Ford Carbon Fibre Bonnets

[Nargee]

Hi Guys,

I am looking at getting some Carbon Fibre Bonnets made for various Ford Models as the market is very limited for Ford Mods.

I need to get a feel on the which Ford Models to cover for building the bonnets.

I have made a poll to get some feedback from Ford Owners. If I have missed any Model you think would be OK please let me know

Ciao - James

[Polyal]

Cool, how would these go with the legal side of things?

I reckon you should put your money into B and F series. Terry market would probably be smaller than the AU one and I couldn't see many Mondeo people doing it (XR5 guys maybe but they are a small crowd).

Good luck, good to see another person getting into it.

B series XR8 would be a good seller. Many want the bulge and a weight loss would be good too.

[Nargee]

Thanks, it is a bit hard to know where to go with the models, naturally you can't manufacture for just the few. Am looking into the legality at the moment. Trouble is that the RTA in NSW is making life a misery for any one wanting to mod their cars.

Ciao - James

[flappist]

Make sure of the legalities.

The bonnet makes up part of the "crumple zone" technology and fitting carbon fibre may actually revoke ADR compliance and therefore void insurance.

[Zedjay]

arnt BA BF bonnets the same ??

[Fireblade]

AFAIK Carbon bonnets are illegal, problem with carbon it is strong and doesn't crumple like steel or smash up like fibreglass, the carbon can quite easy spear through the window and obviously occupants body/head making them quite dnagerous.

[b0son]

If there's an ADR relating to pedestrian impact safety, I would hazard a guess that a carbon bonnet will not comply (lack of flex, propensity to shatter, etc).

[Jason[98.EL]]

T.B.A customs have done a great looking bonnet with the turbo terry intake grafted on it (made out of fibreglass )

i know that stefs are compliant and come with adr certification

i will find a few pics and post them here soon

heres 1 that i could find


Jason

[deesun]

Originally Posted by Jason[98.EL]

T.B.A customs have done a great looking bonnet with the turbo terry intake grafted on it (made out of fibreglass )

i know that stefs are compliant and come with adr certification

i will find a few pics and post them here soon

Jason

Go here, http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11301734 mine is on order as we speak.

[Nargee]

Originally Posted by Zedjay

arnt BA BF bonnets the same ??

Yes they are the same,

Ciao - James

[Nargee]

Originally Posted by Jason[98.EL]

T.B.A customs have done a great looking bonnet with the turbo terry intake grafted on it (made out of fibreglass )

i know that stefs are compliant and come with adr certification

i will find a few pics and post them here soon

heres 1 that i could find


Jason

Hi Jason, I do have the option to have them built in Fibreglass which my previous bonnets were made in. [Might have to go down that track]

Ciao - James

[Jason[98.EL]]

Originally Posted by deesun

Go here, http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11301734 mine is on order as we speak.

that was the thread i was looking for

they would also look good on the EL i would imagine


Jason

[madmelon]

Regarding legalities in NSW of Carbon Bonnets and other things.

http://fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11299433

I'll add to that that a carbon bonnet would NOT simply shatter if hitting a pedestrian- it would flex in the middle just the same as (if not more than ) the factory bonnet. The greatest problem with this is that it actually allows a pedestrian's head to more easily impact the engine and related components.

Bonnets generally are NOT a major part of the energy absorption system in crumple zones- they take relatively little energy to crush/bend compared to all the stuff welded/bolted/bonded to the chassis rails.

Just thinking about it, the shear strength of carbon fibres is very poor and the combination with epoxy doesn't improve it greatly. Probably the two most likely scenarios in a frontal collision are:

a) bonnet simply folds in half just like any other bonnet- it may crack when it folds completely over but it won't necessarily splinter and completely come apart or shatter.

b) bonnet shears off at the mounting bolts and slides up the windscreen. Contrary to popular belief, unless you're driving a Model T (or other such vertical windscreened car...) it will not cut through the windscreen any more than a steel bonnet would in the same situation.

[mick10010]

B and/or F series would be the way to go, so long as you make customers paint them before they go on!

[Nargee]

Originally Posted by mick10010

B and/or F series would be the way to go, so long as you make customers paint them before they go on!

I was making Custom BA/BF Bonnets and they were good sellers - these were made from fibreglass and not one of our customers has got back to me in reference to being told to remove the bonnet by the law.

Ciao - James

[Nikked]

E Series. I want a CF bonnet with Xr intake holes and Boss bulge :-)

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by F6 FOON

, problem with carbon it is strong and doesn't crumple like steel or smash up like fibreglass, the carbon can quite easy spear through the window and obviously occupants body/head making them quite dnagerous.

Lol, incorrect.

Most (cheaper) cabon bonnets are mostly Fiberglass anyway (the ones i've seen), well the frame is, only the outside skin is carbon.

As with any other illegal mod (pretty much everything), don't drive like a loon and the police wont bother you.