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Fiberglass hardtops
https://www.auszookers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=44572		 Page 1 of 3
Author:  Tassierra [ Tue Jan 07, 2014 4:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Fiberglass hardtops
Hey all,

As part of my polymer processing apprenticeship (fiberglass and other plastics) my teacher has set me a challenge of designing a mold and making a part off it. Ive decided to make a hardtop for my swb vitara. Ive had a look on the net and i cant find any for sale in Australia, only in America on rallytops.com.

Ive decided to go for this sort of look, maybe with different shaped windows....

Image

and maybe something different like this down the track....

Image

If any of you like the finished product, id be happy to make a hardtop for your zook. who knows i might even be able to make some $ out of it :wink:

Im going to post some pics up on here as i go through the mold making process up until i have the hardtop fixed to the car.

Cheers.
Author:  Chop [ Tue Jan 07, 2014 5:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
Thats good, but the top one is a swb grand vitara and you won't have much of a market to sell them because noone owns them!
Author:  Tassierra [ Tue Jan 07, 2014 5:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
sorry, i forgot to add that its going to be going on a 1997 vitara not a grand vitara like in the pics, i just used the grand vitara as an example to show what sort of hardtop i wanted to end up with.
Author:  1DYX [ Tue Jan 07, 2014 6:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
How about a Rally-top?
www.rallytops.com/‎
Author:  Tassierra [ Tue Jan 07, 2014 6:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
1DYX wrote:
How about a Rally-top?
http://www.rallytops.com/‎


i like the look of them aswell. I think they would be easier to mold to. Depending how long it takes, ill make a mold of both and see which looks better :)

Im going to make a quick template tomorrow. Ill post some pictures up tomorrow night to show progress
Author:  jonfromhamilton [ Tue Jan 07, 2014 8:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
make some maruti backs cab backs for sierras, money
Author:  Tassierra [ Wed Jan 08, 2014 4:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
jonfromhamilton wrote:
make some maruti backs cab backs for sierras, money


Would like to do that but i would have to find a sierra owner close to home that is willing to let me take measurements and make up a template to fit first so i knew what i was working with... there would be a free hardtop in it for them though
Author:  jonno_racing [ Wed Jan 08, 2014 7:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
I would let ya
Author:  1DYX [ Wed Jan 08, 2014 7:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
Pick me!
Author:  Tassierra [ Wed Jan 08, 2014 10:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
jonno_racing wrote:
I would let ya


Where abouts in tassie do you live johno ?

1DYX wrote:
Pick me!


:lol: i think WA is a bit to far away from me to get some measurements sorry
Author:  1DYX [ Wed Jan 08, 2014 12:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
I got a long tape....
Author:  Tassierra [ Wed Jan 08, 2014 3:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
1DYX wrote:
I got a long tape....


Lol i might get you to pm me some pictures and measurements to help me with the design once i get started. I'll let you know though :)

Ive just finished making a quick canopy for my swb vitara. Pics will be up soon.....
Author:  Tassierra [ Wed Jan 08, 2014 6:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
Heres a few pictures of my canopy that i made today out of some left over fibreglass and scrap plywood i had leftover from my project boat. I only made it quickly so it doesnt fit perfect but im happy with how it turned out. Its not going to stay on there permanently it was only to give me a rough idea of how one would look on it. I would change a few things on it like the shape of the windows and a few of the angles so it looked more "natural" on the car....

Image

Image

Image

Image

would like to hear any ideas you guys have to make it better :D
Author:  whincup [ Wed Jan 08, 2014 9:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
i wouldn't pick window shape/size based on what you think looks good, i'd do it to match a window out of a common car so the glass would be cheap and readily available, instead of custom and expensive. something from a falcon/commodore wagon rear or something. i'd say they'd be too big but its something to consider anyway.
Author:  Tassierra [ Thu Jan 09, 2014 5:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
whincup wrote:
i wouldn't pick window shape/size based on what you think looks good, i'd do it to match a window out of a common car so the glass would be cheap and readily available, instead of custom and expensive. something from a falcon/commodore wagon rear or something. i'd say they'd be too big but its something to consider anyway.


Thanks mate, thats a good idea :)

I was going to use some 4.5mm perspex that i had laying around in the shed. Would that work well ? Or does it shatter or crack easy ?
Author:  jonno_racing [ Thu Jan 09, 2014 7:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
I'm in hobart mate.
Author:  Tassierra [ Thu Jan 09, 2014 7:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
jonno_racing wrote:
I'm in hobart mate.


