carbon fiber experts?? Options

[r_towle]

So,
Carbon fiber is 6 times stronger than steel.

here are my thoughts.

take off the outer rocker.
Fix the rust with new steel.
sandblast the area
Lay on a layer of CF directly to the inner long front to back, wrap in to the bottom and top horizontal layers.

when using CF and bonding it to steel, I have read that you would use an epoxy resin to bond it directly to the steel, so it would be the same as putting por 15 on steel (por 15 is an epoxy layer)

So, thoughts? plus, minus?

Rich

[SpecialK]

QUOTE (lapuwali @ Jan 26 2006, 10:04 PM)

Certainly, it's a lot more complex than buying CF sheet and slapping it on with POR-15. ... it needs special epoxies, and several plies of unidirectional material, and a heat cure. Not at all easy to do.

Correct on the McDonnell Douglas/Boeing assumption James, and I hope to drag my car out to the Company Sports Car Club (drive what you bring, not too many rules (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif) ) when I finally get one of them done. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/driving.gif)

As far as the actual laying down of the CF and bagging, the only "special" tools required would be a vacuum pump (I plan on using the vacuum pump I use for evacuating central A/C units....actually a better unit than we have at work), a couple/several IR heat lamps (I've got the big floodlight looking bulb types), and a fairly accurate pyrometer (thermometer with a sensing lead). The bagging materials can be purchased at any reputable composite material supplier, I've got US Composites, and Fiberglast bookmarked.

I can't, for obvious reasons, lay out the process spec. for you guys in writing (I could tell you....but then I'd have to kill you (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ar15.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) ), but Fiberglast lays out the equipment and techniques pretty well, and a Google search would bring up tons of tips. Definitely do a couple of practice pieces (not on the car!) to get comfortable with the time-table you have to work with, make accurate templates of all of the pieces you're applying, and have everything organized and ready to go before you mix a drop of resin. It can get pretty messy, but I enjoy the hell out of the process and firmly believe that doing it this way will make an ultra stiff chassis with minimal weight........not to mention I'm a shitty welder, and would probably end up with a 2000lb lump of slag on my garage floor if I tried to install an Engman kit. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/welder.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/huh.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif)