I've been looking at reducing the weight of my 05. A serious diet of carbon fiber would put me in the neighborhood of around 3400lbs (or possibly less). I'm thinking doors, hood, deck lid to start, and maybe fenders and front facia (if I can find some that look fairly stock). What I'm concerned about is durability and longevity. I've used carbon fiber on some of the bikes I've owned in the past, and it's held up fairly well, but it's relatively static on a bike. Doors, hoods, and trunks get opened and closed on a regular basis. Anyone have much long term experience with these parts? My car is a daily driver in the summer, so it'd be important that this stuff hold up under exposure to SOME elements of rain, heat, etc. Also, if anyone has CF doors, did you have issues re-installing interior pieces, mirrors, etc......

 

Oh yeah, and if you have a reputable vendor for stuff, I'd appreciate that as well. I can find some info on the net, but nothing better than personal experience when it comes to fit, finish, etc.....

 

I use Rocker Panels, Front and Rear Splitters from http://www.raceskinz.us.com/




http://www.seiboncarbon.com/ has door panels, trunks and hoods.

Also here: http://www.mustangdrift.com/

 

I like the idea of CF body parts for weight reduction, but it is usually pretty expensive for the weight saved, and if left unpainted, becomes a theft-magnet, and if painted, just adds to the cost. Have you done any other weight reduction yet? My 2008 Mustang GT started out at 3491 lbs, and with a lighter battery and exhaust I've saved 34 lbs, lighter wheels, lighter wheels has taken off another 22 lbs, leaving the spare tire and floor mats at home saves me another 39 lbs, which places me at under 3400 lbs. Lighter suspension components have saved me a few lbs here and there.

 

If your looking for stock fenders in CF, i know Roush made some for their Drag Pak and offered them to the public, you might want to look into them.

 

For weight saving personally I would go with a K-member, A-arms, Aluminum drive shaft, rear seat delete, spare tire delete and light weight seats. I believe the weights on the axles are about 5 lbs each you could always drop those too if you have them.

The carbon fiber stuff looks cool but you won’t shed enough weight Vs. the cost for it to make sense.
The CF Doors are a big for street use, they have no side impact beams.

 

Seibon makes doors(for 2k), but if you want durability I wouldn't go with them. You have to be gentle and if someone decides they want to door ding you, there's a possibility they may crack the door, depending on how hard the impact is. They also make hoods which are better priced by loads than the doors.

Go with a 1 piece driveshaft in carbon fiber if you REALLY want to lose the weight of it. Get some Bride/Recaro/whatever light weight seats. Remove the rear seats, spare tire and any other extra junk you carry around with you. You could always put some light weight wheels on your car, but that's a pretty penny depending on what company you go with.

 

Thanks everyone, for all the info. I will probably go with hood and decklid, and found a complete console and gauge pod (not veneer) in CF, eventually. Wheels and driveshaft sound good, maybe lighter battery. Won't remove the rear seats or anything that detracts from using this car as a functional daily driver (my kids like the ride home from school.......) but like most of the other suggestions. I did find an aftermarket (BBR? haven't looked recently) tubular K-member.....again, thanks for the suggestions, looks like I now have lots of options I really hadn't thought of before.