carbon fiber

EBay’s 15 Simple Mods To Get Your Car noticed. Bust or Plus?

So this article is old; written April 17 2015 by Carthrottle, but I just found it more hurtful than helpful on most of the suggestions. So here, I’m just going to comment on some of these mods they suggest….again it’s my opinion and I’m always down for other input. Quoted statements are whats said on the article, second are my opinions.

  1. Eyelidsmain_slide_1_wt_bmw_v3
    • “You can either go with a slight edge, matching the car’s paint or a bold colour to contrast your paint. Headlight eyelids are quick and easy to install and rather inexpensive. Done right, they can transform a car’s soft face into something with more road presence.”
    • I agree with this, except if you’re adding eye lashes lol. However some eyelids have to be put on with adhesive so be careful because you could damage your headlamps. Make sure you look at how similar cars look with this addition and how to install it before you make this mod. These days headlights have many components where damaging them could cost you mondo $$$
  2. Sleepy Eye Kit 97ae8a7c9d54019a7baac56ca29025e6
    • “If you aren’t one of the lucky Nissan owners who can do the sleepy eye mod by clipping a wire, check to see if your car model is a candidate for a Sleepy Eye Kit. This style will get people doing a double take to check out your lights, and are always a talking point.”
    • This is very debatable. Most people will think your lights can’t close, which would explain the double take look. So……….to each their own, I guess?!?
  3. Mirrors 34
    • “Old painted or plastic mirrors that have faded can be a real eye sore. An easy side mirror swap with something classy or sleek could really dress up your look. There are many different styles to choose from, so make sure it fits with your ride’s lines.”
    • Definitely agree with this, however most modern cars have incorporated many features in their mirrors that it’s becoming much harder to swap them out. A couple of my favorite cars with mirror mods are the Datsun 240 Z and Mazda RX-7’s
  4. Bonnet forgotten 2013 998
    • “The bonnet of your car takes a fair amount of wear from the road. If you’re trying to make a bold statement, buy a new bonnet to set off the colour of your paint. Even a new bonnet to match your paint is better than an old flaky one.”
    • So this means your “hood” for those in the America’s. I’m guessing this statement assumes that your hood is damaged. I don’t agree with this statement as in most cases you really need to have a seriously customized car to pull this off. Carbon Fiber hoods or any other hoods that don’t match your cars paint can end up looking like an expensive mistake and will reduce your selling price if you are thinking of selling your car in the near future. I would rather repair my hood if damaged and put my money on other items. If you are a track goer, switching your hood for an Aluminum or Carbon Fiber one would be perfect
  5. Bonnet Scoop n08alku1kcbxdkwhewue
    • “Steer away from buying an oversized, obnoxious bonnet scoop. A modest scoop on an appropriately sporty car will serve as both functional and stylish. This project takes a little more time than the others, but the result will be worth it.”
    • As I said with #4 this is worthless unless your car sees track time; this mod would seem wasteful to me. If you are 100% towards going this route; have a professional shop make a functional one that looks great if you can’t do it yourself. Stay away from fake glue on scoops unless you want to be ridiculed
  6. Bonnet Pins/Clips maxresdefault
    • “Not every car deserves bonnet pins or clips. When it’s right, you’ll know. Like the scoops, this project will take a little more time. The last thing you want to do is botch the job, so be sure to be patient and do your measurements before drilling holes. There are loads online DIY tutorials to see you right.”
    • Another wasteful suggestion unless you are running a high horsepower (650+ bhp) machine with a carbon fiber hood or light weight hood. Again this mod would only be for drag/track focused cars i.m.o. Also if you have a carbon fiber hood, this should be used for safety and not to get noticed, because there is a high chance that your hood might flip up if you hit speeds of 60 mph plus
  7. Body Kits 1236285918amuse-350z
    • “For every nicely done body kit, there are ten more poorly executed ones on the road. A lot of people buy body kits without being able to visualize their car with it installed. Try searching for your model with the kits installed before you commit. Otherwise you’ll be labelled a ricer, and nobody wants that.“
