944S2 fibreglass bonnet.??
- Thread starter Big Dave
- Start date
Peter Empson
PCGB Member
Hi Dave,
I've looked at quite a few FG bonnets now and the quality seems to vary quite a bit between makes. So it's difficult to draw conclusions, but the best can look and fit as well as as the original part. The cheapest ones are obvious from a mile off and are only alright if you consider it a consumable for a race car. I've heard reports that some don't last long as they are insufficiently braced.
Personally, because I drive my car every day I decided I couldn't live with a lift off bonnet, so chose the heavier hinged version which has the full bracing of the standard part. I will be fitting two bonnet latches soon as I feel more comfortable with them (using lockable Aerocatches).
Mine is going to be aligned and painted soon, so in the new year I hope to post some pics of it completed and whilst its not FG I'm sure it's taken from the same mould so might be helpful.
Best regards,
Peter
I've looked at quite a few FG bonnets now and the quality seems to vary quite a bit between makes. So it's difficult to draw conclusions, but the best can look and fit as well as as the original part. The cheapest ones are obvious from a mile off and are only alright if you consider it a consumable for a race car. I've heard reports that some don't last long as they are insufficiently braced.
Personally, because I drive my car every day I decided I couldn't live with a lift off bonnet, so chose the heavier hinged version which has the full bracing of the standard part. I will be fitting two bonnet latches soon as I feel more comfortable with them (using lockable Aerocatches).
Mine is going to be aligned and painted soon, so in the new year I hope to post some pics of it completed and whilst its not FG I'm sure it's taken from the same mould so might be helpful.
Best regards,
Peter
Peter Empson
PCGB Member
Hi Dave,
Yep, it's carbon, Simon at Essential Styling had it made for me so it'd be worth contacting him if you're tempted. The cost wasn't as bad as you might imagine and from my point of view money well spent as finding further weight savings without loosing the last dregs of comfort/practicality are getting harder all the time (a carbon sunroof panel is already on order [
]).
There are more pics of it in a thread I started a while back called 'Plastic Fantastic'
Yep, it's carbon, Simon at Essential Styling had it made for me so it'd be worth contacting him if you're tempted. The cost wasn't as bad as you might imagine and from my point of view money well spent as finding further weight savings without loosing the last dregs of comfort/practicality are getting harder all the time (a carbon sunroof panel is already on order [
]).There are more pics of it in a thread I started a while back called 'Plastic Fantastic'
Peter Empson
PCGB Member
Hi Ed, yes it'll be sealed in, I've never really used the sunroof so it's no loss [].
].
Peter Empson
PCGB Member
Sorry, I don't really have separate prices for either panels to hand, the bonnet was part of a bigger order so I think I got a bit of a deal, but it was in the region of £800 inc vat from memory.
When I get the final price of the sunroof I'll let you know (naturally it's also part of a bigger order []), but I anticipate £3-400 ish.
When I get the final price of the sunroof I'll let you know (naturally it's also part of a bigger order [
]), but I anticipate £3-400 ish.Peter,
Going O/T here, but what is the rationale behind your 944? Having read quite a lot about it on this forum, and seen it in the tin (or CF!), I can see what it has become, but I can't quite understand how you have arrived at where you are now.
I guess there are two questions - why did you start with a Lux, given where you are now and where you are going (something more akin to a Turbo, albeit with an S2 engine), and why haven't you gone for the favoured two-car strategy (something sensible for daily use and something a lot more committed for track use)?
Excuse my nosyness ...
Oli.
Going O/T here, but what is the rationale behind your 944? Having read quite a lot about it on this forum, and seen it in the tin (or CF!), I can see what it has become, but I can't quite understand how you have arrived at where you are now.
I guess there are two questions - why did you start with a Lux, given where you are now and where you are going (something more akin to a Turbo, albeit with an S2 engine), and why haven't you gone for the favoured two-car strategy (something sensible for daily use and something a lot more committed for track use)?
Excuse my nosyness ...
Oli.
pauljmcnulty
Active member
Oli - there are some questions that just can't be answered........[&:]
I suppose this could be thrown open to all of us for suggestions? I'll start with "to make my bodywork look good". [
][]
berg944
New member
The usual reason is that one is easier to get past the wife.........unless you park one around the corner, at a mates, tell her your fixing it for somebody, they just gave it to you or you just found it[][][][][][]
In my case I purchased my first 944 for the wife. I thought she would look good in it.......but it just showed her imperfections!!!!
I borrowed it that much, SHE suggested I get my own[][][][].......clever[]
If she ever learns to use a computer.......Im dead!
Mike[:'(]
][][][][][]In my case I purchased my first 944 for the wife. I thought she would look good in it.......but it just showed her imperfections!!!!
