My new thing.

General Composites Discussions Showcase
#1

I have not been on the board in some time so hello all.

Working on a front end for a Mustang (for a friend). I’m still not much of a mold builder but it came out fairly well.

Just the normal fiberglass mat mold, but I used VER so it would not shrink as much as poly would.

Put 2 air lines in the head light holes to assist in removing the part.

First test infusion failed to finish (10%), just not enough flow media on the end of the part no big deal to fix.

Infused with VER and the test part was fiberglass and black Texalium scraps.

Largest thing I have ever tried, I think it will turn out good.

Its only a test part :slight_smile:

#2

sweet. LX 5.0 mustang or a 4 cylinder mustang?

I had an '89 LX 5.0 a few years back, nice car and fun to drive.

The mold looks good.

How are you getting the laminate to push down into all the sharp corners and mold recesses? I could use any tech help i can get… tired of making bad parts here.

How many layers of fiberglass or cloth are you going to use and what ounce/weight?

thanks for contributing, it helps us all out I think.

#3

The first part will be 4 (6 in some spots) layers of 5.7 oz plane weave carbon with carbon/kevlar mount points. It’s going on a 200mph drag car :smiley: .

As for getting the fabric in, I always start at the hard spot’s with a tongue depressor and work the fabric out from there. I will just have to see how this one works out.

I’m starting a functional part this weekend I’ll snap some pics. Wish me luck :slight_smile:

#4

very nice mold, and test part. the part looks too complex to be made out of a single layer of carbon, but then, you may not care about cosmetics since its for a drag car, it will be most likely painted… good luck.:wink:

#5

Very good work. That’s a good size mold, and with complex features.
What is the viscosity of your resin? It should have made it all the way with no problem. IMO, you should infuse in the middle and have a vacuum line around the edges.

#6

Be very careful if you plan on selling those, Mustang is a trademark name.

#7

2nd that. In the past, Ford has gotten VERY anal about people using their logo/name. There is an article floating around about a group of Mustang guys who got together, put their personal photos into a calender, and sold it to members of their forum. Ford demanded they stop, and went as far as trying to have the forum shutdown because of it’s name (mustang related).

Seriously… these people are the enthusiasts, the people who buy their cars and are proud of their heritage… and Ford is telling them to go f’k themselves.

Watch your butt.

#8

thats crazy!! I would have been flattered!

#9

Thanks, and your 100% on the set up thats the way I’m infusing the next one. I used to small dia.(1/4"ID) resin feed line also. I dont know the actual viscosity #'s of the resin but its a fairly thin VER.

The air lines work great for demolding, I think I may add one more in the emblem area.

I will post more pics in a couple weeks when I give it another shot.

#10

I’m only making 2-4 so I not worried, but if they feel the need they can take the $0.50 I have.

#11

Just beware… they can hold you liable for using their trademark.

#12

Really doubt it would be an issue. The part is for a Ford, and the name of the manufacturer or the actual product is not “Mustang.”

#13

With the shape of the economy and the way the American MFG’s are doing, Ford might be hitting up people any way they can.

LOLZ.

Anyway, that looks really good.

What did you use for the flange on the plug?

Are you using resin to get the carbon to stay in place while you’re laying it on, or just doing infusion?

#14

Thanks,
Just using the tacky gelcoat for the first layer then a small amount of super 77 where needed on the others.

#15

Seriously… not trying to be a pain in the ass… but this is where it came from…

Ford Declares Mustang Club’s Calendar Illegal

#16

that is why i will never own a ford…:mad:
at least none other than the 1940 COE…:smiley:
i was under the impression that when i buy and own a car… its mine to do with what i want…

#17

Thanks for your input, post #3 and 3 in this thread :slight_smile:

I’m just sharing the trials of a hobbyist on a large part.

It will be some time before I do the next infusion attempt as I need to get the bike stuff ready for the last race of the year.

Any suggestion for the dia. of the lines? using a 6cfm pump so that should not be a issue, and I dont infuse unless the leak rate is less then 1/2inhg in 20min.

#18

perfectly fine for a hobbyist or making only one to sell. If you ever do choose to sell more than a couple of them… just grind out and fill in the “Mustang” name. We did this with a Mopar part, we didn’t want to use the “Hemi” name.