92 replies to this topic

[MAXR]

I know this has been looked at many times by several members. But, I've just been to collect my car from having a Rollcage fitted. The guys there also make Fibreglass/Carbon Fibre custom moulds & panels. The subject got onto replacement clams, anyway they are willing to make a complete rear clam mould for around the £2,000-£2,200 mark. A minimum of 5 Carbon Kevlar clams for between £700-£800. The Mould would belong to us. Front Clam will be slightly less... I'm only interested in a lightweight replacements, possibly modified with a coupe back , quick release, no boot....etc etc I guess many would just like a straight copy of the original, but lighter? Any comments/ interest ???? Max

[mbes2]

Thats a really good price, whats the weight of the normal clam ? Does anyone know Change to these would be a great saving

[Rusty789]

Lightweight basic front would definitely be good, I for one would always like to keep the little boot space I have...

[fezzasus]

I would be interested in a lightweight, but like for like one.

[Baron Von Scubadaddy]

Coupe back or hinged would be fantastic I'm so wanting a coupe back !!!. We need a good source of replacement clams anyway.

[VXR]

Carbon clams.....no more bubbles/blisters when the frost sets in....gotta be worth it.... Would look awesome if it was fitted to the car raw carbon and not painted?would just need matching doors or skins?

[ArticMonkey]

Seems a good price. You'd pay that sort of money for a good rear clam anyway. I'm looking at a respray one day and knowing that bubbling won't catch me out is appealing. I'd of thought that they could just add the boot with good old GRP if needed.

[MAXR]

From the response thus far, I assumed that there would differing requirements. I guess a like for like replacement would make the most sense to maintain most interest. However, I'm sure that they could make a lightweight, single skin version from the mould too. This could satisfy me? A coupe back could then be made similar to Jimmy's version although I had preferred modifying the buttresses with a louvered lid. This could allow the standard boot or a modified boot to be used. Has anyone got a good 3D cad model of the vx? I'm happy to make a couple of variations. Max

[fezzasus]

I think winstar does. It can all be done off the same mould - the outer mould acts as the single skin mould and to turn it into a double skin you just have a second mould for the inner sections. So it's possible to commit to the outerskin straight away, then decide if it's worth doing the inner skin later on.

[Baron Von Scubadaddy]

Something like this
Backend

Just the boot lid not the rest
I like to see something similar to this

[Bill SC]

Carbon Kevlar clams...? Sounds sexy.... Love the idea of a set of these but think you would sell more as a replacement part, unless people are racing and/or have the budget, so tend to agree that with a boot, direct replacement would be most likely to sell buy therefor less likely to get an up front commitment. Guys on here do love carbon though, so maybe you would get enough...? How easy is it to re use the moulds...? Do you need a big oven or anything to cure in..?

[Stik]

Presume they can be painted, right? I'm really interested in this, as i'm just embarking on the (costly) journey to get my rear clam de-blistered and fixed. If i could buy a new one and get that painted instead that would be ideal My car is still going to be a daily driver type of thing, so i'd really need to keep the boot (and standard clam shape) Is there a difference between turbo and NA rear clams that would need to be taken into consideration?

[TazN]

they are willing to make a complete rear clam mould for around the £2,000-£2,200 mark. A minimum of 5 Carbon Kevlar clams for between £700-£800. The Mould would belong to us. Front Clam will be slightly less...

How many clams will you get from the mould?

Is the 700-800 just cost of material + labour?

How is the clam finished?

Potentially interested helping with this if needed.

[jonnyboy]

I've just done some lightweight Exige Clams (in GRP). The OEM front is about 13kg and the light versions are 7kg. Making them in carbon/kev would probably save a further 1kg max assuming you are talking wet lay. Also with wet lay you are unlikely to get a weave finish suitable for a road car. You would probably achieve a better weight saving by single skinning and aero catching the front bonnet. I will be able to do a lightweight front for the VX which will be about 6kg (less material in the VX clam). They will probably not be ideal for road cars as they are VERY thin! I dont have the weights written down for the rears but they are a bit less than half the weight of OEM as we removed the boot box as well as some of the fixing ribs.

[FLD]

A vac bagged carbon clam that has been PVC foam cored would be very light and very rigid.

Edited by FLD, 15 February 2013 - 08:49 PM.

[Baron Von Scubadaddy]

A vac bagged carbon clam that has been PVC foam cored would be very light and very rigid.

oooh vac bag

so wanting a decent coupe back I still haven't seen anything that really turns me on
I'm so gonna take some spray foam to the car and make a coupe back
it's killing me !!

[FLD]

A vac bagged carbon clam that has been PVC foam cored would be very light and very rigid.

oooh vac bag

so wanting a decent coupe back I still haven't seen anything that really turns me on
I'm so gonna take some spray foam to the car and make a coupe back
it's killing me !!

Do you not like mine? I just need some nice weather to paint it. Damn cold and damp, anyone wouold thing it was winter

[Baron Von Scubadaddy]

I can't remember what it looks like think I see it as solid part of the clam as opposed to added to the clam but know I think of it I do recall yours and I think it's a bit steep i'd like to see it go as far as the boot yours finishes short I think ?

[FLD]

Yeah finishes short but hinges on the roll bar cover and retains the OE latch. ETA: Anyway, back on subject, carbon clams....

Edited by FLD, 15 February 2013 - 09:07 PM.

[alanoo]

Interesting discussion... puts a new perspective on my long term "Exige GT3 clams on my #2 chassis" project