazer/jimmy?

What about new blazer/jimmy tops made of carbon fiber?

 

[dfl701]

Why the interest in carbon fiber?

 

[TDAWG1]

light weight and looks good

 

[cdoggwsu]

VIS racing makes carbon fiber hoods for some of the later model Blazers, Tahoes and Suburbans, etc., but nothing for the 60's or 70's models as far as I know. Contacting them or a similar manufacturer may offer some more info.

It would be pretty sick to have a carbon fiber hard top.

 

[Dyno_Ron]

How are the carbon fiber prices these days? A few years ago, I forget the name, but that big airplane (Airbus?) made a run on carbon fiber and was driving the price way up.

 

[cdoggwsu]

I was just poking around this morning and the hoods looked to be in the $700 neighborhood (for the '92+ models). That being the case, a fullsize Blazer topper couldn't be cheap.

 

[dfl701]

Yea I could not imagine the prices and I'm sure nobody makes anything.

 

[Dyno_Ron]

Isn't there a way to make something look like carbon fiber? Some sort of coating or surface treatment.

 

[dfl701]

I think they make a sticker type deal that you can cover panels in

 

[cdoggwsu]

I know they make pre-molded stick-on carbon fiber "look" kits for imports and such, never saw much reason to bother doing it to an old truck. A few years back a buddy of mine bought some cheapo K5 replacement taillights off of ebay (euro style) and the ones he received had a fake carbon fiber backing in them...looked incredibly ghey.

On the other hand, a real carbon fiber topper/hood would be sweet and I imagine a substantial weight savings over the fiberglass in addition to being much more rigid. It could always be painted/textured so as to not look so riced out.

 

[runamok151]

you can get stuff in fiberglass, which will be lighter
http://www.mcneilracinginc.com/

and

http://www.hannemannfiberglass.com/

 

[howdiy]

I think there is osmething about carbon fiber hoods not breaking and when you hit something they go through the windshield

 

[cdoggwsu]

I think there is osmething about carbon fiber hoods not breaking and when you hit something they go through the windshield

Carbon fiber is strong, but I don't know about that strong. I would think in a front end crash it would shatter just like fiberglass. I've seen CF hoods on imports (yes, smaller and lower to the ground) shatter so I would assume it's the same for a larger truck.

 

[Renoboatboy]

Is the wieght savings significant? I would guess 200 lbs if you did top, fenders and hood and would guess it would cost a couple thousand at least.