i would love to get carbon fiber interior parts,but while they do look good they are very expensive. im just sticking with oem parts for now until i have a bigger budget to work with

 

do a search on corvetteforum.com... they have a few pretty good write-ups on how to chop/modify/rebuild factory dash plates. It should atleast give you a good spot to start from.

 

I have experimented with making fiberglass parts but guess what if you dont have all the right tools comes out like crap LOL IME.....

 

I will admit I took a shot a making a fiberglass gauge pod & failed. I didn't take my time & the end result showed. Not that it looked bad but it didn't fit & I wasn't going to try again.

 

Youtube carbon fiber fusion molding. The process isn't terribly difficult. You need tools and mats. The woven graphite, epoxy, a vacuum pump, a mixing pot, plumbing and fittings, bagging, seal tape and releasing film and a bubble fabric( i can remember the name). The setup will be so expensive you will have to make more and sell them to recover the cost. Basically you make a mold out of an existing part, apply the releasing film then lay up layers of woven graphite until you reach your desired thickness. Remember to account for compression. Then add a layer of the bubble fabric (this layer allows the vacuum to pull across the whole part) Bag the whole package up. Add fitting to the bag on opposing corners and mix your epoxy in the pot. Attach a ball valve to one fitting on the bag with a hose running into the epoxy pot and the vacuum pump to the opposite fitting on the bag. Use the vacuum pump to suck the epoxy resin through the woven graphite and bag. The vacuum will compress the part and pull all the bubbles out of the part. Watch the epoxy pass through the part until it reaches the vacuum fitting and use the ball valve to stop epoxy flow. Leave the vacuum pump on until the epoxy you chose has set up. This keeps pressure on the part and draws any off-gas and bubbles out of your part. Use a Dremel or body-saw to trim off access, drill holes, buff to a shine and install.



Once you have mastered this you can build an entire carbonfibre car. Take the body parts off and use them as molds, bag it all up and FUSION.



Hope this help explain how simple it can be. The cost are not cheap but once you have the setup you can make anything you wish.

 

PLASTEX works great to repair stock parts

 

if you have an s4 center surround its worth it to just not **** with it and get the s5 center surround

 

I have an S4 surround in near-perfect condition. I haven't been able to sell it at anything above shipping costs.

 

s4 surrounds break when you look at them

 

I know! I must have the unicorn of S4 surrounds. I removed it from a car, cleaned it up, and put it on a shelf. I've handled it a few times to take pics and stuff, but it still remains in solid condition after several years.