is it me or is it wonky!
is it me or is it wonky!
Author
Discussion

marky p

Original Poster:

94 posts

280 months

Friday 23rd July 2004
quotequote all
next time you ultima owners look at the front end of your GTR or can-am have a look at the clear panel that covers the lights on the right do you see that the lower edge is wonky compared to the left side panel?, Also found front wheelarch heights on mine different from side to side?

Anyone else seen these problems before?

Cheers,

>>> Edited by marky p on Friday 23 July 21:00

>>> Edited by marky p on Friday 23 July 21:18

bigmack

553 posts

289 months

Saturday 24th July 2004
quotequote all
Its just you Marky. Ha.

Cheers!
-Mack

steve_D

13,802 posts

287 months

Saturday 24th July 2004
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That's what you get when you don't use a computer to design and make it.
Steve

d3vine

699 posts

297 months

Saturday 24th July 2004
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Just wondering, why doesn't the factory offer a carbon fibre body? Reverie said, that a carbon fibre body is lighter and stronger. They said, it would cost about the same amount for a carbon fibre body as to a GRP body.

BobM

944 posts

284 months

Saturday 24th July 2004
quotequote all
d3vine said:
Reverie said, that a carbon fibre body is lighter and stronger.
OK, I think we'll all buy this bit ...
d3vine said:
Reverie said, that a carbon fibre body is lighter and stronger.
This bit I have trouble with Based on their prices for carbon airboxes and side scoops I suspect carbon bodywork would be vastly more expensive. I'm no expert but aren't there more problems painting carbon than GRP?

bogbeast

1,144 posts

292 months

Saturday 24th July 2004
quotequote all
d3vine said:
Just wondering, why doesn't the factory offer a carbon fibre body? Reverie said, that a carbon fibre body is lighter and stronger. They said, it would cost about the same amount for a carbon fibre body as to a GRP body.


I believe the factory has done one for a Japanese guy. They had so much trouble with it that it has put them off doing another one.. Pretty sure it was wet lay-up, I not sure that would save much weight at the end of the day. Pre-preg on the other hand would, but the cost would be err.. large (just for the materials, not even counting the mould costs)

doc_fudge

243 posts

281 months

Saturday 24th July 2004
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I believe I read somewhere that by the time they got that CF body to the same standard of finish as the GRP, it weighed almost as much anyway!

d3vine

699 posts

297 months

Saturday 24th July 2004
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I emailed Reverie about creating a carbon fibre body for the GTR. The rep said it will cost about the same as the GRP body. Probably, they mean if they sell it in bulks. But the only problem is, Ultima Sports wouldn't let them make it. I think their method of creating the body is different from how the contractor created the body for Ultima Sports. It's suppose to be lighter than the GRP even with paint on.

ultimasimon

9,646 posts

287 months

Saturday 24th July 2004
quotequote all
I talked at length to Riviera at the PF bash and I was told that I would be looking at about £8k for a complete panel kit.

They have just bought a new autoclave which is big enough to fit a whole car in, but it is not yet commisioned.

Also they can lay up different colours within the weave - I saw a seat tub done in silver and it was a work of art They can give me a complete GTR body in 'Silver-stripe' carbon fibre anyday if they need a car to use as a model

They also said that they would consider a discounted price for bulk orders (ten and above) on the side scoops. I was indicating to them that people would probably pay around £450 a pair if offered that price for the autoclaved item. Nearly £900 IS daylight robbery.

d3vine

699 posts

297 months

Saturday 24th July 2004
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How many different ways are there to create a carbon fibre item? People on here mentioned, pre-peged, wet-layup, autoclave... So which one really produces the lightest carbon fibre part?

andygtt

8,345 posts

293 months

Saturday 24th July 2004
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wet lay is same process as laying fibreglass... layers of mat are slapped together with copious amounts of resin.... but I understand its more tricky than glass as the air bubbles are harder to get rid of.

pre preg uses the exact amount of resin as the mat is pre-pregnated with resin and then chucked in an autoclave that not only bakes but also pressurises the piece and forces the resin and sheets together.

weight saving for carbon fibre is in using less material as it is stronger and autoclave allows for less resin also to be used.

d3vine

699 posts

297 months

Saturday 24th July 2004
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So how much weight is saved with a pre-pregged carbon fibre body? Does anyone know the weight of the standard GRP body? I know that the lightweight GRP body weighs 45kg lighter than the standard.

marky p

Original Poster:

94 posts

280 months

Sunday 25th July 2004
quotequote all
bigmack said:
Its just you Marky. Ha.

Cheers!
-Mack


Cheers mack trust you to say that with a perfect painted sports but I have a wonky GTR mate! Silver paint job is tops on your motor mate looks really nice

marky p

Original Poster:

94 posts

280 months

Sunday 25th July 2004
quotequote all
steve_D said:
That's what you get when you don't use a computer to design and make it.
Steve


Fair enough if it's a one off but it's not!

Paid top money for the body dont you think it should be the same side to side?

bigmack

553 posts

289 months

Sunday 25th July 2004
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Hi Mark,
Things are going better for me now mate. No worries.

Had fun Friday at midnight screaming down a few country roads at over 5000rpm. Ha. I was taking datalogs for the fuel map tuning. Not going to disclose the speeds on a public forum, but had a good time Damn car is fast.
Could hear me for miles no doubt.
My ears are still ringing!
Next time I'll wear earplugs.
Cheers!
-Mack

bigmack

553 posts

289 months

Sunday 25th July 2004
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d3vine said:

So how much weight is saved with a pre-pregged carbon fibre body? Does anyone know the weight of the standard GRP body? I know that the lightweight GRP body weighs 45kg lighter than the standard.


D3vine,
Don't worry. With a modestly built up performance chevy motor, there's plenty of power to propel this car with the standard bodywork Trust me. Instead of spending on the C/F bodywork, put the money into the reliability of the engine and transaxle.
Cheers!
-Mack

ultiman

354 posts

291 months

Sunday 25th July 2004
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The single carbon bodied GTR was heavier because of the amount of filler used to get it looking right. I dont know much about how it is made but I was invited to lift up the carbon body of the new Invicta. It was absurdly light, about the weight of my canoe. It must be the next logical step for Ultima although nobody appears to be catching up with them anyway so some may say why bother.

Chewy

257 posts

284 months

Monday 26th July 2004
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marky_p
My GTR body was fitted by the factory and when I got it home I noticed quite a bit of difference in the clearence above the wheels. I was not happy with it as the difference was visible - along the front the ground clearence differed by about 3/4 inch and the front wheel arches also varied by nearly 3/4 inch.
The Offside being higher then the nearside. I spoke to the factory who explained that this was normal. However I was still not satisfied and returned the car to them and they had another go at it. They managed to improve the gaps so it was not as visible, but when you place your fingers under the wheel arches the difference is still very noticable.
So it's not just You.

marky p

Original Poster:

94 posts

280 months

Monday 26th July 2004
quotequote all
Chewy said:
marky_p
My GTR body was fitted by the factory and when I got it home I noticed quite a bit of difference in the clearence above the wheels. I was not happy with it as the difference was visible - along the front the ground clearence differed by about 3/4 inch and the front wheel arches also varied by nearly 3/4 inch.
The Offside being higher then the nearside. I spoke to the factory who explained that this was normal. However I was still not satisfied and returned the car to them and they had another go at it. They managed to improve the gaps so it was not as visible, but when you place your fingers under the wheel arches the difference is still very noticable.
So it's not just You.


If it was 5mm or so then it would not matter but 3/4 of an inch is loads, had to reprofile my arches to put it right!