Carbon Fiber Intakes (Con't).

[Joe Boucher]

HeinGer at aol.com wrote:
> 
> As a guy who works with composites for a living (major aerospace company), let
> me add my $.02 to the string...  First of all, fiberglass cloth will handle
> ANY heat that an auto engine can throw at it.  I wrapped my header tubes with
> it.  The problem with heat is the resin used for the laminate.  If you use an
> epoxy resin like Hysol 9396, which has high strength up to about 350 deg F,
> you can easily make an intake from fiberglass.  In fact, fiberglass is
> preferable to graphite (carbon fiber), if you are making the laminate without
> vacuum bagging it.  Why? Because graphite fibers are much more slippery than
> glass fibers and will tend to delaminate more easily.  By vacuum bagging, you
> force the fibers into much more intimate contact with each other, and greatly
> reduce the chance for delamination.  I know, because I've tried both ways.  I
> recently completed a graphite manifold for my 66 GTO, powered by a roller-
> cammed Pontiac 428. I also machined a 2-bbl 60mm throttle body for it (I was
> too cheap to buy Lingenfelter's).  As soon as mr. postman brings my Accel
> computer, I'll let you  know how it works.


The big question popping up in my mind as I read this thread is where
could us normal guys buy the more exotic materials?  Aircraft supply
shops?  Should I look in the yellow pages before I hit the send key? 
Which yellow pages heading should we look under?

Joe Boucher
'70 RS/SS Camaro  '81 TBI Suburban