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carbon fiber or aluminum hard tops update post 9

rdn2blazer

rdn2blazer

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how expensive do ya think carbon fiber would be? just for kicks I called Marcell's, the people that did boydes alumatub roadster and enquired about a aluminum top for a 73', and that my top could be the sample. they said they could do it but unless you are doing a 200,000 show truck it would not be worth it. they said it would be in the 10,000 to 15,000 doller range. and with off roading and the flex it would probably crack the welds after a while. how bitchin would a carbon fiber top be though. super light ,easy to remove.
 
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dude, you live in california... ditch the top permenently and run a $50 home made bikini top already.

j
 
jek, no need to be bitter cause it rains there so often :D , I just think a top like that would be cool, thats all.
 
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i dont think its worth it. carbon fiber is very light and super strong, but it shatters if you hit it hard enough. then you would have to replace and that is not worth it. but it would be AWSOME.
 
rdn2blazer said:
jek, no need to be bitter cause it rains there so often :D
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lol, and my rig is still topless/doorless/gateless. :grin:

I just think a top like that would be cool, that all.
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in a bling sort of way I guess... of course if it ever got bashed offroading (or in a car accident on road) you'd be crying your eyes out, especially when the insurance company doesn't pay for it. ;)

j
 
You could allways do a carbon fiber overlay for the look.
Would be different and kind of cool. :D
 
Am I insane or what?!?!

So I inquired about a CF top at a company and was quoted what I think is a decent price, aprox $2500 to 3k. They seem very interested in doing it! I said it's never been done to my knowledge. I have asked more questions which I'm waiting for an answer on but it's something I'm going to consider. The top would be CF with Kevlar lined interior surface. Would have factory windshield seal shape to run a factory seal. Rear door is up in the air since I'm running a pickup truck tail gate. We are discussing the design feature of the rear door now. I want to run scratch proof SpeedGlass in the side & rear door window. It would weigh in the neighborhood of 25 to 50lbs aprox. depending on if it was ribbed and double walled like the factory top or not and how much the SpeedGlass weighs ofcourse. :D
 
I'm going to vote on the insane part, :D but that would be a way cool thing to build, if the price was a bit cheaper maybe market, a 50 lb top would be cool
 
The top is going to cost more than the average blazer
 
Id say the only reason cost should be a factor is if you can afford it or not. Plenty of people spend more than that on rims for cars that are worth less and give no plus other than a look. Hell, usually it makes it ride worse and damage parts more often. Around here there is about a hundred mid 80s monte carlo / cutlass style cars with 22 or 24 inch rims that cost tons. So I say if you can afford it, why not!? It will without a doubt be cool as hell and very unique.
 
DR said:
Id say the only reason cost should be a factor is if you can afford it or not. Plenty of people spend more than that on rims for cars that are worth less and give no plus other than a look. Hell, usually it makes it ride worse and damage parts more often. Around here there is about a hundred mid 80s monte carlo / cutlass style cars with 22 or 24 inch rims that cost tons. So I say if you can afford it, why not!? It will without a doubt be cool as hell and very unique.
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THANK YOU. I can afford it kinda. Atleast I'm willing to work the extra OT to get it done. I'm not doing it to be different or for the bling or ANY of that. I could care less about that crap. I want it for the light weight and ease of removal. I HATE relying on people for help. It irratates the hell out of me. It would be different and one of a kind no doubt. It would be WAY WAY easier to remove by myself. Hell I would probably have it painted to match the color of my truck when all is said and done.
 
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I just talked with the guy on the phone about some of the design and build ideas. I think I am going to do this. Need to save some money. He said it will be more then strong enough to stand on. Should not be a problem to build. Will take about 3 to 4 weeks once he has the original 73' hard top for a pattern. I need to take and send him pics of the top. I also need to smooth out the top and primer it. He said the smoother it is and the less he has to do on it to clean it up the better the Carbon Fiber finish will come out.
 
rdn2blazer said:
I just talked with the guy on the phone about some of the design and build ideas. I think I am going to do this. Need to save some money. He said it will be more then strong enough to stand on. Should not be a problem to build. Will take about 3 to 4 weeks once he has the original 73' hard top for a pattern. I need to take and send him pics of the top. I also need to smooth out the top and primer it. He said the smoother it is and the less he has to do on it to clean it up the better the Carbon Fiber finish will come out.
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I'm sure he is going to use your old top to make a plug/mold for the new one.

I'm kind of interested to see how this turns out as I'm done some CF work in the past.

Goodluck to you on this.
 
rdn2blazer said:
I just talked with the guy on the phone about some of the design and build ideas. I think I am going to do this. Need to save some money. He said it will be more then strong enough to stand on. Should not be a problem to build. Will take about 3 to 4 weeks once he has the original 73' hard top for a pattern. I need to take and send him pics of the top. I also need to smooth out the top and primer it. He said the smoother it is and the less he has to do on it to clean it up the better the Carbon Fiber finish will come out.
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Alright, rdn2money-bags. Will you work a tad more overtime and buy me one of them nifty new Softtopper lids for my '72? I'll PM you my shipping addy. Standby.:doah:
 
rdn2blazer said:
I just talked with the guy on the phone about some of the design and build ideas. I think I am going to do this. Need to save some money. He said it will be more then strong enough to stand on. Should not be a problem to build. Will take about 3 to 4 weeks once he has the original 73' hard top for a pattern. I need to take and send him pics of the top. I also need to smooth out the top and primer it. He said the smoother it is and the less he has to do on it to clean it up the better the Carbon Fiber finish will come out.
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Out of curiosity, did you talk with anyone about making a lighter weight fiberglass top? Are you using glass windows or polycarbonate ones?
 
I need to shed some weight from my rig. I want to see how this turns out.
 
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