Here’s the Scoop

Chargespeed carbon hood duct for the GC chassis Impreza as shown on a customer car. A great, stylish option for guys running a front mount (or non turbo guys just looking to change up the look)

Tech Talk: FRP (Fiberglass) vs Blended Materials for Aftermarket Body Kits

CWest PFRP Blended Fiberglass

Ings Hybrid Aero Blended FRP Material

We get this question ALL the time – what is the ‘right’ material to select when buying aftermarket body parts? There are a range of materials that manufacturers use. Several higher end manufacturers, mainly in the Japanese realm, offer several of their products in both FRP as well as a blended, or hybrid material. FRP stands for Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic. This term is tossed around alot in the aftermarket aero world. It’s a bit of a catch all term, that generally describes a range of composites (parts made by mixing various materials together). Without getting boring, there are differences among “FRP” blends. Not only do the materials mixed together vary, so do the epoxy types used to hold them together. Since a fiberglass part is only as good as the quality of the mold used to produce it, that is why you see such a huge variation in pricing among parts that on their surface look similar. This is an area where you get what you pay for. For ease of terminology, I will stick to using the generic term “FRP”, but I am specifically referring to the better-branded/manufactured stuff out there, since that is what I am most familiar with. FRP has many fantastic properties. It is extremely strong relative (especially) relative to it’s weight (it’s light), it can be molded into many complex shapes, it is easily repaired should it get damaged, and it’s able to be produced at relatively low costs. FRP really has no downsides in and of itself, it is a terrific material for these type of parts. Some will say that urethane is ALWAYS better, and it’s simply not the case. Urethane molds are extremely expensive to produce, which is why you rarely see aftermarket aero parts offered in the material to begin with. When you do, they tend to be extremely heavy relative to their FRP counterparts. Urethane is extremely durable, mainly because it has so much tensile strength, but should it be damaged via impact, it’s very difficult (and often impossible), to repair. Most times when it suffers such an impact, it has to be replaced. Fiberglass on the otherhand can literally be decimated – shattered into multiple chunks after an impact, but joined back together relatively easily. Serviceability is a big benefit of FRP parts. Another issue with aftermarket urethane, that is often overlooked, is longevity. Depending on where in the world you live, the urethane can break down over the course of time, due to environmental conditions. This process can cause the urethane to lose its shape and literally deform. As this happens, its aesthetic value and its durability both suffer.

In the last 10 years (give or take), we’ve seen variations of fiberglass hit the market. These are components use a combination of different man made materials (urethane, various plastics, etc) added into the “FRP” mixture, and sealed with a different type of epoxy. The purpose of this type of material was to bridge the gap between the aftermarket urethane parts and the OEM plastic/urethane level parts. These blended, or hybrid materials are more flexible vs their straight FRP counterparts, but not as flexible as a full urethane part. In the case of manufacturers like INGS and CWest, their blended materials have the added bonus of requiring much less prep time before they are ready for paint. This type of manufacturing is more expensive to do, so only a handful of worthwhile companies offer it. Several try (mostly knockoff firms), and succeed to varying degrees. In many cases I have seen, while the material itself is generally quite good, in the interest the mold quality suffers. Molds are used for longer than they should be, or simply are inaccurate in the first place. This results in unwanted gaps when installed, or parts that are too long, too short, and require significant prep work in order to actually install on the car. Prep work is expensive, generally charged per hour, and can quickly make the ‘savings’ vs the genuine article disappear. While the hybrid/blended parts are slightly heavier than their FRP counterparts, they are nowhere near the level of a urethane part. Somewhere on the order of 5% or so heavier.

Advertisement

Bride + Cusco, a JDM Marriage

Bride and Cusco have teamed up to produce some limited versions of a few popular Bride seats. Construction and specs are the same as the Bride variants, these just come wtih the added Cusco logo.

So far, initial offerings include the Vios III, Euro II and Euro II Cruz, Digo and Digo Type R, Zeta III (including carbon and XL versions) and Stradia Sport.

Contact z1sales@z1auto.com for pricing. These are expected sometime during the second quarter 2013.

Carbonfiber Production and the OEM’s

Racetech Now Available

In our quest to constantly offer the very best aftermarket performance products for your car, we’ve now added Racetech to the mix. Racetech is well known in competition circles as providing among the finest racing seats and harnesses in the world. The very same products available for normal purchase can be found in WRC, V8 Supercar, FIA GT.

The main products are now available for purchase, and listed on the website . If there is something you want that you don’t see, drop us a line at z1sales@z1auto.com

GReddy Carbon Hood Dampers

Brand new from GReddy are these carbon fiber hood dampers. Perfect for keeping your stock or aftermarket hood propped open without using the unsightly factory hood prop. Each kit comes with all bolt on brackets and hardware. Installation is an easy affair that can be done with normal hand tools in your driveway.

Current applications include: Nissan GTR, Mitsubishi Evo X, Honda S2000, Subaru WRX/STi, Nissan 240SX (S14). More applications coming soon!

What’s in a Wheel?

We get this question all the time, and figured this would be a good opportunity to shed some light on what goes into making an aftermarket wheel. Most tend to think a wheel falls into 2 categories – forged and cast. While this is generally true, there are variations that make a very big impact in the finished product.

At the bottom of the pyramid you have Gravity Cast wheels. This is a fairly simple production technique whereby molten aluminum is literally poured into a mold. Because of the simple process, the mold can be quite complex and intricate. This affords the manufacturer a wider range of styles to play with, and offers the greatest flexibility of design. The downside of course is the technique itself. Since you’re relying on plain old gravity to fill the mold, it’s not perfect. The net result is a wheel that has more empty space between the molecules vs. more involved manufacturing processes. They also tend to be on the heavier side of things, as the goal is style in design vs all out strength. The upside is the price for these wheels can be downright cheap. But so can the quality. Often times, the wheels are made in plants of dubious quality, and attention to detail is sometimes shoddy. You can tell the el cheapo stuff by casting flash on the backside of the spokes and hub.

Next up you’ve got Pressure Cast Wheels. As the name implies, this technique relies on external pressure to fill the mold. As you can probably guess, the result is a wheel where there is far less empty space between the molecules. This method is a bit more limiting in overall style, but the strength to weight ratio is much higher compared to plain gravity cast wheels. This is the most common method used by the larger OEM manufacturers, because it affords them a good compromise between design and strength. Within the Pressure Cast family you have both higher pressure and low pressure. Differences are as stated – the amount of pressure exerted on the aluminun in the mold.

The next technique is relatively new compared to the above, and is employed by several manufacturers such as SSR, Enkei, etc. It’s called Flow Forming, or Spun Form, Hybrid Forged, etc. This process employs a pressure cast technique at first, to achieve a general shape. Rollers are then used to literally pull, or press, the material to shape the final design. Many high end OEM manufacturers use this technique on their wheels. While it’s still technically a casting technique, the process allows a wheel to be incredibly strong (since the molecules are very densely packed), and light weight at the same time. While the production costs are the highest among the cast methods, it still allows the wheel to be about 50% less costly than a forged variant. SSR Type F, Type C RS, several designs from Weds and BBS and several in Enkei’s Racing series employ this technique. Enkei has licensed the process to several other traditional cast manufacturers such as Konig and AME over the years as well.

The pinnacle of the wheel production pyramid is of course forging. In this process, a single, billet hunk of aluminum is literally stamped into a design using very high pressure applied to a die. Because of the costs involved from the raw materials, to the production equipment, these are far and away the most expensive types of wheels. However, they also tend to have the best weight to strength ratio. The designs are often quite limited because of the cost to produces the dies. These tend to be simpler overall designs (aka Volk TE37, BBS LM and LMR, etc.).

From there you get into a variety of materials. Aluminum and Magnesium are the most often used metals. In recent years, we’ve also seen hybrids employing both carbon and aluminum bonded together. The cost of these more exotic materials is high, but it’s done in the pursuit of the lightest weight, and highest level of strength.

When you begin to examine the above in greater detail, you also begin to see that the process is only part of the equation. There are bad quality cast wheels and good quality cast wheels. There are wheels who’s designs are based on a forging model, that are replicated in cast models. There are wheels who’s design is based upon a low or high pressure, or spun technique, and some company turns around and does a low pressure cast version. From the outside, it all looks the same. The price is certainly more attractive. Sometimes it works well, sometimes it doesn’t. This is why the better cast manufacturers don’t replicate every wheel under the sun – because they know it’s an accident waiting to happen. Another important consideration is who is making the wheel in the first place. Some firms own their own factories, some simply come up with a design and broker manufacturing out to the lowest bidder. The problem is the consumer never sees this side of the market, they only see the finished product. When it arrives to you new in the box, it can look all shiny and pretty. Turn the wheel over and examine the spokes, and you can begin to see the origins, and the quality of the wheel. The better quality wheels tend to be finished in very great detail even on the backside, and no casting flaws can be seen, and no extra flashing. The cheap stuff looks…well, cheap.

Hopefully that helps shed some light on what some differences are between the various wheel manufacturing techniques.

Chargespeed for 350Z @ Insane Pricing!!!

These deals are just too good to pass up! Only the items listed here apply!!! All pricing is posted, and includes shipping in the 48 states. For shipping to any location outside the 48 states, please email us at [email]z1sales@z1auto.com[/email] with your full, complete address and we can get you the cost. Thanks – first come first served so don’t miss out!!!

Chargespeed FRP Aero Mirror Set 2003-2008 350Z
These use your factory mirror mounting base (aka the triangle) for fitment. Although they are spec’d as a RHD mirror, there is enough adjustment for them to be used on our LHD cars thankfully! More form over function for sure, but they are pretty sweet looking

MSRP = $420 + shipping; on sale now for $309 SHIPPED!!!

Chargespeed Canards for 2003-2008 350Z:
sold as either an upper pair in your choice of FRP or Carbon, or Lower pair in your choice of FRP or carbon

FRP Upper OR Lower Canard Set (Pair) – MSRP = $240 + shipping, on sale now for $183 SHIPPED! Carbon Upper OR Lower Canard Set (Pair) – MSRP = $340 + shipping, on sale now for $253 SHIPPED!

