Hi,

Basically im wanting to build a crazy v8 mk2 mr2 with custom body kit, front and rear clam type boot/bonnet, slightly lengthened and a tad wider.. can you advice me on the type of carbon fibre would be best suited for looks and light weight? how much carbon fibre would be needed to do a pretty much an entire outer shell? also wanting to custom engine parts / inlet etc and a carbon dash... i've done alot with fibre glass but i think my project needs to be carbon as im wanting to show it on completion, advice on materials and prices would be great.

Thanks

Gary

Matt-

Thanks so much for your reply and for sharing your expertise. 

This is indeed an ambitious project to say the least, but we'll see if I'm able to put some traction to it once the project gets to that stage (which is probably a couple years away if I'm lucky!). 

Conceptually it seems like I'm trying to "have my cake and eat it too" by trying to mould a large, complex part that has the CF exposed for cosmetic reasons.  Exposed CF plus relatively simple part (car hood, trunk lid, etc) = doable if shape and size/contours permit.  Large, complex, painted part = doable because the underlying fiber structure with all the cosmetically "ugly" relief cuts and join lines would be painted or gelcoated over. 

If I understand you correctly, the multi-part mould is not really a "show stopper" for cosmetically perfect exposed CF parts... the mould parts are sealed as you describe below (the UV-resistant clear gelcoat sounds like a good choice since the tackiness would aid in positioning the first layer of fabric), then after de-moulding the gelcoat flash lines are flatted/polished, then the final part is painted with lacquer / clear-coat.  Voila, no evidence of the parting line.

Sounds like the biggest obstacle to pulling off what I'm envisioning is the complexity of the part.  Even with ProFinish, laying up the outermost layer of CF in a large mould like a single piece nose or rear clip while keeping the relief cuts cosmetically acceptable sounds like it may be a bridge too far.  Also, since it appears only the 2x2 twill is available in ProFinish, that limits my options cosmetically.  I presume that the ProFinish process is proprietary and/or not able to be applied to dry CF by an end-user?  There are some pretty neat "patterned" CF fabrics out there now that would make a great "rally stripe" on an exposed CF panel!

Thanks again for the assistance,

-Jon