1985_RX-7

When will the hoods be done? TII Scoop tho.

aussiesmg

iTrader: (1)

Should have a sunroof finished this weekend, I will post pics.

thedonn007

I am extremely interested in an OE style CF sunroof, is this what I will get for around $100. I am not too familiar with CF, will it need to be painted? clearcoat?

aussiesmg

iTrader: (1)

The roof will be finished in a clearcoat that will not require painting, if you wish to paint it you will need to lightly sand the finish. I am having one done in Kevlar, it is a yellowy finish but is actually lighter and stronger than CF. It is also easier to get at this time. Price for Kevlar or CF is higher, I will let you know when I post pics.

I may have located a TII hood scoop, I'll keep you posted.

dj55b

iTrader: (2)

might also be interested ... waiting on pics

2wankel

iTrader: (1)

Hmm, cf sunroof, that sounds cool. I'm interested, lets see the pics when done.

smnc

I don't get the CF/Fibreglass/Kevlar sunroof...

I see the hood. Hell, I want a vented hood from rotorhead.ca

But the sunroof?

You save a few pounds, but it's so bloody expensive and doesn't do anything.
I can't see the advantage unless you're going racing. And even then, you'd be better off with a base model with no sunroof at all.

With a Plexi roof, it's still lighter than stock metal or glass, but you can atcually see though it... PLUS, it's a LOT cheaper.

I dunno, maybe it's just me.

Please explain...?

aussiesmg

iTrader: (1)

Personal choice of course, but many sunroof fitted cars are having rust problems, this eliminates one issue.

Glass/plexi are very hot in the sun, Especially when your AC is not working/removed. Glass is heavy, stock metal roof is in most cars it weighs around 7 lbs and it is not possible for everyone to own a base model, some of us like disc brakes and LSDs. I personally own two GSLs and they both have rusty roof panels.

As for not doing anything, this is weight saved at the highest (most problematic) point of the vehicle, 5 lbs from the roof is a massive handling advantage. Any weight saving is good and not everyone can afford to have a panel shop weld the sunroof opening over.

Weight saved is horsepower freed up for performance.

This is a easy installed fix for several problems even if it isn't for everybody.

Even if you personally dont see the value, others obviously do, that why we personalise our cars.

smnc

Of couse. Your car, your choice I'm sure not all of you will like everything I'm going to be doing to my car in the next 12 months

In fact I can almost promise you there'll be at least some controversy surrounding Poject GSL-SS (and no, there isn't a piston engine involved)

But that's why I asked... I was simply trying to undestand the reasoning behind this mod.

For the record tho, my plexi roof probably weighed less than half of the stock metal, and it was a medium/dak tint, so I didn't find it heated up the car too much.... plus I just opened it up while driving...

Unfortunatly it was wrecked when I rolled my car, so now I have to get a new one made. Luckily the hardware is intact, so it's a simple matter of getting the plexi cut.

thedonn007

Where do you get a plexiglass sun-roof panel and what is the cost and weight of that?

smnc

I can weigh mine in the morning, but I estimate approx half the weight of stock steel.

I bought it used for $150 CDN.

I don't know of anyone currently manufacturing them. But they're easy to make...

All you need is a sheet of plexi the correct size (preferably tinted and UV treated). Lots of shops can do it. Get them to attach an aluminium edging on it. Then simply drill holes for, and install your stock sunroof hardware.

Done!

I'm going to be replacing my busted-*** one soon. Looks like aprox $100 worth of acrylic each.. plus a couple bucks worth of aluminum... and machining... I would say, fairly safely, $150 bucks... possibly less. Best bet is to find a local acrylic shopand talk to them.

BTW, that's based on the S2/3 roofs, not the S1 roofs, which are smaller and would be cheaper...

As I complete a lot of my mods over the winter I'll be looking at forum member interest, and if there's enough, I may go into prduction on a few things, including the roofs. But that's MONTHS away.

If you want one now, make your own

SSpyderX

iTrader: (1)

Just wondering if the fiber glass with the TII scoop going to be made. I would like to get in on this.

aussiesmg

iTrader: (1)

It wont be long on the hood, just looking for a very clean example to use as a mold.

