S12 Carbon Fibre Bonnets **Update**

G'day guys...

Just updating yous. I am starting the mould this weekend, Dexla is giving me a spare bonnet for a little while to make a mould, then i will be punching out CF bonnets with the stock lines as a direct bolt in replacement, hinge plates and latch hook included. I have estimated 3kg for the bonnet without hinge plates n latch hook, so maybe 3.5-4kg in total, and thats a far cry lighter than the stockie! If you are interested in a drift style vent, fj20 bulge or an intake vent for your pod, all can be doctored into the stock bonnet. They will be made with high warp temperature resin and finished off with a high gloss "flowcoat" and will look the goods! As for price (estimates atm, actual price depends on if it has extras such as vents bulges etc) it will be around AUS$995..........but i do say this is an estimate as i havent finished one in CF yet, it might be cheaper :-)

I will also be making interior door pannels, dash, console, front air damm, heat shields and more. All these will follow the bonnets in upcoming weeks.

For a look at a bonnet designed for Dexla, incorperating an FJ20 bulge and an exduction vent, go to my cardomain site:

www.cardomain.com/memberpage/643562

Chatch yas!

is this just the bonnet or will you be makin a hood as well. would you be willing to ship to the U.S.

LOL A bonnet IS a hood.

LOL

for future referene...

bonnet = hood
boot = trunk

spanner = wrench

I'll pick one up when you start selling them. It might be cheaper for shipping if we buy them in bulk (to the U.S.) send them to one location then dispurse them.

damnit sorry brainfart there but i will buy one oh one more thing what about the headlight covers because it will look kinda funny (i think) if those arent carbon fiber too but maybe that is just me. i will still buy the hood anyways.

$995 is expensive for a cf hood tho...so iono....

$995 is expensive for a cf hood tho...so iono....
lol thats aus dollar. $710.82 usd $935.66 canadian

I know..and that's about $930CAD

but that's still expensive

normal cost here for high end is $700 - $800 and that's with a latch

true but its custom. To bad we can't get that in "honda" prices. $400

I don't suspect shipping from AUS would be cheap either

sure it's light, but it's not small in size by any means

Well seeing as im in Aus and i liek to drift and goto the track ill get one!!

A decent loan is coming my way so my car is going on the road very soon!! :banger:

Well from what i know, shipping is a weight thing, but i rekon sending a bunch at once would be a good idea and cheaper. I have had good interest here in aus with a few ppl already keen on them, not to mention GTi bonnets that i'll be starting in a fortnight. Anyone interested, PM or email or msn me. I wont be online this weekend as my laptop is getting worked on. So i'll check back ina coupla days.

Cheerio

The bonnet sounds good, tho i'm not a HUGE fan of CF just for the sake of it. Coupla vents wouldn't go astray, something like GTiR vents would probly be a bit exxy i imagine. I've got the jap ca18det bonnet on mine (sorta like a corvette raised bulge in the middle, i'll get a pic for ya) fits the ca18det under it with room to spare. Perhaps copy this shape as it covers CA20e, ca18det and SR20det conversions. (1 bonnet fits all sort of idea) Because i wouldn't put a CF bonnet (stock aussie ca20e shaped one) on the top of my ca18det with 2mm to spare lol. Some moulded in vents to either side would be the go tho, let some cool air in (obviously drivers side is fairly useless) but passenger side you'd need one around the turbo and perhaps one in the front for POD filter?

I'd be very interested in the dash tho, perhaps a few moulded in holes for guages (2.75"? or however big those smaller oil, water, temp gauges are)

Have you had any dealings with that front bar lately? something like a NISMO S13 front bar, that fitted an S12 perfectly would be the go (i need to hide a 600x300 core cooler)

Be great to get the S12 around the 1000kg dry mark :evillaug:

Catcha (from W.A.)

Yeah - what he said! The later MKII bonnet fits the U.S. VG30 powered S12's as well. The flat hood won't even close on a VG30 S12.

I like the idea of only making one mould, but in reality everyone wants a different design. I am going to make the following:

1) STOCK S12 bonnet to suit CA series engines (not CA18DET with overpipe)
1a) modified with an FJ bulge (will suit CA18DET with overpipe and VG30's)
1b) modified with vents
1c) modified with hood pin clips
1d) modified with pod filter intake (behind the pop up light)
1e) modified with a combination of the above

Thats it for the upcoming weeks as i am busy developing the bonnets, but if you are interested in the above, then let me know. New moulds will be available in August.

