98' LS1 SS

Can someone please post me up a link or direct pics of your carbon fiber interiors so that i can see if i am gonna buy it or not...THANKS A LOT...i am looking to buying the one from RK Sport adhesive one

MadIceV8

iTrader: (12)

Very very nice looking, but also a big hit in the wallet! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" />

<img src="http://members.aol.com/steven0932/interior.jpg" alt=" - " />

Todd2001SS

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by 98' LS1 SS:
<strong>Can someone please post me up a link or direct pics of your carbon fiber interiors so that i can see if i am gonna buy it or not...THANKS A LOT...i am looking to buying the one from RK Sport adhesive one</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Click on my sig for more pics...

<img src="http://groups.msn.com/isapi/fetch.dll?action=MyPhotos_GetPubPhoto&PhotoID=nGAC PA8YEfis!7Bjb4kEL!v3!wyiKMXyyx4jp4yEv6vkVnVTx0Uik4 9Rj!3dIFvh3" alt=" - " />

<img src="http://groups.msn.com/isapi/fetch.dll?action=MyPhotos_GetPubPhoto&PhotoID=nGAC PA6EEKiml8sDzw9O2PohVIaW2eIPCFrz4RTiFkiXc3xOfOn!GU tRj!3dIFvh3" alt=" - " />

Steve1969LS1

iTrader: (1)

lol.. I was going to post my interior but someone beat me to it <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

RK Sport dosent make that kit anymore but they have a new one that is supposed to give the same effect but cost less..

I think CF is nice subtle accent..

LS1Baron

Save yourself some serious money. It is REALLY easy to CF your current pieces yourself. I di my entire interior for less than $300, and that includes the sail panels. In my car, it's either leather or CF. You can get the stuff at the following website:
http://www.fiberglast.com

MadIceV8

iTrader: (12)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Steve2000SS:
<strong>lol.. I was going to post my interior but someone beat me to it <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Steve your starting to get a little slow at your old age <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

Blu Beast

iTrader: (1)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by mhulslan:
<strong>Save yourself some serious money. It is REALLY easy to CF your current pieces yourself. I di my entire interior for less than $300, and that includes the sail panels. In my car, it's either leather or CF. You can get the stuff at the following website:
http://www.fiberglast.com</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Awesome!!......thanks for the web site and the potential savings!!.....any pics?!, and how easy was it?, the cutting and epoxy and stuff, what all was involved in it?.....and how many pieces did you do in your interior?.....

Blu Beast

iTrader: (1)

TTT..........for mhulslan

2001SO1LESS

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by mhulslan:
<strong>Save yourself some serious money. It is REALLY easy to CF your current pieces yourself. I di my entire interior for less than $300, and that includes the sail panels. In my car, it's either leather or CF. You can get the stuff at the following website:
http://www.fiberglast.com</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">What exact kit did you order?

LS1Baron

LONG REPLY

I didn't order it as a kit. I ordered 5 sq. yards of carbon fiber, laminating resin, hardener, and surface coat. All told, it ran just shy of $300. It was enough material to cover the following pieces:
1. a-pillars
2. radio bezel
3. instrument cluster bezel
4. vent bezels
5. center console (complete)
6. armrest
7. sail panels
8. rear speaker housings
9. window/mirror control inserts

Not bad for $300, huh? The best part is that since you laminate the carbon fiber directly onto the plastic, there are no annoying molds to make. And... I still have enough left over to fabricate an overhead console. Toy absolutely would not BELIEVE how easy this stuff is to work with.

You need the following items:
1. carbon fiber fabric and resins listed above
2. a good supply of REALLY SHARP blades (x-acto is your friend)
3. PVA glue [do not use polystyrene glue (modelling glue) or cyanoacrylate (superglue) as these will interfere with resin adhesion]
4. mixing pots, 1 qt. size
5. a really old set of clothing
6. paint brushes
7. very well ventilated area (this stuff could knock a buzzard off of a $hi+ wagon)

Remove the trim pieces you'd like to cover. Start small for the practice. cut and shape the carbon fiber fabric using the sharpest blade you have. X-acto knives are perfect for this. Razor blades are good also, but the fabric will dull them very quickly. Once you have the general shape, use PVA glue SPARINGLY to lightly hold it in place for final cutting. Once the general shape is applied, brush on the laminating resin, which will adhere to the CF surface. After approx. 1 hour, brush on the hardener. 1 hour after that, brush on the laminate. Once the laminate is on, do not touch, move, bend, fold, spindle or mutilate for at least 8 hours. There will be a slight texture to the CF with this method. To smooth it out, you can brush on more layers of laminate. Remember to leave at least 8 hours between coats. Once fully dried, wet sand with very fine sandpaper to get that lovely mirror finish. If there is overflow around the edges, a dremel with a shaping burr works wonders. After all that work, you have a beautiful custom CF interior, which body shops and specialty fabricators will charge anywhere from $1500 to $3000 for, at an extremey reduced price.