I borrowed it that much, SHE suggested I get my own[
][][][].......clever[]If she ever learns to use a computer.......Im dead!
Mike[:'(]
Peter Empson
PCGB Member
Hi Oli,
No rationale, no logic, no common sense really...
To cut a long story slightly shorter it's really happened by accident, however as I find standard cars too compromised for my tastes it was inevitable really. I bought the Lux 10 years ago (when it was the best I could afford at £6,500) and through wear and tear and for fun I set about making the odd change, little things like anti roll bars and the like. Then I couldn't get any sticky tyres in 15" so I bought the Cups 1's. The rear screen delaminated so I thought I'd try a plastic screen. Then the suspension was the weak link and getting on a bit, I've never seen the point in replacing things with standard bits - may as well get a real benefit from the money spent- so I went with the Leda setup. Oh and I did the brake upgrade whilst it was all apart. The pickup pipe failed and killed the top end of my old engine (not long after it had been refreshed), so that started me on the S2 engine route and so on...
I only have room for one car, and can only really justify spending money on it if I get a benefit from it daily, luckily I enjoy every mile. I'm not that fond of Turbo lag if I'm honest (although I do appreciate that this can be minimised) and I have no interest in resale value as it'll never be sold. If I were starting out today I'd probably base it on a bare 924 shell (which I very nearly did a few weeks ago before deciding that a bit of restoration was viable, plus the small matter that it worked out to about twice the cost). All in all the only real irritation is it's a bit of a pain to insure.
As for where it's all going? Well as it need to be painted I decided it was best to make any changes to the main panels now. I hate looking at the exposed underside of GF parts and also wanted the small weight saving of CF. The supercharger was supposed to happen in another few years but I got lucky, and will run it in low boost until the bottom end cries enough.
The aim is to further improve the power to weight (circa 1100-1200kg with 300-400bhp should be possible), yet keep the combination that I currently have that is that is easy to drive at the limit, involving, a little raw yet can happily cruise on motorways with a CD playing.
To say I'm not a little excited that it will soon have a smart appearance to match its performance would be an understatement.
A friend asked me the other day if I would be satisifed as this would surely mean it was finished. The poor soul really doesn't understand...
Peter Empson
PCGB Member
ORIGINAL: Diver944
Any progress with the supercharger installation yet?
I know we are now going OT from Big Daves original question but I think it's been answered and I know Dave is interested in superchargers too [
Not a great topic at the moment! It's 7 weeks since I paid for the bits I needed from SFR and am still waiting for them. I have had most of the Innovate boxes fitted but it's not quite there yet (it's good stuff, but could be easier to use). Procharger are not being very helpful about supplying the 'special' oil the charger needs every 6k miles and I'm waiting for Russell at MaxHP to get back to me (I guess he's away for the holidays).
The chance of it being fitted before the bodywork is done is looking very unlikely now [
] Understandably the bodyshop weren't to keen on it being done too soon afterwards for fear of it damaging the fresh paint.Funny, you struck me as a fairly down-to-earth, rational chap when I met you. Had I not known that this was THE Peter Empson, I would never have guessed at your unhinged nature ...ORIGINAL: Peter Empson
No rationale, no logic, no common sense really...
Actually, I jest. I can understand this. Having had not dissimilar projects in the past (although none of them as serious or as expensive), I can understand how you got there. I can particularly associate with the notion of changing worn-out standard parts and wanting to put better-spec bits on to replace them, and it all sliding slightly from there.
And the idea of something that can be driven to work every day without too much trauma, and yet that will handle Hanger Straight as well as it handles Hanger Lane, does appeal quite a lot.
All the best with the fitting of the Super Charger.
Finished? I take it the friend in question is not a petrolhead?
Oli.
ORIGINAL: Peter Empson
............No rationale, no logic, no common sense really...
But then most of us who carry out modifications are perhaps guilty of that.
If one was to put all the money spent on modifying a car in a wallet I wonder how many of us would be driving the car we have now?
Peters comments are very much akin to my own experiences:-
"The car is great but would be even better if X was changed"
Changing X then produces more speed which shows a short coming in previously adequate component Y. Component Y is replaced and then demonstrates an easy advantage could be gained by replacing component Z. And so it goes on.
The main problem then is, once you add up the value of components X,Y,Z,R,S,T,U and all the others, the outlay far exceeds the value of the car.
... the late (of this Forum), great Mr Coull summed it up when describing the slipperiness of the slope which is owning a 951. Words along the lines of "... and then you are into M, N and O modifications, and the slippery slope is getting steeper and steeper. Once you get to P and Q, the slope is pretty much vertical and you have lost any hope of climbing back up it. You will be permanently broke, never finished but love the car."
I concur.
Oli.
I concur.
Oli.
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