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A thread a few weeks ago posed the question about what CF parts we’d like fabricated which got me thinking. While procrastinating at work I searched up carbon fibre fabricators here in Auckland. My thinking was that with the high tech boating fabrication here with the America’s Cup boat construction someone might be able to make the wing.
Long story short I was put on to a young guy who is in the boating industry who makes auto CF parts in his spare time.
I have caught up with him for chat to understand what he can do and take his measure. I think he can do what he says he can do re what he’s done before. He has costed the materials to make the wing at NZ$800 which can make 2 wings (min order amounts) and he’s said his time will be another NZ$700 to make the wing. The materials he will use to make the mound will mean it will be reusable so other wings could be made.
I am going ahead with the project. I’ll see if I can scare up interest for a second wing here in NZ via the transaxle FB group as that’ll cut costs.
I’ll repost with the final result to let you guys see the end result. It is a bit of a vanity project but if I can get a good replication of the wing in CF for $1500 that is way less $ and way lighter than the factory item.
Cheers
Richard
It should be an attractive piece and light enough that shipping from N.Z. to anywhere in the world might not be prohibitive.
Looking forward to the photos!
P.S. The Auckland Boating/Sailing industry amazes me! When traveling there in 2016 I realized that there must be more boats than cars in the city!
A friend has a 78 ft Carbon Fiber Philippe Kahn sailboat laid up in Aukland. It is amazing to think that they can oven bake these huge hulls to cure the carbon fibre as one piece!
Good luck with it. That really sounds good. Years ago on my '89 GT I had a 928 Specialists carbon fiber wing that was ridiculously light weight. Theirs however was not designed as a CF replica of an S4+ factory wing.
Cheers guys. The min order amount for materials allows for 2 wings which I have paid for. He is doing a mould that will allow for additional pieces to be made. I’ll wait until my wing is made and can show the end result here. The guy making is reasonably keen to do more if it works out okay. If it works out I guess we can figure it out from there.
Hopefully it’ll be finished in a couple of weeks.
There were Carbon Fiber parts for the 928 in the past. There were wings, engine struts, dash boards, hoods, etc. There was even a one off CF hatch, doors, etc. At the time, the price point was very high so the interest just wasn't there. Hopefully that has changed. Good luck with this project. Keep us posted.
Carbon fiber that's worth a darn, IS expensive. I see the phenomenon on other message boards where people post of Carbon Fiber parts and being, 1. Beautiful, 2. well constructed, 3. inexpensive/reasonably priced.
If the wing is made like the fiberglass replicas then they are hollow with the upper and lower shells glued together and be sure that the bolts are 100 % aligned to a factory spoiler so it fits the cars with no drilling. also be sure to embed aluminum blocks to thread the bolts into (rivet nuts tend to break loose )
Thank you for the tip on the aluminium blocks. I’ll check with him re what system he proposes to use. The wing will be upper and lower pieces bonded together, the CF is hand laid. The cost of the materials he is using totals NZ$800 which could make 2 wings. He is making the mould this weekend. This is a bit of a punt by me re what I end up with. If it works I’ll be very happy as it’ll be way cheaper than a replacement factory wing. If it doesn’t well ... nothing ventured nothing gained.
If the wing is made like the fiberglass replicas then they are hollow with the upper and lower shells glued together and be sure that the bolts are 100 % aligned to a factory spoiler so it fits the cars with no drilling. also be sure to embed aluminum blocks to thread the bolts into (rivet nuts tend to break loose )
.....and if so, just use a carbon fiber wrap. How much weight / dollar are you really saving? ....on a street car?
.....and if so, just use a carbon fiber wrap. How much weight / dollar are you really saving? ....on a street car?
each his own
Ya..to each..
Im also figuring from my own experience, 15-25hrs of labor on this if the first molds and parts work out perfectly. Time is worth a lot of money. A large two piece part is an alignment nightmare, and takes a lot of prep in the two molds, then two pieces, and then mating them well.
Shouldn't be hard to make alum blocks secure for making the attachment studs work, can do that inside the lower part while its open quite nicely, ensuring both sides align really nice will need a jig made up, can do that in an hour..
Not sure I would do an LED strip, as it would have to be A) powered from somewhere and B) serviceable, and IMHO, a CF wing is already far away from the understated purpose of the 928, that an out of place 3rd brake light that doesn't belong there (image and style wise)..just takes more away from it.
Im sure the op will like it, but its gonna cost a fortune if he isn't getting labor for free.
Im also figuring from my own experience, 15-25hrs of labor on this if the first molds and parts work out perfectly. Time is worth a lot of money. A large two piece part is an alignment nightmare, and takes a lot of prep in the two molds, then two pieces, and then mating them well.
Shouldn't be hard to make alum blocks secure for making the attachment studs work, can do that inside the lower part while its open quite nicely, ensuring both sides align really nice will need a jig made up, can do that in an hour..
Not sure I would do an LED strip, as it would have to be A) powered from somewhere and B) serviceable, and IMHO, a CF wing is already far away from the understated purpose of the 928, that an out of place 3rd brake light that doesn't belong there (image and style wise)..just takes more away from it.
Im sure the op will like it, but its gonna cost a fortune if he isn't getting labor for free.
I've got one of the original CF wings that some one made. I honestly do not remember how I came to getting it except J Wise showed up one day with it and said he had that for me from someone else. It's not something I'd put on my car as the construction is pretty poor. I'll have to dig it out and hang it on the wall like I had planned on when it showed up.
As to the light, getting power for that is one of the simplest things on a 928 that an S4 style wing would have. 3rd Brake light. Add wiring to the location, put a hole for it and wire it up. If my Jagermond wing had the spot for it, or I was so inclined to cut in to it I would put it in there in a heartbeat. That LED brake light in the wing may very well be the most requested LED mod I get.
I've got one of the original CF wings that some one made. I honestly do not remember how I came to getting it except J Wise showed up one day with it and said he had that for me from someone else. It's not something I'd put on my car as the construction is pretty poor. I'll have to dig it out and hang it on the wall like I had planned on when it showed up.
As to the light, getting power for that is one of the simplest things on a 928 that an S4 style wing would have. 3rd Brake light. Add wiring to the location, put a hole for it and wire it up. If my Jagermond wing had the spot for it, or I was so inclined to cut in to it I would put it in there in a heartbeat. That LED brake light in the wing may very well be the most requested LED mod I get.
Oh ya, the wiring wont be hard itself, but a new hole, and water and corrosion long term...holes in a body done right -are- hard. I give the hole itself a 1 wrench in 10 for how hard it is to make one.
11-14-2018 | 03:21 AM
Carbon fibre S4 wing