Blu Beast

iTrader: (1)

mhulslan, awesome! again......thanks for the great "how to" and items list and connection, this is exactally what I was looking for, a great hands on MOD that I can do myself and HELLA savings on top of it!!........can you please post some pics of your finished pieces?, dying to see some of the things that don't come in "kits", (i.e.) Sail panels, speaker housings that sort of thing.......sounds like your whole interior is overflowing with Carbon Fiber, awesome!!...... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Blu Beast

iTrader: (1)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by mhulslan:
<strong>Yes, the carbon fiber is a little excessive but I love it. Now for the embarrassing admission. While I did get a digital camera for X-mas, and I am a LAN administrator for a major university, I CAN'T GET THE F**KING THING TO WORK!!! As soon as I do, though, I'm going to start posting pics to my website on several how-to articles. I just havent created the website yet. I'm trying to figure out the best way to use the 3 Tb of space available to me! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If/when you get the camera working.....I would be happy to host the pics on my web page and post them for you......no biggie, just click the e-mail and mail them to me........

so again, it is easy to work with the carbon fiber sheet?....how about angles and curves on some pieces?, how hard was doing that?....and the glue that you recomend, does Fiberglast have all the stuff that you recomend?......

LS1Baron

Yes, the carbon fiber is a little excessive but I love it. Now for the embarrassing admission. While I did get a digital camera for X-mas, and I am a LAN administrator for a major university, I CAN'T GET THE F**KING THING TO WORK!!! As soon as I do, though, I'm going to start posting pics to my website on several how-to articles. I just havent created the website yet. I'm trying to figure out the best way to use the 3 Tb of space available to me! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

LS1Baron

The CF fabric is easy to deal with, if you have sharp blades. Since you're starting out, I'll give you the best tip I can. In addition to the CF sheet, go to a fabric store and pick up some loose fabric scraps. It's easy to use these as templates. Also, the CF fabric is not rigids until laminayed, and the open weave allows you to use light pressure to bend it around curves. As for the glue, Elmer's is just fine. Fiberglast carries all of the stuff you need. Instead of ordering off of the website, call them and speak to a salesman. Just remember to tell them you're going to CF some car trim pieces. They'll hook you up.

Blu Beast

iTrader: (1)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by mhulslan:
<strong> The CF fabric is easy to deal with, if you have sharp blades. Since you're starting out, I'll give you the best tip I can. In addition to the CF sheet, go to a fabric store and pick up some loose fabric scraps. It's easy to use these as templates. Also, the CF fabric is not rigids until laminayed, and the open weave allows you to use light pressure to bend it around curves. As for the glue, Elmer's is just fine. Fiberglast carries all of the stuff you need. Instead of ordering off of the website, call them and speak to a salesman. Just remember to tell them you're going to CF some car trim pieces. They'll hook you up. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">thanks again for the walk through........anxious to see some pics when you can......

94z28ls1

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Steve2000SS:
<strong> lol.. I was going to post my interior but someone beat me to it <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

RK Sport dosent make that kit anymore but they have a new one that is supposed to give the same effect but cost less..

I think CF is nice subtle accent.. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Just looked at your pics That has got to be the cleanest engine I have ever seen much props Great work. I hope I get to that point with my car

WILWAXU

iTrader: (6)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by mhulslan:
<strong>... Now for the embarrassing admission. While I did get a digital camera for X-mas, and I am a LAN administrator for a major university, I CAN'T GET THE F**KING THING TO WORK!!! ...</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hehe.. sounds like a Apple commercial <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

I'm very interested in this, and would be interested in seeing your car. I'm over in Frederick.. Are you a member of www.easternfbody.com ?

Blu Beast

iTrader: (1)

mhulslan , I thought of a few more things since I'm trying to picture doing this in my mind with out having the stuff in front of me......when you are cutting the fabric, you are doing it as close to the edges of the piece as you can or just somewhat and the Dremeling them off after the epoxy has dried over the C.F. and it's hard?.....also, the glue is applied just spreading it over the piece or fabric once you are ready to seal it with the epoxy?, and is that the only thing holding it to the surface of the piece, or does the epoxy seep through and stick to the plactic trim pieces too?...sorry for all the questions, this is just the first time I've heard of doing this on our own, I guess the rep at Fiberglast could answer all my questions, but I like your first hand experience with the stuff...

Tudds

iTrader: (4)

This is a GREAT idea! I want to do this so bad, I'm alittle scared since I'm all twitchy.. can you buy like a little test piece so maybe I can do something small? I dunno I'd still need all the equipment <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> we'll see <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
Thanks a lot though

LS1Baron

WILWAXU: I didn't even know it existed! I'm down at 75-80 about every other weekend in the summer, though. Soon enough, my car will be visible as a rolling display piece, because I'll be opening a speed shop in Westminster! Lord love the SBA!

Blu Beast: I never mind questins. How are you going to learn without asking? When cutting pieces, I try to keep within 1/16" of the edges, but that's just personal preference. Dremel off the edged with a cutting burr, and then polish them with a mushroom buff or a felt buff bob with plastic buffing compound (Eastwood carries it). The glue is applied at the edges, with just enough on to barely make it wet. You just need enough to BARELY hold it in place. I usually use a 1:1 dilution of glue and water. The laminate soaks through and seals the carbon fiber fabric to the piece. You CANNOT remove it.

Tudds: Go to a body shop in your area, and ask if they have any CF scraps. Another good source is a college with a good mechanical engineering department. Your best practice piece is the ashtray cover.

Remember , guys, the WORST thing you could do is ruin a small trim piece. This is not a critical failure, as any practice piece is less than $20 to replace. I went through three radio bezels before I got it right. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />