Great, as if anyone will ever let me drive their car with this stunning recommendation.

Your carbon fiber sexy Forumla 1 side mirror project is safe with me . I won't tell a soul, its in the vault.

 

I can't recall the car this was installed on but, it was more of the bling factor than function. They took the headliner out of the car and replaced it with CF. Just checking if this would be a cool MOD or too much of the rice burner upgrades.

 

I have been crazy busy down here, but my dad loved his gift! Hopefully I will be in Detroit soon. Talk to you later Sid.

Back on topic

 

carbonized any updates on any of your cool cf one offs or are you still out racing?? Hurry up and lets get back to making stuff for us to drool over!!

Steve

 

OK, Ti's the season, and racing is running my life, but I can steal a few days to keep carbonizing . One month ago I installed my R10 replica mirror prototypes and I'm still working on the final product and molds. I recently lost the radiator fan low speed so after some research I went to the dealer and got a whole new fan (they don't sell the resistor only) . (That triggers a new project ). Since I was at the dealership and I've been hitching to start on my sun roof delete, I ordered two roof skins that will make the mold, so the S.R.D. is committed .Too bad it won't be done before my yearly run of the Dragon in October . Other than that... CRRAP, I need to cut the 2 feet tall grass around my house!!!!

 

I got first in line...or second to you I mean...

 

I'd love a carbon replacement panel for the glass, leaving the opening feature in place. sort of a CF 'moonroof' conversion. Is this possible? It would be the best of both worlds for us guys who want to get rid of that weight up high but also like some sun on nice days

 

ever think about making these (b-pillar?) I really would like something that dosent crack if I wax it or a butterfly flys by, not to mention the only reason my drivers side is still there is good ol fashion superglue... my passanger side is somewhere on the highway...

 

A pillars and yes, they aren't very sturdy. luckily, they're cheap and easy to replace.

 

so carbonized is gonna make an entire roof skin in carbon fiber? WOW...how would you go about replacing that if you have the sunroof? Isn't the roof skin welded to all the pillars? That seems very far off from a "bolt-on" mod I know those guys from the magazine(can't think of who it was) tried that carbon fiber idea but I can't remember if they just replaced the piece of glass (which would seem to make more sense to me) or they did the whole roof. Anyone remember?

 

They did a whole roof swap if I remember. My S.R.D involve the sun roof only, not just the glass but the entire system: Glass panels, tracks, motor, gaskets, sun shades, electrical, etc. I think I can remove around 40 lbs from the top of the car, witch should show in handling as well as mpg. It is not a simple or cheap mod, because of all the one time use part of the interior that I will have to replace, A, B pillar covers, probably C pillar too, numbers of clips and fasteners and many unknown, as yet, but it will be a lot of fun . I will known more when I get the skins on the scale. The goal is for the "plug" to be half the weight of the equivalent area of steel, and maybe integrate a roll bar over the B pillar bridge.
On an other note, I replaced my radiator fan today,( got some pics of the low speed resistor for those interested), Bart and BTT paid me a visit while I was up to my elbows in dirt and coolant fluid . As soon as the radiator came off, I knew where my boost or lack thereof has been going: The whole area around the connection between the plastic intake tube and the SC was black! Oil blow-by and dirt make a dark mess you can't miss. We found sand between the gasket and the aluminum of the S.C., god knows what else this thing as been trying to compress . So I put the thing back together with a copious amount of silicon sealant and custom washers on a new screw, fix the broken rad. carrier, adjust (think Dremel tool) the front bumper fit, check a few other things under he car while she's up on stand, clean up and drop her to the ground. It,s time to go to my secret testing place. On my way there, in my own neborhood.....

Please join us for our next episode of "Crap happens"

 

I decided to visit Carbo yesterday. When I originally saw the protos, I had some concerns that they would not "fit" w/ the Mini Lines. Well, they more than "fit", they look outrageous. I didn't even notice them for 5 mins since he painted them along the stock theme.

Dam, I hate this guy .

 

I just wish I could be down there learning this skill

 

Thanks for joining “crap happens”.


As I was saying after working on the car all day, I headed to my testing ground. Two blocks from my house I got side swiped by this “ no turn signal no rear view mirror checking mother of 3 toddlers driving while on the phone” minivan.



Here are some pics:
DSCN4329.jpg?t=1217180706
The front wheel took the blunt of the impact, steering wheel is off center by a good bit, front fender and door are total goners
DSCN4330.jpg?t=1217181344

Rear ¼ panel and rocker done. So is the rear rim (dented lip) . note how the gas cap moved of center!
DSCN4332.jpg?t=1217181405


My guts felt that way when I got out of the car: Torn!
DSCN4343.jpg?t=1217181459



Testing my mirrors, the white paint is now on the hood of a minivan!
DSCN4342.jpg?t=1217181513

Nobody got hurt, her 3 kids are Ok . She got the ticket but I don't think she learned any thing from the accident, she still believe she did nothing wrong . She will be back on the road with the kids, not signaling, not checking mirrors, yacking on the phone and taking wide turns as if she was driving an 18 wheeler . South Florida drivers for you!!!!

 

Hey Bart, I feel the loooove

 

Is that mom in the reflection?

 

Ugh...Bad things happen... it's a way of making us stronger. I know your car will be back together, better... Hey, how about CF door skins ?

 

I feel for ya, let me know if there is something I can do.

Geeeezzzzzzzzzz, I leave you alone for the afternoon and this shEEEEttt happens . Well at least the mirror survived . Saved by 2 inches . For those of you that don't know these mirrors make the car 2" narrower.

I guess it would be rude to ask but you know me I MUST - did you solve your boost problem ?

 

No Sid ,that would be my wife who brought me my camera on the scene .
The door's wound is more than skin deep , the skeleton is torn all the way to the upper hinge. Carbon doors with minivan nano-repellent, yea that's it Ill work on it right away !
The mirror dragged over her hood, left some paint behind, but otherwise survived undamaged. Good test, got to get something positive out of this .
Boost gets to 14 rather rapidly, then takes forever to climb and peak around 15. So I will be looking further into it. At least the SC is not ingesting sand or other contaminant any more.

 

Man that sucks! Glad that everyone is OK and that your car is not totaled and that the mirrors survived. That mother should really learn from that especially with 3 infants...god that woman has to be brain dead if she doesn't. Can't wait to see CF doors and fenders

 

Those pics made me cringe

It's nice to see that your side view mirror faired very well

I wish your car a speedy recovery!

 

wow. sorry to see that... I'm a big fan of your work and when i would see your car around fort lauderdale i'd always try and catch up to see what else had been added haha.

anyway i know you'll make the car even better now. (now you have a real excuse to make the doors and front fenders out of CF ha

anyway sorry to hear/see about that...

but the mirrors look great!

-Malcon

 

#@&%* insurance companies . They want to use Chinese or junk yard part on my car, those A...Holes . If I want OEM parts, it's out of my pocket. . 11 years with the Lizard and that's what I get! They don't even approve the BMW collision center as a repair shop to deal with . These bastards only business is to make a bad experience even worse . So it looks like I'm in for a long fight and a lot of cash on top of my $500 deductible, for a fender bender that wasn't even my fault. Thanks to the CROOKSURANCE industry (Where is the finger smiley ). Damned I'm pissed! You may have noticed. I wonder how this people can sleep at night? Legalized robbery, that's what it is, the perfect organized crime! Sanctioned by a government near you!
FYI check your policy, the "limit of liability" paragraph is an eye opener! The language is vague enough, to get you lost, yet precise enough to get you f..ked . Scums, and that includes the SCAMSURANCE commissioners and politicos involve in letting this kind of things slip by!
Sorry for the rant but I had to let it of my chest.
It is not the first time I deal with this and every single time it has turn into a time and money consuming thing. I'm considering going PIP and liability only, In 2 years I can cover my next crash with the savings .

 

Get a lawyer and go after HER insurance to pay for the RIGHT parts put on by the right shop. It is a MINI, not a Minivan! You will need to fight and a good lawyer to make it happen. Ins companies change tunes real quick when they start talking to your lawyer and not you.

 

Can you come by and cut my grass this weekend?