Carbon Fiber Roof, worth it?
Turbo Mini Forums

As you guys in class d seem to be getting faster every year i'm trying to make the mig lighter and am thinking about cutting the roof out(sorry jim!). Does anyone know how much a mini roof weighs and if going to a carbon roof is worth it?

4 Kg weight saving apparently:

http://www.16vminiclub.com/forums/showthre...?t=8220&page=35

i reckon more than that, ive just done mine, and that steel roof is bloody heavy

wet lay carbon doesnt weigh less than fibreglass, so save yourself a shed load of cash and get a fibreglass one

This is FORD country, on a quiet day you can hear Vauxhalls rusting.

The only thing I would say is that a composite roof will definitely put you sports libra in sprinting/hilclimbing. So if you are considering any competition in the future it is not a great idea.

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

ally roof?

I have a brand new roof skin waiting to be fitted and will weight if people are interested.

EDIT: Steel skin

Edited by apbellamy on 15th Jul, 2009.

I want to get rid of those Miglia arches.

Just too big for the 165s on the 7*10s.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

not sure whether to try trimming them down or not though, a set of extra wide group 2's might weigh more...

when people are weighing the weight difference are they weighing the bonding agent or what ever they use to fix it on as well?

bet a tube of glue is a kg?

just a thought

no longer a series, but still 1.3 turbo.

if using the car for track days then loosing weight up high is always a good idea.

Ally roof gets my vote , pm wiggie?

Rick

I cant sort a Fb roof out if you need.

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

Whats the length*width of a mini roof?

If Carling made Mini engines
it would probably be like this one!

that would be the area of a mini roof John

hehe - ok I'll re-phrase - whats the area of a mini roof.lol and best estimate on thickness 1.4mm?

If Carling made Mini engines
it would probably be like this one!

162x112cm ish so area is around 18144 cm2

Drill an ally roof!?

Lightweight racer coming soon.

pmsl

I make a steel mini roof 20 KG that cant be right can it?

so, 1.62m * 1.12m =1.8144m*2

vol = 1.8144* 0.0014m (thickness) = 2.54016 *10-3 m*3

density of steel = 7900 kg/m*3
density of c/f = 1750kg/m*3

weight of roof = 2.54016*10*3 * 7900= 20kg

carbon roof (assuming 50% more volume usage for foam cores/extra layers/ resin etc) = 3.81024*10*3 *1750 = 6.66kg

+ 1kg of splodge to bond it on makes it roughly 20kg v 8kg - 12kg saving

If Carling made Mini engines
it would probably be like this one!

mabe it is then!

i make an ally roof approx 8 kg, still worthwhile

indeed - though I think you'd need to add quite a large amount of c/f X bracing over the underside of the roof to restore the shear panel strength of the steel roof, forming an in turned lip on the cut roof edge all the way round would help as well.

JK

If Carling made Mini engines
it would probably be like this one!

Then why post??

I can see another dent in my wallet coming up

Don't encourage him !

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."