    • 100% agreed with this comment. Surprised they are saying “labelled a ricer”, since some of these mods listed are definitely ricer material. Always make sure your body kit is functional and from an official company….try and stay away from replicas especially on ebay/amazon/etc they may lack in quality. However Ebay is great for finding quality parts that might be on clearance. Bulletproofautomotive is also a great source for international and domestic shops
  8. Fender Flares Targa-Trophy-2013-Black-HRE-BMW-M3-Open-Engine-Fender-Flares1
    • “You can use a fender roller tool to gently widen the flare around your wheel, install fender flares or do a combination of both. If you’re installing fender flares, the same rule applies with the colour. A match to your paint will keep it subtle, but a contrasting colour will make it really pop.”
    • This statement is off. So it comments on rolling fenders to widen the flare, which is technically wrong. You roll fenders to roll the inner lip of the fender flat; usually the case for “non-performance” cars. This helps you fit wider and larger tires, lower your car without rubbing on tires, and fit fender flares. Some cars, such as the Nissan Nismo Z editions already come with rolled fenders from factory. Please don’t add a completely different color from your car, 85% of the time it looks horrible. Let me know if I may also be wrong on these statements
  9. Trim 2pcs-5-meters-flexible-trim-for-car-interior
    • “Buying a roll of stick-on trim is inexpensive and rather risk free. If you don’t like it, you can always remove it. Most trim like this can be used in several areas in and around the car. Just don’t go all out and trim all the lines – subtlety is key!”
    • Slightly agree, however some of the “roll of stick-on trim” may make your car look cheap. I would try looking for premium interior parts if your car wasn’t fitted with the top of line interior parts. These are usually cheaper when you search for them online for used parts or you could also just replace broken or nicked parts, and add a performance steering wheel. For me a clean interior and exterior will make others have a double take on your cars looks…in a good way that is
  10. Rocker Panels th51080
    • “For trucks and SUVs, you can protect the bottom of your body panels and add detail with rocker panels. Use the vehicle parts tool to match your make and model to the perfect fitting rocker panels for a flawless look.”
    • Agree 100%, rocker panels make trucks look on point……or on fleek
  11. Tool Box
    • “A truck’s toolbox gets a lot of attention on the roads. A new shiny aluminium toolbox is nice to look at, but even more importantly: it’s functional. Having all that extra storage will keep your cab clean, too.”
    • Ummmmm……seriously? Are we talking construction workers. I’m not even going to post a picture. They should have offered a paint repair kit; cars stand out much better if their paint is on point. Spend time detailing the exterior and interior of your car
  12. Bumper 2007-gemballa-mirage-gt-b-5_800x0w
    • “A bumper is one of the easiest things to remove and replace on your ride. There are thousands of options for car and truck bumpers at almost any price. If you have a bumper coloured differently than your paint, make sure to match that colour with your other exterior mods.”
    • Repeat? #7 mentions body kit, this should have been grouped with that
  13. Exhaust Heat Shield CBX-WRXHSSEDAN-3
    • “Little things like an exhaust heat shield really add those perfect touches. In this case, the shield has an important purpose and looks great. The shields can greatly range in price, but there are several inexpensive ones that fit a variety of car models.”
    • Ummm I guess? I would try and look for a rear bumper that has a diffuser/shield as part of its design. Otherwise if you have an aftermarket exhaust that runs hot definitely get this as it will help save your paint from high heat
  14. Rear Diffuser impp-1304-11-o+2008-subaru-STI-GRB+HK-kansai-rear-diffuser
    • “When you look at your car from behind, and you can see the exhaust tips suspended in the air, it’s time to get a rear diffuser. It will make everything look neatly tucked, while improving the car’s aerodynamics.”
    • Okay just answered my own question from #13……this should be grouped with the exhaust heat shield as the rear diffuser can also play the same role as a heat shield. Instead why not put in a new exhaust; aftermarket exhausts from known brands are usually lighter, perform better, and make your rear end look better in some cases. Once broken in most exhausts will make your car slightly louder and give an awesome exhaust note, which should get you noticed
  15. Wheels 2013-SRT-Viper-front-side-view-in-red

