Black_DC5_R
22-10-2007, 11:34 PM
FINALLY! A CARBON FIBER THREAD!
Well this is my first voyage into the depths of OZHONDA, being on ClubITR.com for a while now. So HI to everyone for the first time.
This thread can be for everyone to review and comment on Carbon items they have bought. You can comment on fit, finish and any benefits that have come with them, such as greatly reduced weight and therefore a change in handling.
Firstly, I have a DC5R that I'm in the process of converting to carbon, along with changing other parts to light-weight counterparts.
The aim is to get the car into the 900kg bracket, <1000kg.
So far I have:
Genuine Mugen Carbon Hood
Craft Square Carbon Mirrors
Seibon Carbon Doors
Carbon OEM Type R Rear Wing
Gruppe M Carbon Intake
Still to come are Carbon fenders, hatch, skirts and front to back under diffuser.
So let me start with each item.
The Carbon hood I first got was a replica Mugen hood. It didn't fit very well so I forked out for a genuine article. The weight difference between the OEM steel item and the carbon one is very significant. The carbon one only weighed around 2.5kg, where as the OEM item felt like about 20kg. The effect on the balance of the car was that it felt a bit "over-steery" but the balance was restored by removing the spare wheel and jack from the boot, which now collects dust in my garage. I have semi-slicks so even if they have no pressure in them, the side walls are so stiff that I could drive it as far as I need to get a puncture repair or new one.
The carbon Craft Square mirrors are sweet! First class quality and fit. They are so small though, as people who have seen them will be able to understand. Unfortunately, the weight (450g) is only slightly less than the original items (~3kg)
The carbon OEM Type R wing is good quality, not nearly as good as the mirrors and hood, but they are hard to match. Good fit, one of the holes was about 2mm off, but I was too lazy on the day to slot the hole in my hatch, so left it with only 3 bolts. Again, it only weighed a fraction less than the OEM one, about 0.5kg less. But it looks so good. My car is black by the way, in case you didn't gather that from the screen name, so the carbon blends in really nicely, its only visible in direct sun light, standing back from the car and all the carbon is very hard to see.
Finally the carbon doors. They are from Seibon. WOW! As far as visual impact goes, these are the stand out items. The quality is mixed. The surface quality and look are great. But as for the fit, the panel gaps are spot on, but a lot of sanding is required to fit all the OEM items, such as the inner door skin, is required as the fiberglass inside door backing plate is thicker than the steel sheet metal, so where the clips go into the holes, it is required to be sanded a bit thinner and slightly enlarged to accept them perfectly. I have only fitted the driver's door, as I only had them delivered a few days ago, along with the fact that it took me almost 20 hours to fit just one. The weight difference between the OEM and carbon doors is very significant. The weight saving is >15kg for EACH door. Its obvious when opening and closing the door too. When the latch is released, the door just flings open, rather than having to be moved with a little effort with the OEM ones. With only one fitted, I can really feel the difference in the car's behavior, in conjunction with the other mods too. So I can't wait until the other door is fitted :D not that I'm looking forward to the actual install process.
I'll post pictures of each of these in detail as soon as I wash my car this week, since I've been so lazy.
Hope this has helped anyone thinking of similar mods.
I will also be taking my car to a weigh bridge very soon to see the effect that these have had.
I'll also be updating the thread along with everyone else as I finish off my shopping list of other carbon parts too.
So the arena is now open for everyone else to post up their carbon mods, comments and pictures for all the world to see.
Well this is my first voyage into the depths of OZHONDA, being on ClubITR.com for a while now. So HI to everyone for the first time.
This thread can be for everyone to review and comment on Carbon items they have bought. You can comment on fit, finish and any benefits that have come with them, such as greatly reduced weight and therefore a change in handling.
Firstly, I have a DC5R that I'm in the process of converting to carbon, along with changing other parts to light-weight counterparts.
The aim is to get the car into the 900kg bracket, <1000kg.
So far I have:
Genuine Mugen Carbon Hood
Craft Square Carbon Mirrors
Seibon Carbon Doors
Carbon OEM Type R Rear Wing
Gruppe M Carbon Intake
Still to come are Carbon fenders, hatch, skirts and front to back under diffuser.
So let me start with each item.
The Carbon hood I first got was a replica Mugen hood. It didn't fit very well so I forked out for a genuine article. The weight difference between the OEM steel item and the carbon one is very significant. The carbon one only weighed around 2.5kg, where as the OEM item felt like about 20kg. The effect on the balance of the car was that it felt a bit "over-steery" but the balance was restored by removing the spare wheel and jack from the boot, which now collects dust in my garage. I have semi-slicks so even if they have no pressure in them, the side walls are so stiff that I could drive it as far as I need to get a puncture repair or new one.
The carbon Craft Square mirrors are sweet! First class quality and fit. They are so small though, as people who have seen them will be able to understand. Unfortunately, the weight (450g) is only slightly less than the original items (~3kg)
The carbon OEM Type R wing is good quality, not nearly as good as the mirrors and hood, but they are hard to match. Good fit, one of the holes was about 2mm off, but I was too lazy on the day to slot the hole in my hatch, so left it with only 3 bolts. Again, it only weighed a fraction less than the OEM one, about 0.5kg less. But it looks so good. My car is black by the way, in case you didn't gather that from the screen name, so the carbon blends in really nicely, its only visible in direct sun light, standing back from the car and all the carbon is very hard to see.
Finally the carbon doors. They are from Seibon. WOW! As far as visual impact goes, these are the stand out items. The quality is mixed. The surface quality and look are great. But as for the fit, the panel gaps are spot on, but a lot of sanding is required to fit all the OEM items, such as the inner door skin, is required as the fiberglass inside door backing plate is thicker than the steel sheet metal, so where the clips go into the holes, it is required to be sanded a bit thinner and slightly enlarged to accept them perfectly. I have only fitted the driver's door, as I only had them delivered a few days ago, along with the fact that it took me almost 20 hours to fit just one. The weight difference between the OEM and carbon doors is very significant. The weight saving is >15kg for EACH door. Its obvious when opening and closing the door too. When the latch is released, the door just flings open, rather than having to be moved with a little effort with the OEM ones. With only one fitted, I can really feel the difference in the car's behavior, in conjunction with the other mods too. So I can't wait until the other door is fitted :D not that I'm looking forward to the actual install process.
I'll post pictures of each of these in detail as soon as I wash my car this week, since I've been so lazy.
Hope this has helped anyone thinking of similar mods.
I will also be taking my car to a weigh bridge very soon to see the effect that these have had.
I'll also be updating the thread along with everyone else as I finish off my shopping list of other carbon parts too.
So the arena is now open for everyone else to post up their carbon mods, comments and pictures for all the world to see.