FRP S13 Coupe Trunk Lids, Anyone?

[KA24DESOneThree]

Here's the deal: I may be helping to produce some FRP trunk lids for S13s soon, I just need to know if you guys would be interested. If not, I don't want to invest in something I'll lose out on.

I'm talking to the manufacturer, and I have a couple things I'd like to see fulfilled:
-Under $350, but don't want to make any promises. Still haven't really talked pricing with the manufacturer; really want to see if you care first.
-Under 10lbs, I'd like to produce an American equivalent of the Meister R lid

Finish would most likely be gelcoat. I'm considering having them made without provisions for trunk latch OR hinges, but that's up to you guys. These will be more hardcore than ViS or Seibon with more emphasis on performance than looks.

I currently have a Seibon trunk lid on my car. It weighs 13lbs. Stock weighs 20. That's not good enough for me and it's certainly not good enough for you.

What do you want? What gives you a chubby when it comes to FRP trunk lids?

[Ian]

I mean...

for a race trunk, you need like 1 layer of fiberglass in the shape of the outer skin and 4 hood pins...

['90RPS13]

I'm down. Lexan and FRP FTW! *a

[GoodOl'S13]

sounds good, as long as its a quality product.

[timtiminy]

i'm down for it. keep it real.

[fromxtor]

^^ I'm down, and I am not currently using my trunk latch. Could you also shave the 3rd brake light hole also?

[S14klares]

im down .. cuz ive been searching for a fiberglass trunk lid forever

[Taniguchi_Is_#1]

just to clarify, this is an FRP deck lid for s13 coupes, correct? or will it be for both? i see some posts about getting hatches made, but KA24DESOneThree has a coupe IIRC.

[GSXRJJordan]

I can do without the latch, but making it without hinges means having to buy an extra set of pins =P Sounds like a hot item, and I bet you can get it made cheaper than $350 - $350 is more like a cheap carbon price

[drftwerks]

so it saves how much weght? or jsut for baller factor?

[Canaduh]

Did you not read above?

Stock weighs 20. That's not good enough for me and it's certainly not good enough for you.

And as the original post said, he wants it under 10lbs. you do the math

[mrmephistopheles]

Yeah, I'm interested (I think you know that already though).

[KA24DESOneThree]

"I shit trains."

This will be a streetable race trunk lid. Light but reasonably strong.

FRP only. This is for the S13 coupe only so far. This will have no lock hole, no brake light, nothing. It'll probably have provisions for hinges just to widen the appeal, but otherwise it's a race piece.

Meister R trunk lids weigh 6.9lbs. We want to come close with ours.

Price is just out there for the sake of being out there. Like I said, I haven't really discussed pricing but I figured I'd throw a quick number out there and guessed high intentionally. The actual price should be much lower.

Right now I'm trying to figure out how many to have made. It depends on whether or not I can break even with a low number or sell all my inventory with a high number.

[fromxtor]

might want to specify your really talking about a S13 silvia, i'm bummed now thinking this was for a hatch. :(

[mrmephistopheles]

"I shit trains."

:x: :x:
Maybe doing some 14 trunks would be a good idea too. Just an idea.

I fixed the thread title to more accurately reflect the subject at hand.

[KA24DESOneThree]

S14 trunk lids will come later if this plan comes to fruition.

Thanks for the clarification in the thread title.

[CoasTek240]

ok so do you want to make a list?.....

If so...I'm cool with nothing on them except i do want the mounting points for my hinges.
s13 240sxcoupe/silvia FRP trunk lip.
1. Coastek240
2.

['90RPS13]

Damn, I am with FromXtor. I am bummed. I wanted a FRP Hatch.

No hinges needed either, just mounting point like Coastek said. *a

[RightWheelDrive]

Seems a little impractical to me since the stock trunk is only 20lbs. If I wanted to save weight in the trunklid, I would just remove the support underneath and eat less double doubles. The hatch is different story though. I would seriously consider a FRP hatch with Lexan as mentioned before since the advantages would be more apparent. My advice is to shift your attention to the s13 hatch and if things go well, start making them for the z32 since they will eat them up like hotcakes.

[Bubba]

You definately have my interest, I would like to see a product though.

[KA24DESOneThree]

Seems a little impractical to me since the stock trunk is only 20lbs. If I wanted to save weight in the trunklid, I would just remove the support underneath and eat less double doubles. The hatch is different story though. I would seriously consider a FRP hatch with Lexan as mentioned before since the advantages would be more apparent.

~13lbs above the cG is always good to lose.

People always bring up the whole "I'd go on a diet" thing but I don't get it. One, you aren't sitting in the trunk. Two, your weight isn't sitting as high as the trunk. Three, no one should eat less double-doubles. In-N-Out depends on its sale of double-doubles to continue to produce quality fast food.

The problem with the S13 hatch thing is that I don't want to have to deal with test-fitting on someone else's hatch. I don't want to have to include or install lexan windows. I can't lower my costs without the item I'm selling being very simple to test-fit.

I need more interest or I abort this thing. I can't really afford not to make profit and unless I make a very decent-sized run I can't make profit at the price you guys are willing to pay.

Saving weight means one has to deal with rising opportunity costs. The fiberglass trunk lid is for the guy with a stripped car and fiberglass hood trying to lose more weight while retaining a semblance of streetability.

[ayuaddict]

nobody really expects lexan to be included with their FRP hatches. i like this idea, unfortunately i have a FB. hey, maybe if this goes well you could produce a fiberglass hatch as well in the future. not being shipped from japan and no provisions for latches and hinges, sounds like a great price/performance benefit ratio for us and business for you.

[Ian]

Well the problem I see with this idea is that there's no such thing as making a true race product that is "streetable"


Do you realize how easy it will be to break into your car with this item? Granted, generally people don't keep expensive things in the trunk...But here's some thoughts I have


1. security of your trunk...I could probably put my foot through this thing
2. pins don't lock...even locking hood pins are easy to get past
3. It'll rattle and shit...Be annoying as shit
4. Probably won't seal very well due to the nature of the item
5. Probably won't look pretty enough for a street car


These assumptions are all based, of course, on the predisposition that this is going to be a true race piece

[slideways2004]

Well the problem I see with this idea is that there's no such thing as making a true race product that is "streetable"


Do you realize how easy it will be to break into your car with this item? Granted, generally people don't keep expensive things in the trunk...But here's some thoughts I have


1. security of your trunk...I could probably put my foot through this thing
2. pins don't lock...even locking hood pins are easy to get past
3. It'll rattle and shit...Be annoying as shit
4. Probably won't seal very well due to the nature of the item
5. Probably won't look pretty enough for a street car


These assumptions are all based, of course, on the predisposition that this is going to be a true race piece

that is what i was going to say except #5. i have a hatch also and the stock one weighs a lot. the coupe trunk is light enough. i don't think saving 10 lbs is going to help at all

[RightWheelDrive]

^^ Thats what I was getting at. The stock piece is light enough to not have to worry about it. If you are at the level where you could actually take full advantage of -13lb from about your Cg, more power to you and much respect. I mean, how much of a difference did you notice when you got your Seibon trunk lid? Big enough difference that it justified the price? If I have the time, I'll drive around with my trunk completely removed as a control since I'm curious about the results too. My opinion is that I just don't have that kind of money right now to spend on a lighter trunk when I could just gut it out myself.

I am just pointing out the obvious in an attempt to try and help you if you really are going to invest in this project since you want to be sure you will see a return from it. It sucks loosing your money and time.

[mrmephistopheles]

You know, I don't know where the 20# number is coming from for the stock weight, but having moved one around independently of the car, it feels much more heavy. Go disconnect the helper rods from your trunk and then lift it up - it'll feel like more than 20# for sure.
I know that FRP would make a HUGE difference, esp at 10#.

['90RPS13]

I just need the skeleton. I will put my own Lexan or glass in it. If your concerned enough about the wieght of your hatch, why would you be concerned about the rattlingness, rigidness or anything else? the only thing I can see being a problem is security. Even then, I am not worried. Buy a god damn car alarm.

I am still down for a FRP Hatch w/o Lexan.

[KA24DESOneThree]

1. security of your trunk...I could probably put my foot through this thing
Probably. But a guy with an appendage in someone's trunk is a pretty funny and odd sight. Might as well just break a window.
2. pins don't lock...even locking hood pins are easy to get past
Pins don't lock, but airline baggage locks do. Put one through each pin in place of the cotter.
3. It'll rattle and shit...Be annoying as shit
It doesn't rattle if you install it right so it has pressure on the rubber trunk gasket.
4. Probably won't seal very well due to the nature of the item
This is true.
5. Probably won't look pretty enough for a street car
Paint.



How much difference did I notice? None, but I've only done street driving. On the track the difference is not in feel but in lap times. Am I a little disappointed with my Seibon trunk lid? Sure, but the cumulative effect of all my weight removal is a car that is ~2260lbs with more weight loss to be had.

If your trunk is completely removed, prepare to be gassed. My windows have to be down and the fan has to be on full blast before I drive with the trunk open.

Meph, the trunk lid sans wing is indeed 20 pounds. I was disappointed because it felt heavier; I didn't have the torsion springs to hold the trunk up and it feels like 40lbs when you're holding it up with your head while loading 17s into the back of the car.

[KA24DESOneThree]

I'm bumping this thread just to give an update:

This won't happen, nor am I considering making fiberglass hatches at this point in time. Given the amount of interest and the recurring themes I see on this website, I have no want to deal with price issues.

Hopefully we can sell the idea to a bigger company but until then the void will remain unfilled.

Mods: If you want to close this, feel free.