    9125322597_a4d4e62b5c_b

    DSC_0001-Edit

    • “Lastly, take a look at your wheels. If you don’t like what you see, start imagining an upgrade. There’s nothing like a set of nice wheels to make a car stand out. On the other hand, a set of ugly wheels can ruin even an otherwise good looking ride. Be picky with your wheels, and look at what other people have done before for inspiration!”
    • Ummm why didn’t they just make 1-15 wheels. 100% agree with this as these four circular objects will make or break how your car looks and also your bank account. ADV.1 is still my favorite.
Advertisement

Lesson #1 Fiber or Fibre

Alright so this new technology is everywhere and people love it for its durability, lightweight, and beauty. The first thing you should get right is the spelling, so going to the alphabet spell it out C-A-R-B-O-N F-I-B-E-R, correct?? Yes and no, all English speaking country’s use FIBRE where in the U.S. they use FIBER I guess there is still tension between England and the U.S. on how to speak proper. So if you’re out of the states remember to switch you E and R if the situation arises.

Next: What is this Technology??

* We hear things like lightweight, ultra weave (uhh not hair), super durable, excellent quality, dry, and wet carbon yet there isn’t a concrete description on most products on what CF is.

  1. It’s a stiff yet brittle fiber-reinforced polymer, has low density and high strength. Its high thermal conductivity and low coefficient of thermal expansion give it its high resistance to thermal shock. So basically its very strong and its chemical structure helps in resisting high temperatures (>600 degrees_)
  2. All grades of Fibre are made by thermal degradation of a polymeric organic precursor. A polymer is simply a long chain of repeating units; for plastics the main component will be carbon. So a simple polymer would look like this -(-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-)-.
  3. Most are created from three carbon-containing precursors: pitch, rayon and polyacrylonitrile (PAN)
  4. Space Shuttles, F1 cars, and some CF manufacturers use SiC (silicon carbide if I still remember my chemistry lol) coating on fibres to further enhance resistance to heat and oxidation.
  5. The difference in DRY vs. WET fibre is determined by the heat treatment on the fibres; in short more time spent with the heat treatments will give the fibre better mechanical properties and durability (DRY) instead of one that might contain more impurities (WET).
  6. Pitch and PAN fibres are much stronger than rayon created fibres
    1. Pitch – residue left after distillation of crude petroleum and coal. It has high carbon content and very cheap, mostly composed of aromatic and cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons that are high in mass. So basically its composed of molecules of carbon formed as a six-membered ring or hexagon.Pitch is heat treated at around 750K creating a type of mesophase (liqiuid crystal), this is then melt-spun into fibers. After thermosetting they are carbonized by heating the compound at temperatures of >1300K. Carbonization provides the removal of impurities such as Hydrogen and Oxygen. This process creates the graphene like sheets that are heat treated to create the graphite-like structure we are familiar in seeing; this process also removes Sulfur and Nitrogen impurities. A protective coating is usually required after in order to resist reactions with other elements in high temperature settings.
    2. PAN fibres usually contain lower Nitrogen content than pitch depending on the grade. Not to get so long winded in the process, but its prepared by starting with the polymer and taking it to these four steps: 1) cyclization, 2) dehydrogenation, 3) oxidation, 4) carbonization.

Passing Grade A-

The Winner in the spelling of CF goes to FIBRE, since we are dealing with lightweight material and the U.S. has a overweight problem with its citizens its only logical to accept the FIBRE spelling of the Queen. Sorry U.S.