Catch yas

Wow it looks like this is going to happen...awesome!!! Take this aftermarket :boxing: !!!

mate how i see it, the aftermarket companies arent interested in the S12's as they think they arent a popular enuff car to invest time and money into making moulds. I am sick of it so i am going to use my fiberglassing and carbon fibre laminating skills to make bonnets n add ons for my S12.....if you guys like what i do, i am more than happy to build a part for you.

Sheppo when u say CA18det with an overpipe, i think your reffering to the ca18et that has a pipe running over the top of the engine as seen on most of the US and Canadian cars posted around here, a CA18det has a forward facing Throttle body (like an SR) whereas the ca18et has the throttle body facing the passenger side of the car (like an RB20 or Rb25).

I am sorry to say that i wouldn't be as interested in the FJ style bonnet as it is no where near as smooth. I'll try to send you a photo of my bonnet when i can, cheers, catcha

Actually S12PSI the S12 came out with a non intercooler CA18*D*ET. This had a finned pipe going over the head. Very similar to the ET.

hey guys, update again........

i have the CF ready to go, the mould has been started, the hinge plates also. The shape i am making is prob similar to the JDM S12 bonnets with a raised center section like the new corvette's maybe, depends on what corvette you look at. This shape will accomodate all engines.....CA's, FJ's, VG's, SR's, RB (maybe)...........i will also have the stock bonnet (flat type). Thanks for the input guys, and the more assistance i get in the design phase, the more you's will like the end product..........in future there will prob be a kit made, as i have started the front bar last week..........but thats another story.

i'll keep yas up to date

P.S. stock S12 CA20E bonnet weighs in at a hefty 18kg........CF will be around the 3-5kg mark!.......minimum 13kg saving!

for all you american folk..that's 40 lbs for stock and 7 - 11lbs for the cf

Any word yet on how much it's gonna be to ship it to the US? I am interested, but can't afford one right now... :violin:

yeah u could make one with a functional fj bulge but smooth it out some and have the vents of the each side of it at least that is what i think would look good

in regards to the FJ bulge, i can make one, but if you had the choise (and your paying a bit of money for these bonnets) would you want a Fj "add on" bulge?? It isnt improving the looks and after spending a bit of cash on it, you still have a 80's styled bulge. If i get more than one person interested in a FJ bulge-ed bonnet, i will make a mould.

But as it sits right now, i got a S12 bonnet with a exduction vent simmilar to the pro drift cars in japan. I have emailed pics to people, if you want pics, i will email them to anyone interested. I am making 3 designs atm, a drift style with exduction vent, a stocker with a raised middle section, and a stock flat bonnet.

the progress is slow but steady, within 2-3weeks i will have all 3 designs made from CF and ready for people view. But remember.........Rome wasnt built in a day!

i would like to see pics of the hood

You should post those 'in progress' shots sheppo, also w00t for D1 bonnets, i want somthing i can fit small (and large) animals in.

ive said this before, but if these get made, and the craftsmanship is good, I will buy one right away :headbang:

if i knew how to post pics, i would, hahaha!

in regards to craftmenship, i am a perfectionist and its a disablilty i rekon. I have restored 4 boats (that i owned) and about 6 others for mates, and not to mention workin at a marina and boat detailer/boat builder. All of them have works of art according to the ppl who bought them off me!

I wont be selling them till i am absolutely happy with the finish! But i assure yous that that will have a nice clear coat to make them look "deep"!

somebody tell me how to post pics!

i tried to make a CF strut brace, but thats going to take some design work to be very rigid, maybe later on, hahaha!

i took a look at the pics you sent me and i love the hood if you arent pricing to high i will buy one

ok ppl, there's an old pic of the drift style vented S12 bonnet on my cardomain site

www.cardomain.com/memberpage/643562

its an old pic, they have been progressed more, but i thought i should keep yous up to date!

catch yas

my project 2 hood. Sometime next year.

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/3/web/291000-291999/291681_48_full.jpg

man thats a nice idea!

if you want i can make ya a blank fiberglass bonnet, then you can add ya vents yourself, save about 10kg in weight and saves you cutting into a perfectly straight steel bonnet.

good luck with it

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/3/web/291000-291999/291681_48_full.jpg

I LIKE THIS!!!!!!

mayb except 4 the 2 little vents!

Yo sheppo!, make this!, im keen as mustard!

any progress?

yeah i am awaiting a measurement from a fellow S12 driver with an FJ20turbo, but apart from that and some other little problems with other cars, it is moving along well, got the CF and resin on order, and the latches and hinge plates are almost made, so all i gotta do now is get the mould made for the 2 shapes (one with vent, one with bulge).

i'll keep yas posted, sorry its taken so long, just been uber busy with uni and other car commitments. I am dedicating the upcoming weekend to the bonnets tho!

nice one mate. Im sure people dont mindf the wait too much. the cars waited 20 odd years already for one im sure a few weeks xtra wont hurt lol

mmm Those bonnets are looking good as they start to come to life, now the stock fj20et one, was non-functional as far as i know (ie, was not actually any hole for airflow of any kind, was just a ridge to fit the fj20 underneath)

So urs will have a rearward facing hole on the one on your site?

