Substitute panel for center rear reflector

[shamrockcustoms]

wow that looks like its going to be great...I think I might have said this 2 or 3 other times but Im in...Mark me down


Jay

[david.avery]

Cool

I just noticed thread subscriptions were lost I missed out on this good progress. Keep it up Thom!

[widebody911]

Ok, I pulled the first one tonight.

In hindsight, I wish I'd found a better original. I can see small artifacts in the repro that are present in the original. If there is a huge demand for them, I'll either find a better orginal or re-work a copy and re-do the mold. I also had some issues learning to use this new $200+/gallon tooling gelcoat.

The little nubbies are to drill and install a rivnut or some other fastener. I haven't trimmed it out yet, but this thing is very light.

[porschemonkey]

Originally posted by mikez
Lose it completely.....

agreed

[bigchillcar]

sweet work, thom. i'm sure there will be demand.
ryan

[widebody911]

Originally posted by bigchillcar
sweet work, thom. i'm sure there will be demand.

That could be a good thing or a bad thing; I have a hard time keeping up as it is!

[Jandrews]

Thom, you continue to impress.....great work!


JA

[dd74]

Originally posted by widebody911
I haven't trimmed it out yet, but this thing is very light.

Thom - is it lighter than the reflector piece? How durable do you think this piece is? Do you think it is durable enough for daily driving?

[bigchillcar]

dd..just skip the 'extra helpings' at night..it will more than make up for the difference..
ryan

[widebody911]

Originally posted by dd74
Thom - is it lighter than the reflector piece? How durable do you think this piece is? Do you think it is durable enough for daily driving?

Even un-trimmed it's lighter than stock, although the same weight delta of this part vs the stock reflector could be achieved with a regimen of bran muffins.

As to durability, I guess it all depends on your propensity toward backing into things. Once it's installed, I think it would be fine. Only time will tell. I think a bigger issue will be heat resistance; the resin I'm using has a 'thermal resistance' (no idea what that really means) of 165F. There's another resin available that goes to 241F, but the 'heat resistance' of the gel coat is only 155F.

I originally put two ribs in the back side of the mold for strenghtening, but after the mold was laid up, they looked like freeze-dried ass so I bondo'd them out. I'm thinking of using a router to cut a couple of smaller ribs.

I used 2 layers of 3oz mat. I'm thinking of using one layer of 3oz and one of 1.5oz By comparison, I use a single layer of 3oz for the 930 heater ducts, with a patch of 1oz on the mounting holes.

If I get a chance tonight, I'll do one in carbon fiber.

Who wants to be the guinea pig? Someone in the Sacramento area would be great.

Whatever happened with the guy on Rennlist who was making them?

[sand_man]

Originally posted by widebody911
Whatever happened with the guy on Rennlist who was making them?

I'm not sure where he is with his version. I've posted your updates (someone else has too) on my Rennlist thread. I haven't seen a finished product from him yet.

[dd74]

Thom - I trust you. I'll be your guinea pig. Our roads are nastier and more congested than Suck-a-tomato, anyways. Driving it around down here sort of gives the piece a real real world test.

[dd74]

Originally posted by bigchillcar
dd..just skip the 'extra helpings' at night..it will more than make up for the difference..
ryan

Extra helpings? Yeah, of curls and freakin' crunches. Every morning, I feel like a midget's been tap-dancing on my stomach.

[BoxsterGT]

Please add me to the list for (1).
I prefer to pay with PayPal.
Please advise when ready & I will give you my address, etc.
Thanks.
Len

[bigchillcar]

Extra helpings? Yeah, of curls and freakin' crunches.

good for you, david! i'm about to test for an advanced strength and conditioning coach certification..too much going on right now to contest diet, but will compete next year in the mr. arkansas contest (unless they eliminate me for having all of my teeth).. see??
ryan

[widebody911]

I've got a washboard stomach.

There's a load of towels in there right now...

[Ptoscano]

Thom,

That piece would look sweet on my car, How about a East cost test for exposure.......

[dd74]

Originally posted by widebody911
I've got a washboard stomach.

There's a load of towels in there right now...

LOL! Thom - cleared out my in box. Please re-send that msg.

Ryan - I'm sure some in OT want to see photos.

[bigchillcar]

Ryan - I'm sure some in OT want to see photos.

probably only those that went to see 'brokeback' in theatres instead of waiting for it to be 'gifted' in dvd form..
ryan

[cali74]

Originally posted by widebody911
I plan to make one for my own car in carbon, to match the carbon hardtop my car will soon have. I wonder if I could get the 911R tailight guy to make me a set of those in carbon...

You should get a group buy together for carbon sets of lights - I'd be interested as others would I'm sure. That way the guy would be more inclined to do it, and be ok with getting the fiber matting in bigger quantities.

Also, I'd love the combo of carbon lights and your center piece in carbon. I'm thinking I'd get a sticker shop to make the porsche logo in reflective material with a naturally subtle color (instead of bright yellow).

Good work so far, the panel looks great!