Carbon Fiber

[Super1800GTR]

How strong is carbon Fiber?? Strong enough to make floorboards out of?? I'm just courious.

[quote:8eeddb9212]A carbon dash is easy to do , just need some dimensions , i can cut out the spaces for the dials or i can leave it up to the customer . [/quote:8eeddb9212]


Just for future reference: What would something like that cost??

Is it a completely new dash panel or does it go over top your existing?

I'm going to replace the gauges in my 1800 w/ something like autometer. Gonna put a big tach in the middle w/ all the accessory gauges to the side. The project is about a year or so away but I like to plan ahead.

Also... This is WAYYYYYYYYY in the future... but.. would you be the person to talk to if I wanted a carbon hood (w/ scoop) & trunk lid?? Also for the 1800

Rob

[gtlover]

Carbon fiber/epoxy composite really shines in terms of specific stiffness, which is basically saying pound for pound it's stiffer than steel. Fiberglass/epoxy composite has better specific strength, but it's not as stiff as carbon fiber.

But is carbon fiber strong enough for floor boards? Not in a unibody car, unless it's designed from the ground up with a composite chassis. Steel and composites like to be formed into slightly different shapes to take full advantage of their properties.

Could you build a carbon fiber tub and hang a Volvo body and sub frames on it? Yes, but for the price and hassle you could have a full-on SCCA Formula car chassis(series of your choice) if not a turn-key race car (like one of last year's club racers).

Honestly, I think a roll cage and acid-dipped body work (including floor) would be an easier, cheaper, and better way to go.

[boostdemon]

yeah i agree, cost vs. strength/weight would be the factor that would kill it for me. Fiberglass would be best however theres no real advantage of doing something other then welding in new steel floors.

Carbon Fiber, depending on the weave density is stronger than most materials. However, it is a composite. You must build a negative draft mold, layer the fiber, resin it up and bake in an autoclave. The strength of carbon fiber comes from the layers of material, not the resin. Cheap carbon inserts for interiors that say they are "real" usually only use one layer of fiber on a paper or poly base w/ lots of resin slapped on. To do a body, chassis, frame, etc....one must use 10-12 layers of high strength, tight weave stock (i.e. F1 racing grade). The cost of F1 grade is around $1800 a yard. Aston Martin uses a carbon composite platform in the Vanquish, they sandwiched aluminum and carbon fiber together, a real tech advance in manufacturing. It is possible to build anything out of cf, just takes lots of experience and money. There are 4 year degrees offered at better state schools that deal w/ composite fabrication, usually a prereq' for fluid dynamics or aeronotical design. Get a book and read up on the subject.
It would be tight to build up a 240 w/ lots of carbon... just not very easy.

WORD

[volvorsport]

yes floor boards can be made , how much do you want to pay ?

i would always state that carbon is much betterthan fibreglass to do the job .

I dont think you would need 12 layers of the stuff to make the same strength .

since i have made body tubs , each and everyone of us here would probably be able to do the same and hang volvo parts off it for a modest outlay . Depends really on how you use your initiative .