Composite Body Panels

[SuspiciousPizza]

I've been talking to a coworker who does composite work on the side. Right now he only focuses of making carbon fiber parts for KTM super motos.

I've had the idea for a few weeks to start manufacture of NLA body panels for these old Subarus. I talked to him about this and he doesn't have any objections to taking on the project but he doesn't know if there's a market for these parts. Making the molds takes significant investment of both time and money.

Would anyone be interested in composite body panels?

I'm thinking just fiberglass (to keep the cost down) but face layers of carbon or kevlar would be possible. Or even panels made entirely of carbon or kevlar would be possible. No sanding, no paint. They'd ship as bare parts to he finished by the buyer (or just throw them on without sanding or paint).

If anything we'd start with 3rd Gen front fenders and hoods and we could move from there if there's enough demand.

Just putting feelers out there if this would be worth our time. No ideas on a price at this time.

:]

 

[bushytails]

I think there's about a whole dozen of us still working on old gen subarus...

[moosens]

Not likely worth the mold making effort. 
 

There are fiberglass front fenders out there for gen one that show up once in a while. I might even still have one. 

There were two shops that did those or at least two different results. Some have a wicked nasty orange peel texture and others don’t. Mine is the smooth finish type. Some seems to come from Canada and not sure about the others. One seller in the Pittsburgh area had a small amount of them a few years back. That guy seemed to fade away but those were the lower quality anyways.

 

Back to contemporary composite panel construction, I also work with the stuff with autoclaves and molds and all that fun stuff. But I’m not about to start mold making. Had thought about just vacuum bagging the panel with a homemade caul plate. But I don’t have time and space. And I do that stuff at work for aircraft. 
 

Also in the “wuz gonna” file is the front air damn from Kamei that I had that I think Galen H has now. 

[el_freddo]

The other issue with these ideas and looking for numbers of those that put their hand up to buy. Subaru owners are typically tight on stuff like this - yes ppl in a way if you like - but once it comes to the commitment to buy most of them will scamper! 

This happens time and time again. Someone needs to pony up without any expectation of others buying to cover costs. This bit sucks. Then you just wait & hope that the units sell. Much like the remanufactured tailgates here in Oz. Someone made them with ppl aware of them being made. From my understanding they sold several batches, I don’t know how many were in a batch. 

These were very well made and I want one, but other priorities plus my brumby isn’t the best looking one getting around but it’s complete and can be dailyed if I want. 

I do hope you work out a way to make it happen if this is what you want @SuspiciousPizza!

[moosens]

Right, Benny picked up where I left off or didn’t quite declare too well. 
 

Demand.

 

And what Benny said about the community is 100% dead on. 
 

SP - we can surely appreciate your enthusiasm but you’ve got to realize there’s a few of us who’ve travelled the same path of thought. Only to see the light/darkness and turn back. 
 

The one good group purchase we did , we actually did a second successful purchase as well , was for the front windshield rubber gaskets for gen one. 
 

Been talk about lots of possible repro parts but no way is a manufacturer going to get involved given the vintage Subaru numbers. 
 

Back yard, basement, garage efforts are super great to see. And I’m still always scheming to try to work out some type of personal vacuum bagging, makeshift autoclave type of set up.