The weight saving thread

[richie]

Made some molds for running boards and stock width early bumpers over last week or so, and made the actual parts now, was ok to take the running boards out today and gave one a basic trim just to see the weight, for reference 1st pic is genuine VW running board, next is an older pattern version then the carbon version

[brewsy]

Made some molds for running boards and stock width early bumpers over last week or so, and made the actual parts now, was ok to take the running boards out today and gave one a basic trim just to see the weight, for reference 1st pic is genuine VW running board, next is an older pattern version then the carbon version

Wow!
4.2KG saving

Nice

[richie]

Made some molds for running boards and stock width early bumpers over last week or so, and made the actual parts now, was ok to take the running boards out today and gave one a basic trim just to see the weight, for reference 1st pic is genuine VW running board, next is an older pattern version then the carbon version

Wow!
4.2KG saving

Nice

Yep good isn't it    Stock width carbon bumpers are done, just need trimming and then weigh in time

[brewsy]

Stock width carbon bumpers are done, just need trimming and then weigh in time

Hmm,
I seem to be spending far too much money recently...
Shame to cover the carbon BUT if they were then coated in that 'plastic' chrome stuff youd be able to keep the look of bumpers but with the weight saving of nerf bars... 

[aki]

Cool stuff! If running board mould be taken with the rubber but without the aluminium list you could just paint it flat black or use rubber dip paint lightly to achieve stock look using stock alu strip on the side. Or just replicate the stock narrow and wide mouldings in carbon and paint it using aluminium/chrome paint. 🤔😁

[spoolin70]

Hi Richie

Well done on the carbon fibre parts, the finish looks really good.

For your reference, I've had carbon running boards for a few years, purchased from CSP. I got one out of the loft earlier and weighed it as a comparison. Sorry, no digital scales available.

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Just over 400grams. So good job on getting the weight down even more. You can see light through these in places they are so thin 

Also, this label is within the weave on the underside, anyone your familiar with ?

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[richie]

Hi Richie

Well done on the carbon fibre parts, the finish looks really good.

For your reference, I've had carbon running boards for a few years, purchased from CSP. I got one out of the loft earlier and weighed it as a comparison. Sorry, no digital scales available.

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Just over 400grams. So good job on getting the weight down even more. You can see light through these in places they are so thin 

Also, this label is within the weave on the underside, anyone your familiar with ?

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Thanks, good reference there for my weight aims, mine are really strong and thick still, no chance to see through them, probably strong enough to stand on once bolted to car I think, yours look like they are hand laid which if so will always be heavier even with less carbon layeys

cheers Richie

[richie]

Hi Richie

Well done on the carbon fibre parts, the finish looks really good.

For your reference, I've had carbon running boards for a few years, purchased from CSP. I got one out of the loft earlier and weighed it as a comparison. Sorry, no digital scales available.

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Just over 400grams. So good job on getting the weight down even more. You can see light through these in places they are so thin 

Also, this label is within the weave on the underside, anyone your familiar with ?

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Jesus i just looked at price of them from csp!!!



https://www.csp-shop.com/en/body/running-boards-carbon-fiber-898-509-111bk-14879a.html

[richie]

Made a 67 rear apron replacement in carbon, nice saving for me there

[brewsy]

Made a 67 rear apron replacement in carbon, nice saving for me there

Richie, youre going to turn me into a pauper!!! 

[richie]

Made a 67 rear apron replacement in carbon, nice saving for me there

Richie, youre going to turn me into a pauper!!! 

Worse ways to spend your money

[richie]

Today was a good day with both these coming out the moulds bonnet is a little lighter than a raceweight fiberglass version but 10 times as strong

[johandryselius]

Very nice!

[Basti]

Masterclass!!!

[Neil Davies]

You're getting good at this!  I saw the photos of the old bonnet deforming at speed (maybe on Faceache? Deleted my profile on there now, couldn't be doing with it!) and it looked quite alarming! Have you built any ribs in the back to strengthen it up, or just relying on the material properties and VWs design?

[leec]

That bonnet looks amazing 

[richie]

You're getting good at this!  I saw the photos of the old bonnet deforming at speed (maybe on Faceache? Deleted my profile on there now, couldn't be doing with it!) and it looked quite alarming! Have you built any ribs in the back to strengthen it up, or just relying on the material properties and VWs design?

Just relying on the carbon strength with a core material as well as factory pressings, in a simple test fiberglass bonnet deformed on the big top areas with 7kg weight[lead bar] on it and this doesn't deform with 25kg on it in same place[that was all lead bar i had around

[richie]

This is the picture Neil mentioned that provoked me to make the carbon bonnet, you can see the fiberglass version collapsing on the top area and this is only at 130mph so going 170 who know how bad it is

[MegaRookie]

That looks like some serious elastic deformation on the bonnet. Sorry for asking, but didn't you also have any issues with ground cleance to your bumper brackets at the higher speed? 

Ps. The carbon fibre parts you made look really good!

Mark

[richie]

That looks like some serious elastic deformation on the bonnet. Sorry for asking, but didn't you also have any issues with ground cleance to your bumper brackets at the higher speed? 

Ps. The carbon fibre parts you made look really good!

Mark

This is 1st time with the splitter front airdam combo so still learning what is needed for it to work best, but no thats lowest it got so nothing rubbing on ground yet

[stretch]

This is the picture Neil mentioned that provoked me to make the carbon bonnet, you can see the fiberglass version collapsing on the top area and this is only at 130mph so going 170 who know how bad it is

'Only 130mph'.......  Soe of us dream of that terminal speed.   

[Frallan]

I think the pictures are self-explanatory.

- Remmele CF doors 4,25 kg
- Doors with hinges and window mechanism. No glass. 14,5 kg
- Complete doors including mirror. 20 kg

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[Frallan]

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[Frallan]

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These guys are heavy.
I could hardly hold the door with my left hand and take a picture with my right hand. :-)

[richie]

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These guys are heavy.
I could hardly hold the door with my left hand and take a picture with my right hand. :-)

Its those fancy aftermarket mirrors that add all the weight


Thanks for weighing then though,appreciated

[richie]

Another small saving, factory steel light housings weigh 244g each side, these carbon ones i made 54g, and i will use led lights inside which save another 60g over the normal steel bulb holder and bulbs each side

[Frallan]

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These guys are heavy.
I could hardly hold the door with my left hand and take a picture with my right hand. :-)

Its those fancy aftermarket mirrors that add all the weight

No heavy mirrors on my car.... 
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[richie]

 

[PPRMicke]

 
/// Micke

[Frallan]

Richie, I do not know what or how to "beat you" right now. Gasoline refill door in CF?
Replace the roof?
Make a full CF VW tub beetle? That would be cool! 
I guess I should start by installing my doors and the missing rear bumper too.

Anyway, these are two pictures from my workplace. Maybe a CF wheel for our beetles? Naw, price would be silly just to do the tools needed.
I am practical guy and my only formal title is Composite Engineer (diploma from the early 80´s) but I am neither very skilled or have any practice on the topic doing the CF parts myself. So buying the parts is expensive.
But dreaming is fun!

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