Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > DIY / How-to
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 12-08-2012, 12:15 AM   #1 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
2000neon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 596

VX - '94 Honda Civic VX
Team Honda
90 day: 47.95 mpg (US)
Thanks: 133
Thanked 89 Times in 66 Posts
Fiberglass over fleece/ wood

I have been thinking about a kammback for my VX for a while now, but only if I can do it to factory quality and relatively factory appearing. This has left me at using fiberglass, which I have never done before, I am going to play around a bit and build some random thing to try my hand at it first, but the plan is to do it myself.

After watching the Trucks show on Powerblock, it gave me some ideas on how to go about starting the kammback. They used a 1/4" wire frame, stretched fleece over it and used resin to solidify the fleece. I have doubts about how tough that would be though, so I am strongly considering fiberglass mat for structure, but still using the fleece to get my shape. My first question is can I add fiberglass to just one side (the underside) for better support.

I am hoping to take the factory small kammback off all together and start from scratch using the factory mounting locations, so it will be completely removable. As a base I was thinking about using wood as a starting point.
This raises a few questions, will I be able to glass over the wood without moisture being an issue? Will the fleece/ fiberglass bond to the wood at all? To avoid moisture issues, would I be better to fully enclose the wood, or leave the bottom exposed?

As far as shape, I should be able to do it "relatively easily", with the fleece or wire rod frame. The steel rod frame would set into grooves in the wood. As for mounting to the car, I am thinking about drilling through the wood, and drop bolts through with the heads countersunk in, and the threads through the bottom to replicate the factory set up. I know I suck at explaining things, but it seems to make sense in my head...

Any problems jumping out at anyone that I missed? Thanks in advance.

__________________

  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 12-08-2012, 09:18 AM   #2 (permalink)
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 11,203

CM400E - '81 Honda CM400E
90 day: 51.49 mpg (US)

Daox's Grey Prius - '04 Toyota Prius
Team Toyota
90 day: 49.53 mpg (US)

Daox's Insight - '00 Honda Insight
90 day: 64.33 mpg (US)

Swarthy - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage DE
Mitsubishi
90 day: 56.69 mpg (US)

Daox's Volt - '13 Chevrolet Volt
Thanks: 2,501
Thanked 2,585 Times in 1,553 Posts
Why not start out with something simpler to get your hands dirty?

Maybe something like a pretty grill block?
__________________
Current project: A better alternator delete
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2012, 09:36 AM   #3 (permalink)
Wiki Mod
 
Weather Spotter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Midland MI, USA
Posts: 2,042

Max - '14 Ford C-Max SEL
Thanks: 228
Thanked 304 Times in 210 Posts
Yes fiberglass sticks to wood. I have done it on my boat tail and its stuck for almost 2 years so far.

start off small with fiberglass. make a foam, wood or some other template first then take your time and do it right.

Look up 3-wheelers tail project. he has a nice write up on fiberglass howto.
__________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2012, 10:00 AM   #4 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
2000neon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 596

VX - '94 Honda Civic VX
Team Honda
90 day: 47.95 mpg (US)
Thanks: 133
Thanked 89 Times in 66 Posts
Daox: The car already has an almost complete, invisible grill block as it sits right now (painted flat black and mounted behind the grill, + the factory VX grill block). I will be making something small first before I try the kammback itself though. I lobe your grill block on the Prius by the way.

WeatherSpotter: Thanks, that is good to know. The top area above the window and in front of the kammback that hinges with the hatch will be easiest to make from wood, so I'm glad to hear that should work.
__________________

  Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2012, 10:26 AM   #5 (permalink)
Wiki Mod
 
Weather Spotter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Midland MI, USA
Posts: 2,042

Max - '14 Ford C-Max SEL
Thanks: 228
Thanked 304 Times in 210 Posts
With wood, get dry wood and coat it with resin on all sides. let that dry, lightly sand it and then apply the Fiberglas layer. that will keep the wood from soaking up moisture and expanding.

If you want some strong plastic composite wood that bends nicely I have a few pieces that were free at work PM me and I might be able to get some to you. I made the round part of my nose cone from it.

it bends, is strong, will not rot, will not break, will not decay. its great stuff!
__________________
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Weather Spotter For This Useful Post:
2000neon (12-09-2012)
Old 12-08-2012, 12:48 PM   #6 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
2000neon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 596

VX - '94 Honda Civic VX
Team Honda
90 day: 47.95 mpg (US)
Thanks: 133
Thanked 89 Times in 66 Posts
I might just have to take you up on that offer! I am going to try to make the main extension and rounded corners of the kamm with the steel rod frame, with the wood as a base and attachment. If I can't get the shape I need then material like you used will be my next attempt.
__________________

  Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2012, 05:13 PM   #7 (permalink)
EcoModding Smurfer
 
Smurf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LaX
Posts: 293

Dime - '95 Chevy S10 LS ExtCab RWD
Pickups
90 day: 18.23 mpg (US)

G/A - '96 Pontiac Grand Am
Team Pontiac
90 day: 32.74 mpg (US)
Thanks: 52
Thanked 35 Times in 29 Posts
Can you weld at all?

Maybe fab a wire rod subframe, then chickenwire and fleece onto that? With the metal rods and then fiberglass on all sides, I'd think that would be solid enough. As long as it's anchored properly.
__________________

  Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2012, 05:41 PM   #8 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
2000neon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 596

VX - '94 Honda Civic VX
Team Honda
90 day: 47.95 mpg (US)
Thanks: 133
Thanked 89 Times in 66 Posts
Yes, and no. I can tack pieces together and do some functional (read: not pretty) longer beads. Just need more practice. That is the rough idea, the wood I was talking about would be the anchoring using the factory mounting holes. Chicken wire would work too, but I already have wood, various sizes of steel rod, resin and small amounts of fiberglass mat. So I'm thinking between the wire and fleece for the shape, with fiberglass support it will be strong enough.

It might help if I draw this out, I know I'm not the best at describing things.
__________________

  Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2012, 09:43 AM   #9 (permalink)
MPG Militia HMV-25E80+A
 
JethroBodine's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Vermont, USA
Posts: 823

FrankenJetta D - '90 Volkswagen Jetta GL
Boat tails and more mods
Diesel
TEAM VW AUDI Group
90 day: 64.35 mpg (US)
Thanks: 191
Thanked 144 Times in 98 Posts
In my experience, chicken wire is not rigid enough. At Home Depot there are other rolls of screening that are tougher right next to the chicken wire. If I were doing my tail over again, I would get the more rigid mesh. Rounding and re-straightening if unsatisfied with shape can be done easily with simple tools and it will maintain shape while stretching cloth/glass over it better.
__________________


Quote:
It is always very amusing how our imagination is put to the test when overcoming reality. Redyaris
Boat tail project
How to gently bump start during EOC
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to JethroBodine For This Useful Post:
2000neon (12-09-2012), Weather Spotter (12-09-2012)
Old 12-09-2012, 11:16 AM   #10 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
2000neon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 596

VX - '94 Honda Civic VX
Team Honda
90 day: 47.95 mpg (US)
Thanks: 133
Thanked 89 Times in 66 Posts
Thanks. I have 2 more exams at the end of this week, so it will have to wait until the weekend before I can make things start happening. I'm going to start from what I know, with the wood base and that will give me something consistent to build off of. Right now I'm still leaning to using either the 3/8" or 1/4" rod to build a frame and see where that takes me. If its too hard to keep it even on both sides I'm going to an all wood frame/ mold, but if the rod just isn't rigid enough I'm going to try a wire mesh.

Lets hope the weather cooperates.

__________________

  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com