SMNC I though you said the plexi was cheap, I can offer fibreglass which is made the exact shape of the original roof for $100 or less see the earlier post. CF wont be much more and it has a much higher strength than plexi. It wont require grafting aluminum to hold the shape.

This means in your rollover it probably wouldn't have broken. Following that logic you would have had less chance of injury from shrapnel and no chance of your head coming out of the cabin. I think there may be a significant safety factor here also. I can't imagine plexi being legal in SCCA or NASA but I may be wrong.

smnc

Whoops, fogot to mention thats CDN$... take like 25% off the top for the US.

That was also the price for a single (prototype), and would go down in production.

And as I said, was on the high side too

Sorry, I'm not trying to steal your post...

I was just trying to undestand the whole thing, and it kinda snowballed.

The plexi is actually really strong, but the roof that broke was about 15 years old. Plexi does weaken eventually, and it was a wicked inpact. The car slid on it's roof for over 5 feet.

http://mclean.8m.com/cgi-bin/i/MX3/M...005/omm013.jpg
http://mclean.8m.com/cgi-bin/i/MX3/M...ttawa_0027.jpg

CF might not have broken, but there was no shrapnel from the plexi, it was only cracked.

And Plexi IS SCCA legal 'cause they use it to replace glass windows/windshields...

Anyways, that's the last I'm going to post about plexi moonroofs in this thread, as I rally don't want to steal the spotlight.

I'll start a thread once my prototype is done to gauge intrest in them then. Probaly in the New Year.

In the meantime, the CF sunroof sounds nifty...

RustyRotary

iTrader: (2)

What about Lexan/Polycarbonate? It won't crack like plexiglass/acrylic does. Acrylic can even crack when you try to drill holes in it

Very true. Best Motoring did some tests with the Evo model that had a lightened roof (can't remember which one) and it proved to have a suprising handling advantage.

x0ny

waiting for pics of roof....so will the roof have the holes drilled and ready to be attached to the original mounts?

aussiesmg

iTrader: (1)

Will be supplying the specific glue for reattaching the original mounts, the process is very strong and designed for this use. Just line up your orginal roof and transcribe the location of the mounts then bond per instructions. I will be testing my personal one first.

Sample will be ready this week, delayed by slow delivery of the resin, sorry.

aussiesmg

iTrader: (1)

Resin will be here this week, its made as far as we can until then. I have had questions regarding several other panels including kick panels, center console, and more, if you guys have suggestions let me know.

I am looking into making a speaker box for the space behind the seats where the "Glove" boxes are. I imagine it being removable for race days, you would cut your own size speaker holes and easily just plug in. Interest?

Sammymatik

I made a FG speaker box for the cargo box behind my seat.

They work well, and I still have one cargo box for where I keep all my car stuff.

my 2cents

JIMMY54

iTrader: (2)

I still have one plexi roof, Saves alot of weight but I never use it... it in my room.

I like the look of the lining of the factory roof. Plus there is more exterior noise...

JIMMY54

iTrader: (2)

SMNC.... sorry to hear about your car, hope everyone was alright. I had never heard of this till now.

smnc

Thanks Jimmy54... you need to drop by the Canadian forum once and a while, lol!

It happened on the Ottawa cruise back in the spring. Sarah (my wife) was with me, but nothing more than bumps and bruises...

Oh well, I'll be building a new car fo the spring...

thedonn007

Is it a good idea to glue a CF sunroof to the orginal mounts? I would imagine that the woudl be a lot pf pressure on the CF roof, I would hate to spend a hundred or so dollars on it and have it fly off on the highway. I am getting antsy tho, I cant wait to see pics and some prices.

aussiesmg

iTrader: (1)

I will be stress testing the bonding method prior to letting them go to you guys. Even if I have to drive at 120 mph to do so.....lol

Seriously though the bonding agent is specifically designed for this type of purpose. Should have no problem but it will be tested.

Steve

x0ny

im getting anxious !! i wanna see!