Also that one posted just a few posts up looks real nice too, but once fitted will those vents actually love you some height. Does everyone know that a ca18det conversion (taking ca20e out) leaves a Bee's dick gap between the plenum and the bonnet? All the ca20e australian bonnets are flat.

Both are looking pretty nice, the one on the website (drawings and black bonnet with white feature) i'd be real keen on, with maybe a few extra vents.

catcha

g'day guys,

yeah the one with the white vent on it is what WILL be made.........but also another design is a simple bonnet with a raised center section to clear most other engines. It will be a blank (no vents) but they can be added. And yes the one with the white mould is going to have a backwards facing vent, to remove hot radiator/FMIC air.

Once again, sorry for the delays, things are hektic here atm, i just got word from a guy who drifts and runs a performance shop that he want me to repair some kits off the team's drift cars.............so much to do, so little spare time.........i might dropp outta uni :-)

Firstly, no offence in the CA vs. SR thread, respect, but it had to be said, can photocopy an article to back that statement up. :D

Nah dude, stay in skool, skool is cool, lol

People can wait dude, we been waiting 20 years for aftermarket CF bonnets, whats another coupla months? be also keen on a moderate front air dam, like to see what you have in mind, something mild, but workable enough with a fair sized FMIC (average core being 600x300x76 nowadays) Something along the lines of a NISMO front bar for S13 would be the goods.

catcha

in regards to CA vs SR thread, thats a joke.........i am just playing around in there, ehehehe

funny you mention the Nismo bar, as i am getting one within 2 weeks, so i might make a mould and make them? anyone else keen?

also..

I GOT MA TAX CHEQUE TODAY...........so there's a big wad of moolar coming my way, so bonnets VERY VERY VERY VERY soon!

i might go pick up the cloth and resin now that ma wallet can afford it!

As u may well know already, the S13 NISMO bar supposedly almost fits already, its just a bit too wide, and if u chop it n patch it, it seems to always dip in the middle, if u could chop it, then model from that, it'd be sweet. I'd probably snap up one of those as soon as possible, have you considered packaging for freight so far? obviously this would be an extra cost. I'm thinking TNT Road Freight.

Catcha buddy. :cheers:

it wont dip in the middle if its chopped and thinned, as i will be re-enforcing it with carbon fibre, it will be stronger than the bloody bumber support it swings off, lol, and i havent decided on a transport company yet as i dont know of any good ones with good reputations, know any companies??

it shouldnt be too much as they are light as!

Dude, when do u think u will have these front bars ready? Some mates of mine are headed over for the Drift Nationals coming up, n they r takin a truck, u wouln;t happen to be making this front bar in the next week or two would ya?? :evillaug:

well if i can get the nismo bar within 2-3days, i might be able to have a finished product within a week, but that means bonnets are delayed even more..............speakin of which, i started another vent mould as i wasnt happy with the white foam one...........it sits too high, so i am crafting up another one this arvo!

Attention FJ20E, FJ20ET, CA18ET, CA18DET (non IC), VG30E and all other S12 drivers who like the bonnet (hood) bulge.

Some of you have probably seen the sketch on my cardomain site of a S12 bonnet with what looks like a turbo bulge with a vent cut into it....... well that bulge & vent is now a reality and will be made into my Carbon Fibre anf Fibre Glass bonnets. This will accomodate the engines mentioned above, weigh 10kg (at least) less than strandard, and in my books look tuff as nails!

www.cardomain.com/memberpage/643562 <--- PICS HERE AT BOTTOM OF PAGE

The pics on my cardomain site are a work in progress of the bulge & vent combo, it will be finished tomorrow. I just thought i would update yous as much as possible.

And to all those who liked the drift vented bonnet, it will come a bit later as the foam mould is giving me problems and its not what i am after, so i will try to re-design that to suit the S12 more.

I'll keep yous posted!

how much shipped to canada
m3c1c6 postal code plz?

oh and how much shipped to the u.s. on the east coast.

ok in regards to international freight, i am thinkin FedEx, are they well priced? If some of you USA ppl can do some research for freight companies and stuff, then give me the prices yous get quoted, then use the cheapest quote.

The bonnets are coming from:
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Dimensions are:
150cm x 175cm x 15cm

weight is:
10kg

And all local aussie guys interested, australia wide freight is organised, so no dramas on that behalf.