Carbon Fiber Hood

[NickVyse]

I was in on that group buy and the fit was as good if not better than the stock hood I took off (which wasn't a rusty old piece of crud). Can't really comment on the finish as mine is still in gel coat and the rest of the car is far tattier for it to look anything but superb. Very impressed with these panels - every original detail is intact and unlike Andy I've yet to have any stress cracks.

You'll want to consider using a different hood stay though - the original torsion bar thing is heavy and over-kill for such a light weight panel.

[ray_]

John,

Email sent.

Cheers,

Ray

My car has one, John. I'll try to find out... where the car is now (heheheh), if you want to go take a closer look.

Yes Ray, I'd like to take a look if that's possible. Let me know when you find it!

[AndyS]

The hood and trunk on the malaga was mounted and we used all the stock stuff to lock it down. The yellow one is mounted without using the torsion spring? on the front mounts. They really are soooooo light. Nick is right I think it was just overkill. You can hold both panels on 1 finger each on the same hand.

[JohnC]

OK, after all the positive feedback on the CF hoods, I'm leaning heavily in this direction. I talked to my body guy, he's willing to work with me on this.

Another question: Since the original hood spring is too strong given the light weight of these hoods, what alternatives are out there? Will the original spring cause stress cracks?

[AndyS]

Don't use the spring. You dont need it.

[BLUNT]

you could use 1 or even 2 gas shocks john. as light as they are. the trick would be getting the right length and throw

[AndyS]

Making me want to get a set now...

[Grover]

Anybody interested in another attempt at a group buy? I pitched this idea to JohnC offline and thought maybe we could get a few people together.

[AndyS]

I would be. I think the price on the web page is what we paid back then about 1300 for a set.

[70roundtail02]

i'd be in for a group buy also

[NickVyse]

OK, after all the positive feedback on the CF hoods, I'm leaning heavily in this direction. I talked to my body guy, he's willing to work with me on this.

Another question: Since the original hood spring is too strong given the light weight of these hoods, what alternatives are out there? Will the original spring cause stress cracks?

John - if you're primarily doing this to source a decent quality hood and not because you're after the ultimate in light weight panels or the bling then why not ask them about doing a fibre glass one from the same molds. It was a cheaper option with the group buy (can't remember any figures) and not that much heavier.

There's no off the shelf answer to keeping these hoods open, just a case of using your imagination (or your body guy using his).

[dubois]

OK, after all the positive feedback on the CF hoods, I'm leaning heavily in this direction. I talked to my body guy, he's willing to work with me on this.

Another question: Since the original hood spring is too strong given the light weight of these hoods, what alternatives are out there? Will the original spring cause stress cracks?

John, this is my solution to that problem, I think it is the cleanest, lightest, cheapest. I used a prop rod and grommets from a small car hood (I got it from one of our totals as my source, but you can find them at Pick and Pull). I think I had to shorten it slightly and twist it, but it works beautifully:

[JohnC]

John, this is my solution to that problem, I think it is the cleanest, lightest, cheapest. I used a prop rod and grommets from a small car hood (I got it from one of our totals as my source, but you can find them at Pick and Pull). I think I had to shorten it slightly and twist it, but it works beautifully:

Thanks Mike, that looks like the way to go!

[JohnC]

John - if you're primarily doing this to source a decent quality hood and not because you're after the ultimate in light weight panels or the bling then why not ask them about doing a fibre glass one from the same molds. It was a cheaper option with the group buy (can't remember any figures) and not that much heavier.

Nick, as long as I'm going the lightweight route, then the "bling" factor is in play. CF is cooler than Fiberglass!

[scottt]

Not to derail the topic, but I've wondered how a CF hood would react in a crash. I would think that the defromation of the steel hood would be designed into the front crumple zone and replacing it with something more rigid and brittle could be less safe. Or maybe it'd be safer. Anyone out there have real knowledge about this.

Oh, I tried searching and couldn't find a discussion.

Scott