OK, well if your keen ill make the mold using your zook. Ill pm you later and get you to send through some photos of what you want with some rough measurements so i can make a quick mold. Then ill bring it down to your place and see how it fits on your car then modify it so its a sweet fit.... thats if your keen ?
Author:  jonno_racing [ Thu Jan 09, 2014 9:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
Tassierra wrote:
jonno_racing wrote:
I'm in hobart mate.


OK, well if your keen ill make the mold using your zook. Ill pm you later and get you to send through some photos of what you want with some rough measurements so i can make a quick mold. Then ill bring it down to your place and see how it fits on your car then modify it so its a sweet fit.... thats if your keen ?


Yeah mate. I actually want mine changed a bit...
Can you inbox me your phone number? I will call you.
Author:  Tassierra [ Thu Jan 09, 2014 10:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
Inboxed it to you...
Author:  missmyljdaze [ Thu Jan 09, 2014 12:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
Tassierra wrote:
I was going to use some 4.5mm perspex that i had laying around in the shed. Would that work well ? Or does it shatter or crack easy ?


Perspex might be ok for a temporary job- but it never lasts, gets scratched real easy- and goes crazed and hazy from sunlight.
Replacing means custom work- and insurance companies hate that sort of stuff.[if you ever need to do a claim]

I vote for whincup's idea- something "off the shelf" or from the wreckers is much better.

Go for a stroll through a carpark with a tape measure, camera and sketch pad [that should wake up the security blokes] :lol:

stephen
Author:  azzas15 [ Thu Jan 09, 2014 2:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
Glass is a better option IMO as noted above you might have issues with Perspex.
Author:  jonno_racing [ Thu Jan 09, 2014 2:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
i used some other type of plastic in the window of my last zook..
it was quite flexible and fairly cheep. was told it didnt scratch easily and didn't go milky in the sun! some type of polly carbonate
Author:  Tassierra [ Thu Jan 09, 2014 2:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
missmyljdaze wrote:
Tassierra wrote:
I was going to use some 4.5mm perspex that i had laying around in the shed. Would that work well ? Or does it shatter or crack easy ?


Perspex might be ok for a temporary job- but it never lasts, gets scratched real easy- and goes crazed and hazy from sunlight.
Replacing means custom work- and insurance companies hate that sort of stuff.[if you ever need to do a claim]


I vote for whincup's idea- something "off the shelf" or from the wreckers is much better.

Go for a stroll through a carpark with a tape measure, camera and sketch pad [that should wake up the security blokes] :lol:

stephen


:lol: that wouldnt look suss at all....

Thanks for the info fellas! ill have a chat to the guy in the local auto glass shop and see what he reckons. He sells all sorts of glass and plastic type materials so he will know whats best.
Author:  jonno_racing [ Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
so i here zac has a martui cab he is copying ;)
Author:  Tassierra [ Tue Jan 14, 2014 6:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
jonno_racing wrote:
so i here zac has a martui cab he is copying ;)


:lol: working on the mold at the moment actually, will upload some pics when the first mold is finished tomorrow night.... hopefully.

Thanks for the cab to copy phil, youve been a big help!

Anyone looking for a martui cab, watch this space. If all goes well ill be making one out of my mold in just over two weeks after i finish customising phils :wink:
Author:  Tassierra [ Thu Jan 16, 2014 7:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
Pulled my martui cab mold of phils cab today. very happy with how it turned out. no bad looking spots on the mold at all and nothing to repair on it :D

heres a picture of my mold, the black part, next to phils original cab......

Image

its not the best photo cause i just snapped it quickly as i left the shed tonight, but it shows the mold which is all that matters

i got started on the roof section tonight which phil also lent me the part to make the mold off. will hopefully have that pulled off the part early saturday.

Cheers.
Author:  azzas15 [ Thu Jan 16, 2014 8:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
Looks great mate!!
Author:  biff10 [ Thu Jan 16, 2014 8:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
Keen as
Author:  kenny.G345 [ Thu Jan 16, 2014 9:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
Prices?
Author:  jonno_racing [ Thu Jan 16, 2014 9:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fiberglass hardtops
Thort maruti cabs wernt good kenny haha.
Can't wait to see how you go with modding my cab mate!
Btw that roof is a genuine suzuki one.
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