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fiberglass fenders?
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2004 11:25 pm
by steve68
im looking for a set..or the company that makes them
i have seen them before but can't find it again...
thanks for any help
steve
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2004 11:32 pm
by SLOroadster
Japco race glass has them. They are race only fenders, I looked into the option of running them but they are not finished anywhere near what they would need to be to be run on a street car.
Will
RE:Fiberglass Fenders
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2004 11:33 pm
by S Allen
This place sells race glass. Not sure what you had in mind.
http://www.performancefiberglass.com/
Good luck.
Steve
Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 6:48 am
by Chris Coker
Japco and Performance Fiberglass are the only ones that currently sell roadster fiberglass. And the previous posts are correct, the quality is "race car only" at best. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed at the quality of the rear fenders I received, even knowing up front the 'race quality' disclaimer.
Chris Coker
www.risensonracing.com
Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 7:29 am
by steve68
chris,
i saw that you made a carbon fiber hood and deck lid...
are you willing to make another hood?
ever tried fenders?
thanks
steve
Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 7:31 am
by steve68
if i put the work to smooth them out would they be fine?
i do know a little body work...and ill just use some non-shrinking body filler, expensive but worth it
steve
Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 8:18 am
by spl310
I don't know if he still has them, but Carl Jaeger had glass fenders. I have not seen them in person, but they looked good in the photos. As I recall, he had the early 1600 flare and the later big flare ones. The price was not cheap, but then again, what on these cars is cheap?
Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 12:58 pm
by ppeters914
Steve,
You never said why you wanted fiberglass fenders. If the existing fenders are missing or too far gone to repair, what about the real deal? Or are metal fenders even more expensive than the expensive fiberglass fenders?
Just curious.....
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 7:22 am
by steve68
i can't find a passenger side fender..its a 67...new there $800+
i have seen the fiberglass ones for $120 each or so..sounds good to me
steve
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 8:26 am
by Chris Coker
I've made two carbon/kevlar hoods, and two carbon/kevlar trunklids for my race car. I've been steadily improving my process with each part, and I've almost got the quality to the point where I'd be comfortable making them for others. The hood would have to use hood pins, as I don't currently have things set up to use the stock hinges, lock, hood prop, etc. Same thing for the trunklid. As a result, these would really only be useful in a race application.
I don't have any molds for fenders right now. And I don't see myself making any in the near future. Just not enough time or garage space right now. Not that I wouldn't be interested in attemping it, though.

Maybe sometime down the road.
Cost would probably be prohibitive for most people. The carbon fiber hoods you see on 90% of the sport compact cars on the road are really a fiberglass hood with a layer of carbon fiber on top. They do this to keep costs down. I'm using just two layers of carbon fiber, with a layer of kevlar in between. The kevlar makes it tough. Carbon fiber by itself will shatter into a hundred pieces when it breaks. Kevlar is hard to cut, and is incompatible with the polyester and vinylester resins usually used in the business. The epoxy resin I'm using is normally used for structural applications in composite aircraft. The costs add up, but I've come up with very light, tough parts. The stock steel hood weighs in at 22 lbs. The fiberglass hoods I've seen weigh 11 lbs. My hoods weigh about 5 lbs, and can really take a beating.
As for the fiberglass fenders I've seen, the general fit and finish really isn't all that great. Large gaps where panels meet the doors, the thickness of the fiberglass is greater than the steel, and is also more flexible. With a lot of work, you could make a fiberglass fender work on a street car. For the time you would have to put into it, though, it's probably more cost effective to go with the steel fenders. Just my opinion, for what it's worth!
Regards,
Chris Coker
www.risensonracing.com