Chargespeed Headlight Eyebrow Set in carbon or FRP – fits 2003-2008 models

FRP: MSRP = $140 + shipping, on sale for $113 SHIPPED!; Carbon: MSRP = $240 + shipping, on sale for $183 SHIPPED!

Chargespeed Carbon Airdam Finisher for 2003-2005 OR 2006-2008 350Z (standard bumper – fits right under the grille as shown, must specify year when ordering as they differ!)

MSRP = $395 + shipping, on sale now for $305 SHIPPED!

Chargespeed FULL GT Widebody Kit!!!

MSRP = $6280, on sale now for $4596 SHIPPED!

Chargespeed GT Rear Wing with Carbon Center:

MSRP = $1580 + shipping, on sale now for $1240 shipped!

Chargespeed Side Underwings – available in FRP or Carbon!

Front Side (under front fender) – FRP: MSRP = $160/pair + shipping, on sale for $132 SHIPPED! Carbon: MSRP = $289/pair + shipping, on sale for $222 SHIPPED!

Rear Side (under rear quarter panel) – FRP: MSRP = $189/pair + shipping, on sale for $152 SHIPPED! Carbon: MSRP = $250 SHIPPED!

Front AND Rear Set – FRP – $275 SHIPPED; Carbon – $457 SHIPPED

We’ve also got clearance stuff for: S2000, Supra, G35, Evo VIII/IX, Lexus, RX7, Civic, RSX, RX8, 240SX, WRX/STi, Legacy. So if you or someone you know is after anything Chargespeed, let us know! Could be an awesome chance to save some serious coin!!

Carbon Synchro Kit for 2004-2006 STi

The GD series STi 6 speed transmission was a god-send vs the previous 5 speed. But, Subaru still left room for improvement. In mid 2006,they changed the synchro design to a carbon based one, which offers significantly increased strength vs the earlier versions. These deal with heat much better, making it a great upgrade for the road race guys.

We can offer a full package that changes all the 1-6 synchros to the updated type. Contact us at z1sales@z1auto.com for details.

EvoSoul Carbon Trunk Cover for Evo X, Lancer

Brand new addition from Evo Soul. Neat way to compliment your Evo X or Lancer without breaking the bank on a full carbon trunk. I love how ducktail type lip also compliments the lines of the car, even when you re-install the OEM spoiler. Available now, contact us to order!

Contact us to order!

Bride Zeta III Japan Series

In the spirit of the Japan Series seats introduced last year, Bride Japan has now put together a special version of the Zeta III. This features a carbon back, lightweight (16.5 lbs) shell, full FIA approval, and the special Japan Series logo and fabric. We have a limited number of these available, and package deals are being offered with the required bases/sliders. Contact us for details!

Carbonetics Introduces An Affordable Carbon Clutch!

Carbonetics has just introduced their new Blade Clutch series to the market! That’s right, an affordable carbon based clutch for the same price as many metal/blended disk versions!

Quick Shift
The specific gravity of the Carbon is 1/5 of iron. By attaching our carbon material on the outer edges of the clutch disc, an ultra low inertia is released which cannot be accomplished by conventional clutches

The low inertia makes quick shifting very easy and at the same time it minimizes the damages to the scynrco gears.

Reduced Transmission Impact
The new carbon clutch has sprung centre damper in order to achieve an easy operation and to reduce the impact to the transmission at the engagement.

Power
The Blade Carbon clutch has been tested and can hold 450+ BHP with a comparative torque figure; tests have shown the clutch to hold even more. (Depending on pressure plate)

Affordable prices with OEM flywheel compatibility
Carbonetics has shattered the image of expensive Carbon clutches. The Carbon Blade clutch will not only fit a stock flywheel but also the price is not much different to that of a conventional metal sintered clutch.

Applications
Mitusbishi Evo 4-10
Subaru WRX/STI GC8-GDB
Honda Integra DC2/DC5 Civic EK9/EP3
Toyota Celica/MR-S/AE86
Nissan Skyline GTR/GTS 32-33, S13/S14/S15 Pulsar/GTi-R (SR20DET)

Coming soon
Ford Focus ST/RS
VW/Audi 1.8T 1.9TDI, 2.0TDI/2.0T
BMW E36 M3
Porsche 911 RS all models

ATS Carbon LSD Spec II

AMS Carbon/Kevlar For Your GTR

AMS has done it again, this time with 2 awesome parts for the R35 GTR.

Their Carbon Kevlar roof is 9 lbs lighter than stock. Lowering the car’s center of gravity this much pays big time dividends! But it does so with class, and still accepts the factory headliner.

The Carbon Kevlar trunk continues the trend by shedding 14 lbs vs the factory trunk setup. Fit and finish is spot on, as you would expect.

Both components are offered in your choice of matte or glossy finish.

Click here to order the roof

Click here to order the trunk

For a combo deal, just drop us a line!

Limited time offer on Carbonetics 1.5 way Carbon LSD for ’06 Subaru STI

We have two of these units that we are looking to get rid of.

This is for ’06 STI only. Gear oil is included.

Call us for the pricing special if you are interested.