Hello all, I am a new member to this forum, I own a 1999 996 and am contemplating installing Carbon Fiber panels in place of the stock hood, fenders, quater panels, bumpers, and decklid. Does anyone have any experience with the outcome of such a modification? The weight reduction will obviously improve performance in some areas, but will additional changes need to be made to this otherwise stock car to compensate for the different weight characteristic? Thanks

 

I'm guessing no comments cause it sounds a bit like overkill, and being your first post Tim aka hada911 (sleeping on the job, or too busy driving his new car without a care in the world re: gas mileage) should have given you the one piece of advise essential to newbies: Please post some #$#$% pictures of your ride. Anyway, welocome.

 

Comment: All this CF work is great - For a track car. Why? Because only on the track will you see the true benefits of all that weight loss.

C.

 

My question would be, where do you get it and wouldn't it cost more than the car itself?

 

Thanks for the ribbing, I'll have to get some pictures up soon! I'd have to disagree with the statement that the effects of adding either all or even a few carbon fiber panels to a street car could only be felt at the track. Inherent in weight reduction is an equivalent apparent increase in HP. Additionally, the reduction of weight in general will benefit the handling characteristics of the car. Im not saying that the full extent of this modification could be felt on the street but I believe that it could certaintly be felt. In terms of cost, its pretty expensive but it doesn't outweigh the cost of the car. Agree, disagree? Anybody who has put their car on a diet, regardless of how, want to weigh in?

 

Unless you're street racing (not recommended)..maybe. But driving light to light...uh...no sorry.

And FWIW - even full the full 996 GT3 RSR factory race cars have metal rear quarters. Mostly for crash worthiness. Good luck with the adventure.

image:



C.

 

I would have to agree that Composite quater panels would be the ones to omit from the list, roof too maybe. I hear so rarely of people replacing panels on 996's, even on cars that see occasional track time, and I wonder why that is given that it is a pretty common modification in the performance world in general.

 

It's a fairly common practice in the sportbike community. The performance gains usually equal 1HP gained for every 8 lbs shed. That will result in quicker acceleration. In a few instances some riders experienced a loss in mechanical grip as a result of full carbon body work, carbon wheels, triple clamps, sub-frame and even a lighter sprocket/chain assembly. The weight transfer was reduced to the point of causing severe wheel spin under hard acceleration. Suspension had to be retune to fix the problem.

The biggest knock against carbon everything is the high maintenance. Carbon fiber hates friction and where you have anything touching it and vibrating against it you will be replacing those pieces fairly regularly. It also hates heat cycling. The resin will dry out and cracks will form. The other problem is that carbon is very strong right up until it suddenly isn't. You get very little warning when a piece is about to go. For all of its pluses, there are some signifcant minuses, too.

 

You forget who your preaching to. I know this. Simple rules apply. Light = fast.

But the application's relevance towards a street usage is negligible. Even with a sport bike, the application will show it's true colors at high speed, handling and braking usage. When does that happen on the street?

My opinion is the following. Unless you are looking for that extra tenth of a second or more on the track OR are simply building a show car, don't bother. The cost of molds, resin, autoclave time (proper fabrication method for CF), and installation far out weighs the reasons for doing it.

And in case you were wondering, the following components can be had for the 996 in Carbon fiber from various sources including factory:

Doors
front & rear fascia panels
Hood
Roof panel
Rear bonnet
Door interiors / frames
Dash
Rear wing

HOWEVER, all of these are fabricated at Race quality and prices are sometimes high.

C.

 

Chad,

I'd bet if he replaced the list above he could shed 200 + pounds. Unfortunately he'd also have to shed some decent $$

I'll bet you'd feel the difference (even on the street). However, I would also imagine that the interior noise level would rise significantly.