Polyurethane front and rear lower valances

ok i'm thinking of taking on another project. you all know that i have been doing stuff maverick stuff in carbon fiber and just started on the task of fiberglass. and i think some of you that have seen it or bought it have been very happy with what you have received.

however personally right now i don't think most are ready for carbon fiber in this market (either maverick or any other muscle car fanantic) right now. though the fit and finsh is way better then any fiberglass item out there now, people still do not understand the make up of this materal just yet and cannot see the cost vs product. plus in most cases, as i have been saying all along, any fiberglass item out there will cost you about the same as my Carbon Items when you get done fixing it and painting it. but again i don't think people are understanding that. also many don't like the look of the carbon... well you can paint it too and i think many don't know that either. but then again why would you want to paint it cuz there is so much it take to make a carbon weave!

anyways i think one day people will finally get it but by then, it will be too late cuz the cost of this stuff is going though the roof! the US goverment is buying up most of it and trying to find a supplier of it is getting tough.

so with that in mind i'm thinking of making things out of polyurethane.

what is polyurethane?

ok a quick 101 lesson in it:

"Polyurethane is an incredibly resilient, flexible, and durable manufactured material that can take the place of paint, cotton, rubber, metal, and wood in thousands of applications across all fields. Polyurethane might be hard, like fiberglass, squishy like upholstery foam, protective like varnish, bouncy like rubber wheels, or sticky like glue. Since its invention in the 40s, polyurethane has been used in everything from baby toys to airplane wings, and continues to be adapted for contemporary technology.
Polyurethane is a substance categorized as a polymer based on its chemical structure. One manufacturers polyurethane by combining a diisocyanate and a diol, two monomers, through a chemical reaction. This makes a basic material whose variations can be stretched, smashed, or scratched, and remain fairly indestructible. Depending on the different diisocyanates and diol or polyol constituents, the resulting polyurethane might take a liquid, foam, or solid form, each with advantages and limitations.

Some polyurethane is categorized as an elastomer. It has elastic properties while maintaining some rigidity, such as in the wheels of a dolly that absorb shock but don't compress too much. It can be extremely flexible when used as a foam insulator in construction or a foam cushion in upholstery. It can be deformed over and over and still maintain its original shape; in other words, it has a structural memory. Elastomers have made our home and work environments warm and comfortable.

Other polyurethane is a thermoplastic that resembles other kinds of plastic, metal, or fiberglass. Thermoplastics are rigid and smooth with a sealed surface impermeable to water. These are used when strength and durability are important, such as in seats at an airport terminal or packaging crates on a truck. Some polymer thermoplastics are difficult to recycle, but they can be reused.

We can find polyurethane in every room of our house and practically everywhere we go. Since this material's popularity grew during World War II, the polymer has protected, reinvented, joined, or transported countless items. It seals surfaces like wood, metal, and paint to protect them from rot, corrosion, or fading. As an adhesive, polyurethane resists moisture and heat, so it's ideal for use in the sun or ocean. It insulates walls, temperature-controlled vehicles, and consumer coolers."

so with all that in mind i am thinking the next project to take on is making front and rear lower valances. i know alot of you have asked me about making them in the past but really still am not 100% positive on fiberglass yet. so i have a line on this material and thought that most mavericks have this part usually damaged or beat are beat to hell. for now as far as i know, no one make these right? if i am wrong someone say something cuz i'd like to know who does and what it is make out, whats fit like? and how much it is too! years i'm thinking of is 69-73.. sorry big bummber guys but i think there would be more demand for those years. correct me if i'm wrong but all those years are the same right? or are early one have some mounting thingy for the lights and i'm stuck with 69-72? let me know.

anyways with this material (if you read off of lesson 101) you could proably run the valance into a fire hydrant @ 5 mph and not even make a dent in it.

so with all that in mind i wanted opinions. you ask how much? i don't know yet... but it would be cheaper then CF but more then Fiberglass.

just so you know i still will be making CF and Fiberglass Grabber spoilers cuz there has been a good demand for them so no worry there. as far as making anything else in CF or Fiberglass i'm still gonna wait.

let me know what you all think.

 

Do it!

 

I ran in the sport compact circles for years before my maverick, poly bumpers take a BEATING, do it.

 

polymer is just another name of plastic. when you mix the two monomers with the catalyst you get a polymerization. i did this for a chemical company for years that made liquid polymers for just about everything, like your article said. it can be made to different consistancies for different applications. scotch tape is a clear polymer sheet with another, sticky formula of polymer on the back. you can make it with styrene (basically this is all bondo is), vinyl acetate, butyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate (a little strong odered) and even cyanacrylanytrile(crazy glue, the cyan meaning cyanide) there are many other combos for different formulas.
that all being said, do you know how to make any that look chromed? someone previously mentioned getting the boomerangs redone in a chromed plastic, which is all the suby has for its chromed grill work framing. If not, have you considered a custom console going from the bottom of the package tray to between the seats with a space for the floor shifter?
If i had a stocker mav i was fixing up id buy some of your CF body parts, sorry that i dont.

 

I think this would be a great idea!
And, just like all your other products, it will probably turn out great!!


... Even though i dont have any of his products, ive seen them in person and they are beautiful!
GO DERRICK!

 

I dont need any but sounds like a good idea.

 

I really like the idea and I believe it would go over great. These parts are only going to get harder and harder to get.

 

another thing is that i would need to find a really good set of valances if i'm gonna get this thing right! i have never seen one.. or i gotta find a damage one and get it fixed. if anyone ever sees one on ebay like a NOS one let me know...

also if there is a moderator reading this.. can you start me up a poll on here... seem i can enter in a poll after its posted.

i'd like to know this.

1. i'd buy a polyurethane front valance.
2. i'd buy a polyurethane rear valance.
3. i'd buy a polyurethane front and rear valance.
4. i don't think anyone would buy one at least not me.

thanks

 

I think it is a great idea. What about Poly small bumpers.

I have a NOS front valance, I probably have a nice rear valance also (not NOS)

BTW the 73 front valance is different from the 70-72 valance

 

Good idea!

 

i dont know what a valance is but if it came on a 70 i should have one you can use but i would need it back or just a set of one of the ones you made?

 

"you-can- do- it"!!!...frank... (one each)

 

Lets see if we can get littleredtoy on here to take the valances of his newly found Maverick. they look to be pretty flawless.

 

the poly small bumpers would not be strong enough to protect you in a crash over 20mph. most poly bumpers on new cars are a cover piece with a major absorption piece hidden under them. they are strong and take abuse better than steel, but quickly lose blocking strength over a certain amount of shock. the bumper would probably bounce back to looking good, but the car would be majorly destroyed and you wouldnt be around to notice the bumper survived.

 

Crash strength is not a concern for me, the factory bumpers have little effect as they are.