Cladding Sucks, Anyone making affordable Reproduction?

[bdydrpds10]

My cladding on the Ty is literally falling apart as time goes by. I looked into
purchasing new/used or the fiberglass stuff and it adds up to over $3000 for a
complete set. :rant: We had several complete Typhoons on the forum recently sell for $4000 or less.


I guess the better buy is to save up and purchase a Typhoon and get the POS cladding off of it?? Then at least I can get some other spare parts.

Anyone any closer to making AFFORDABLE cladding???:roll:

 

[super-gt]

Re: Cladding Sucks, Anyone making affordable Reproduction?

I'd also be interested in hearing if anyone is making any that is affordable. I don't understand why fiberglass reproduction parts cost just as much as an original??

 

[BigBadSmoosh]

Re: Cladding Sucks, Anyone making affordable Reproduction?

I'd also be interested in hearing if anyone is making any that is affordable. I don't understand why fiberglass reproduction parts cost just as much as an original??

cause people like to make money and recoop production costs..

and no, currently no one makes "cheap" cladding.

 

[phoonTy]

Re: Cladding Sucks, Anyone making affordable Reproduction?

I don't ever see anyone making cheap cladding in the future either. These trucks are limited production to begin with, and more and more are disappearing due to accidents and neglect. There really isn't a market to justify mass produced cheap cladding. :dunno:

 

[bdydrpds10]

Re: Cladding Sucks, Anyone making affordable Reproduction?

I thought a forum member here was kicking around the idea and started making some molds?

I just can't bring myself to spend $3000 on a set of fiberglass cladding when I can get a complete Typhoon that needs some TLC for around $1000 more.

 

[phoonTy]

Re: Cladding Sucks, Anyone making affordable Reproduction?

I thought a forum member here was kicking around the idea and started making some molds?

I just can't bring myself to spend $3000 on a set of fiberglass cladding when I can get a complete Typhoon that needs some TLC for around $1000 more.

Yeah, he was working on it, but I think he's crazy busy with everything... haven't seen an update on that project for quite a while. Maybe he'll see the thread and chime in with a progress update :tup:

 

[Loeryder]

Re: Cladding Sucks, Anyone making affordable Reproduction?

The only other guys i know of making molds are doing so for Carbon fiber.

If you think the fiber stuff was high just wait...

PPI typhoon started making molds for fiber but hasn't posted any progress in quite some time.
It is an expensive process just for tooling much less materials.

If you want cheap cladding sell the Ty and buy an extreme.

 

[PPI Typhoon]

Re: Cladding Sucks, Anyone making affordable Reproduction?

The only other guys i know of making molds are doing so for Carbon fiber.

If you think the fiber stuff was high just wait...

PPI typhoon started making molds for fiber but hasn't posted any progress in quite some time.
It is an expensive process just for tooling much less materials.

If you want cheap cladding sell the Ty and buy an extreme.

Actually, I am making molds for urethane cladding, not fiberglass. I figured someone else has fiberglass and I would like actual reproductions of the cladding rather than just the outer half. I've made the wheel arch so far, but my latest efforts are tracking down NOS pieces to make the molds off of so they are as close to "new" as possible. I have almost a complete set of NOS cladding for a Syclone and am still tracking down Typhoon pieces.

I did get a $26k/year raise at work, so finances are much easier now. The molds are very expensive, but I've worked out most of the bugs through trial and error.

It's just been halted for a bit getting ready for this:

I'm still planning on continuing, but just diverting my funds to getting ready for my little SyTy guy.

I'm still doing a lot of research on molding techniques to keep my mind fresh. Even if I had the time, it's been the hottest summer ever in Arizona with the most days ever over 110 degrees. I honestly have little desire to work out in that. :rant:

Oh and if anyone has a driver's side rear wheel arch for sale.........PM me I unfortunately ruined mine in a molding process and have yet to find another. I have 3 passenger arches, but no driver's side yet. :squint:

 

[PPI Typhoon]

Re: Cladding Sucks, Anyone making affordable Reproduction?

I'd also be interested in hearing if anyone is making any that is affordable. I don't understand why fiberglass reproduction parts cost just as much as an original??

They cost that much because they can charge that much. If there is no competition, you can demand some pretty high prices. That's what is driving me in my DIY projects

 

[MrNurse]

Re: Cladding Sucks, Anyone making affordable Reproduction?

congrats on the little one coming, best wishes on that 10 fingers and 10 toes happy and healthy. also congrats on the raise!!!

 

[pinellas50]

Re: Cladding Sucks, Anyone making affordable Reproduction?

I got most of mine off ebay which is a crap shoot. I luckily only got hosed on one piece that was all cut up.

I have been looking for an affordable driver's rear for almost a year now. I think I am going to be forced to go with fiberglass which is about half the price of the only stock/repaired piece I found.

So just keep an eye on ebay and here. When the price tag comes, all you can do is grin and bear it. If you are having problems only with the mounting tabs on your cladding, those can be fixed rather cheaply and with good success.

 

[mattw]

Re: Cladding Sucks, Anyone making affordable Reproduction?

I've been working on open face fiberglass molds. Its a slow/expensive process though and I haven't gotten all that far. I've just about got 4 of the molds done and there are 15 parts total to mold. Here is a pic of a rear wheel arch, Ty rear corner, and the bracket that goes behind the rocker piece.

-Matt

 

[bdydrpds10]

Re: Cladding Sucks, Anyone making affordable Reproduction?

I've been working on open face fiberglass molds. Its a slow/expensive process though and I haven't gotten all that far. I've just about got 4 of the molds done and there are 15 parts total to mold. Here is a pic of a rear wheel arch, Ty rear corner, and the bracket that goes behind the rocker piece.

-Matt

Great! Keep up the good work and keep us updated!:tup: