Hello. I'm not too crazy with the "blah" look of the Comptech icebox so I asked Charlie Rhyu of Top Setup if he knew anyone who could fabricate the top lid using Carbon Fiber. This is what he had to say:

From: charlie@topsetup.net
Subject: Re: Carbon Fiber Fabricator
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2004 04:13:12 +0000


Sounds like a good idea to me. Maybe shape the top to contain more air volume too. I'll talk to my friend who fabricates carbon fiber parts and get back too you. I should see him during JGTC. The only down fall would be how many TSX owners do you think would be interested?

But sounds like a great idea to me.

So, who's interested? This might be for people who don't have a Comptech icebox
but was considering to get one. Remember, this is for the top lid only. However, we can probably ask, just for kicks, to get a quote for the fabrication of the whole box itself.

 

Not too many people have the Comptech Ice Box or just no interest in (possibly just) aesthetics side of a CF Lid?

 

I'd be going crazy if this was a replica for Gruppe-M intake.
But still this sounds like a good idea for people who likes to dress up their engine. Unfortunately, I already got the Injen.
By the if you don't mind giving me some more information for Top Setup I'm thinking about getting my car done there, too.
Sorrie for OT

 

depends how much that would cost. i would be interested.

 

No problem. Here it is.

Charlie Rhyu
Top Setup
653 W. Colfax St.
Palatine, IL 60067
charlie@topsetup.net
847-359-8869

What are you planning on getting done?

 

That would be a condition for me also. Price would mostly go down if there were a lot of people interested. We'll see. I posted at 2 other sites. Hopefully, there is a lot of interest. Whatever count I get, I'll forward to Charlie so the fabricator he know can give us a proper quote.

Anyone else interested?

 

I'm planning on installing shocks and springs.
Maybe SC kit or TC kit in the future.

 

Just me and dzuy? Anyone else? Anyone? Anyone?

 

bump for people who might be interested.

 

I would be interested as well. how much gain do you guys think it would get for a new box and K&N filter?

 

I don't foresee a big gain from the current configuration of the box.
I did see that you were considering the Mugen intake from another post you had. I was considering the Mugen for the "bling" factor only but finally decided to spend the money on other upgrades which I'm glad I did.
Anyway, Charlie's suggestion of changing the shape of the lid might improve on the current design of the comptech icebox but I wouldn't be surprised if no gains were achieved.
I will email him as he already headed out to attend the JGTC event. I'll let everyone know what cost the fabricator arrives at.

 

Thanks, I'll definately be interested in prices / pictures / performance / sound. I'm going to purchase an intake system of some sort.. right now I'm leaning heavily towards an injen, but a cheaper SF icebox might not be a bad investment to keep the stock look.

 

did this ever pan out guys?

 

it would just gonna be basically a replica of the mugen intake then cause other than the top carbon fiber piece on the mugne one the comptech one is exactly the same.

and no not to my knowledge

and HOLY THREAD RESURECTION

 

CCC your english is horrible dude! You sure you in college? j/k

Yeah, I don't think this is something that materialized.

 

i have one and ive been trying to think of ways to make it look nice rather than stock. great idea im down!

 

btw. i wish i looked at the dates before i posted ha.

 

You can try to do this. http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread.php?t=351082 Lay your own CF on it

 

eh. i completely forgot about this.

 

it was late and I was slightly intoxicated

 

this thread is late. i would have been interested a year ago.

 

Too bad this never worked out though.

 

Anybody think of suggesting it to CompTech since they make the thing? If enough people request /suggest it, they might make it. no?
Aren't a couple of the guys from Comptech members of this board?
TSX536 you're friendly with they guys at Comptech from your SC install aren't you?
It seems like they already have a CF fabricator since the SC intake manifold cover is CF isn't it?
I bet they would sell a lot more of those intakes if they improved the appearance. Especially if it was CF and oh say 1/2 the price or less, than than the Mugen CF intake.

 

What are you guys calling the "lid"? The Comptech Icebox is itself only the lid, the rest of the air filter box (i.e. the bottom) remains OEM.

 

i recently wrote comptech an email when and if they respond ill post.

 

True, yes the "High volume lid with internal velocity stack" from Comptech is what we mean.

 

Nate@Comptech is one of the members who works there. I haven't seen him post in awhile though. Yeah I've actually gotten to know a couple of the guys. I can ask them about the Carbon Fiber lid cover next time I talk to them.

I think the big question is how much more people would be willing to pay for something like this though.

 

I'd be interested, just that I think being that its CF the price would drastically change.

 

Im in as long as the cost is not excessive. Im willing to fork out $300 for a carbon fiber lid as long as it is good quality like what I would expect from Comptech.

 

I give the guy credit for doing this, but the quality of thier work is amature. Pouring, or brushing on the resin is not consistent and you can see the variations in the finish in plain lighting. It looks wavy and just too homemade to me. Ive never worked with carbon fiber, but I have with fiberglass. Actually I worked with it for several years in various situations for various projects. Always sanded, painted and finished my pieces, so I could work out the imperfections. Carbon fiber is a whole new animal that I dont want to try myself on contoured or even flat surfaces.

I believe in order to do the carbon fiber properly it must be done with a vacumn form machine. Maybe the dry weave method. Or where they impregnate and soak the carbon fiber in resin, place over the mold, them vacumn form. However there will be a problem with seams and overlaps on the edges. No matter what method is used, the seams and corners will be a problem.

Im very interested to see if there is a solution, also interested in seeing anyone else's carbon fiber DIY work. I just think its too expensive and tedious to experiment and play with myself. Also CF does conduct current unlike fiberglass.