If you're looking in order to shave some severe weight while sharpening up your car's profile, installing a carbon fiber 350z hatch is one of those mods that really hits both marks. Let's end up being real for the second—the Nissan 350z is an overall legend, but it's also a little bit of a large hitter, and not always in a good way. That will stock rear hatch is surprisingly chunky. If you've ever endured your hatch struts fail on a person (which, let's encounter it, almost every Z owner has), you know exactly how much steel and glass you're lifting. Swapping that out for carbon fiber isn't almost the "cool factor, " though it definitely brings a lot of that to the table.
Why the Fat Drop Matters
The very first thing most people think about if they hear "carbon fiber" is racing, and for good reason. The weight savings are usually the biggest selling point. A stock 350z hatch, complete with the glass, wiper motor, and internal bracing, weighs a ton. Okay, not literally, but it's enough to make a noticeable difference in the car's center of gravity.
Once you swap in the carbon fiber 350z hatch , you're usually cutting that excess weight by 40% in order to 50%, depending on whether or not you go using a dry carbon or even a wet carbon layup. This might not appear to be a great deal in the grand scheme of a 3, 300-pound car, consider that fat is sitting higher up and much back, removing it can actually help with the car's balance. You'll notice the rear feels the bit more "tossable" in the corners, and the suspension doesn't have to function quite as hard to manage that bulk during quick transitions.
Wet Carbon vs. Dry Carbon
If you've started shopping about, you've probably noticed an enormous price gap between different hatches. Usually, this comes down to how they're made.
Moist carbon is what almost all of us turn out buying for street cars. It's produced by laying the material into a form and resin is usually applied by hands. It looks gorgeous, usually includes a deep, glossy clear coat, and is significantly lighter than share. However, it nevertheless has a fiber-glass skeleton on the particular underside to continue to keep it rigid.
Dry carbon , on the additional hand, may be the hardcore stuff. It's vacuum-sealed and "baked" in an autoclave. It's incredibly light and far stronger, but the price tag can become eye-watering. Unless you're building a dedicated time-attack car where every ounce is an enemy, a high-quality wet carbon hatch is usually more than enough to get a build.
The particular Fitment Struggle is definitely Real
I'll give it to you straight: auto aftermarket body parts are rarely a "bolt-on and walk away" extramarital relationship. Even if you buy from an established brand, a carbon fiber 350z hatch might need just a little massaging to sit perfectly.
Because these hatches are pulled from molds, there can be tiny variations. You might find that the gap on the particular left side is definitely a millimeter broader than the perfect, or that this sits a tresses too high close to the roofline. This is where patience comes in. You'll most likely spend some time adjusting the handles and the latch mechanism to get everything lined upward. Don't get disappointed if it doesn't look factory-perfect in the first five minutes. It's just the particular nature from the beast when you're coping with composite components.
A Fast Note on Hatch Struts
Right here is an error almost every first-time makes: they try to use their own stock hatch struts with the new carbon fiber hatch. Don't do this.
The stock struts are created to lift a heavy steel hatch. If you place those same high-pressure struts on a lightweight carbon fiber piece, the hatch will probably fly open up like a catapult. Even worse, the constant upwards pressure can actually warp or crack the particular carbon fiber over time because it's much more flexible than steel. You'll wish to pick upward a set associated with "low-pressure" struts particularly designed for lightweight hatches. They make the particular opening much softer and save your expensive new part through unnecessary stress.
Dealing with the particular Glass
This is actually the part of the particular project that always makes people nervous. When you buy a carbon fiber 350z hatch , it generally arrives as simply the frame. You have two options for the window: transfer your stock cup or go along with Lexan.
Moving the stock cup is the most common path for daily motorists. It keeps the particular car quiet, the particular rear defroster still works (if you're careful with the particular wires), and it's scratch-resistant. However, the glass itself is usually heavy. If you're a purist about weight savings, you might look into a Lexan or polycarbonate window. They are feather-light but they may scratch easily and might turn "milky" over the years if you don't get the UV-treated versions. For most of us, keeping the OEM cup will be the way in order to go—it's the best bargain for a car that sees the road.
Maintenance and the "Yellowing" Myth
We've all noticed that one vehicle at a meet with a carbon fiber hood that looks like it's peeling and turning the weird shade associated with yellow. That's usually not the carbon fiber itself, but the resin or obvious coat breaking down under the sun's UV rays.
To maintain your carbon fiber 350z hatch looking fresh, a person need to deal with it like sophisticated paint. When the producer didn't how to use UV-resistant clear coat, it's worth taking hatch to an entire body shop to possess a professional auto clear coat sprayed on before you actually install it. Over and above that, keep this waxed or ceramic coated. If you park your car outside in the sun daily, the ULTRAVIOLET rays will ultimately win, so the car cover or a garage is your own best friend here.
Is it Worth the Investment?
At the end associated with the day, the carbon fiber 350z hatch isn't a cheap customization. Between hatch alone, shipping (which will be pricey for some thing that large), plus potentially paying the shop to change the glass plus paint-match the sides, you're looking from a good chunk of change.
Yet man, when a person see it on the car? It shifts the whole feel. It provides the 350z a lot more exotic, high-end feel. Plus, when you ever plan on adding a big GT wing, the particular carbon hatch offers a sturdy, lightweight base that appears right at home with aerodynamic updates.
In case your goal is in order to create a Z that stands apart from the crowd and picks up a bit of performance along the way, the particular hatch is a solid move. Simply take your period with the install, obtain the right struts, and make be certain to protect that surface finish. Your Z will thank you every time you look back from it in the parking lot.