Full Carbon Fiber Hoods (2 on hand) [Text View]

LittleBeast

08/06/2008, 12:00 PM

Knigh7s

08/06/2008, 12:42 PM

The entire hood not just the insert? I have never heard of that before on the VX. I mean I am not a fan of body panels not matching at all and would never do this, but has anyone seen a VX with the entire hood in CF? I have only seen the insert myself.

I have :) ...mine...

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3202/thumbs/CIMG0519.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/11611) http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3202/thumbs/CIMG0520.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/11612)

Yes that is real CF!

WormGod

08/06/2008, 03:14 PM

I have :) ...mine...

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3202/thumbs/CIMG0519.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/11611) http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3202/thumbs/CIMG0520.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/11612)

Yes that is real CF!

CFOne I take it? Looks like the same crappy fit mine had. It didnt seal well at all around the headlights which means air was able to get under and give the hood llift. Careful, thats the last thing you need on a highway. Hope you at least put hoodpins on there.

I still have mine in storage but it is unsuitable for safe use. Glad they gave it to me free as a prototype fitting. Damn shame because I thought their actual C/F work was great quality, just not so much their fitting. :(

clive goodridge

08/06/2008, 04:05 PM

Is that $290 each?
How much in total to send 1 or both to the UK please?
Are they a direct replacement fit with all necessary bolt/fixing holes etc?
Thanks
Clive

Joe Isuzu

08/06/2008, 04:14 PM

I have no interest in it as I'm also someone who likes the panels to match, but it seems like the price is good as the normal metal hood should be $2-300 (wagging it) and to that you would need to add painting which wouldn't apply to the CF one

Knigh7s

08/06/2008, 05:29 PM

CFOne I take it? Looks like the same crappy fit mine had. It didnt seal well at all around the headlights which means air was able to get under and give the hood llift. Careful, thats the last thing you need on a highway. Hope you at least put hoodpins on there.

I still have mine in storage but it is unsuitable for safe use. Glad they gave it to me free as a prototype fitting. Damn shame because I thought their actual C/F work was great quality, just not so much their fitting. :(
Yupper, thats the one. It is the one I got from Wolfgot here on the forums... I actually don't have it installed, because of that reason. I kinda just bought it to see how one is made, to make them myself. rolled edges and such... When I test fitted it the first time, It sat square, but for some reason, I can't get it to align anymore so I just kept it off...I was planning to have it painted the same color but leave some area's clear where you can still see the cf...

@Vehi-Cross-Az
Are you able to get some pictures. I would really like to see the quality (edges, straightness of fibers and how it fits on the VX).

Vehi-Cross-Az

08/06/2008, 11:38 PM

there are no safety issues with them at all..
just being CF is they seem to flex more then your std
steel hoods.
Ive been selling CF hoods for over 10 yrs for all sorts of
car, including Mustangs which travel way faster then any
VX on the freeway, with no issue.
Use it, enjoy it while you can :) is my opinion, thats all.
Being a hand made product, they will never fit as well as
the stock steel hood stamped out of a machine.
But they are lighter then stock which is nice too.
$580 is per hood, plus frt.
We can maybe go a little less, if they arent sold by the
Fall.

WormGod

08/07/2008, 07:07 AM

there are no safety issues with them at all..
just being CF is they seem to flex more then your std
steel hoods.

I dont even know that there is room for debate there, hahaha. Ya, I agree, a lot goes into the structural integrity of the part, but I have seen way too many C/F hoods laying on sides of highways, heard too many stories or blow-offs, and seen many vids of them taking flight. I personally, would never trust the latch on any C/F hood at high speeds. I had hood pins on mine on the VX (for the whole day it was on there) and considering I do a LOT of highway miles, I could never take that chance. However, the fit was horrendous so back to steel it was (damn shame we cant get an aluminum hood made).

BTW, local autoX and rallyX circuits here on the east coast wont pass your vehicle through pre-race inspection if you have a C/F hood without hood pins.

Regardless, that is a pretty fair price you are asking. You would be crazy to think you could find a hood for less for most other cars, let alone a vehicle that has maybe 5-10 existing C/F hoods in the world, heh.

taylorRichie

08/07/2008, 07:16 AM

I had a CF hood on my Audi A4, but I experienced no lift on it at speed, however the design of the A4 hood is extremely different from a "normal" hood, since the grill is integrated in the hood.

The main issue I have/had with my hood was after 2 years the hood looked horrible!! Clearcoat/topcoat was almost completely gone. Shortly after the hood cracked. I'm not sure If quality has gone up since 2001, but it was pretty disappointing :(

If I had a black VX I would get one... but a Silver VX I don't think it'd look too good on. Plus I'd like to go the Entire vehicle bedlinered route.

Price seams fair to me too! $300 is a good price for a cheap (CHEAP) civic hood, not a 10 year old, relatively rare vehicle.

Vehi-Cross-Az

08/07/2008, 10:54 AM

all manufactureres suggest hood pins with their
cf hoods for the simple fact they lay CF over a fiberlgass
frame, and if over time that should ever de-laminate from
ago, stress cracks etc ....it would keep it from coming apart.
Ive yet to see it happen, but Im sure if did somewhere and
to protect themselves, they put mention it for liability reasons.
Ill probably put one on mine for a while and then I may have
a metal plate cut to fit for the panel even, maybe like a
diamond plate, and paint that semi-flat black and bolt it on
for a extreme look :)
That and some sparco hood pins may look pretty choice.
Thanks, I think the price is pretty fair too for what we
have into them.

twistedsymphony

08/07/2008, 05:49 PM

I've seen a CF hood fail first hand TWICE

Two different brands from reputable companies, both hoods had been on the cars less than 3 months, and both were professionally installed.

The hood latch failed on both of them on the highway flying back and cracking the windshield/caving the roof slightly.

IMO if you're not installing hood pins... you're f-ing crazy.

if the fit was actually decent I'd buy one of these in a heartbeat... I'd paint it silver to match the vx... the factory hood is stupid heavy. the weight savings alone is worth it IMO.

alanbradley

08/08/2008, 06:37 AM

You have to drill and add bonnet pins - that's what two of my friends with C-One c/f bonnets (hoods) on their Yarii did (that's the "Echo" version of the Yaris btw).

http://www.envyperformance.com/images/features/yaris2.jpg

The first two questions that you have to answer are always "yes, it is real Carbon Fibre" and "No, the bonnet pins aren't fake". Makes a change from "Its a Vehicross..." :rolleyes:

A

WormGod

08/08/2008, 07:47 AM

The main issue I have/had with my hood was after 2 years the hood looked horrible!! Clearcoat/topcoat was almost completely gone.

I am experiencing that with my CF-One (scooped) hood insert. It's got soon-to-be-peeling spots and it's hazed and cloudy. It had a good run, but I am in the market/design stage of finding another option now. C/F on the interior is one thing, but on the exterior, it sees the elements far too much and has taken a beating. Winter and summer won the battle.

So-CalVX

08/08/2008, 08:33 AM

so are you gonna sell it ;) cuz it is still paintable... and would look just as good flat black (or color matched) on the VX

VCrossfan

08/10/2008, 07:45 AM

These are trick... http://www.deftracing.com/aerocatch_hood_pins/index.htm

twistedsymphony

08/13/2008, 12:33 PM

I've a friend with those on his car... they're very nice...

installing them is a real pain though, lining them up and then you've got to cut out your beautiful hood :eek:

the hard part is figuring out where to place them and then lining up the pin location under the hood with the latch hole on the outside of your hood...

IIRC he eyeballed it and it wasn't lined up the best, ending up having to bend the pins and it looks really sloppy with the hood open.

I think if I were to do it I'd find a good location for the pins and then hang a plumb from a pulley over head... line it up with the pin then pull it back up, close the hood let it back down and mark the plumb location on the ouside of the hood... The kit comes with templates for the cut locations once you know where the pin is located.

Thankfully it's got a big lip around it so if you mess up your cut a little you wont see it from the outside... :bwgy:

... or you could just pay a body shop to do it for you :rolleyes:

JoFotoz

08/13/2008, 01:32 PM

twistedsymphony

08/13/2008, 08:11 PM

Another method to line up pins , which I used on my Bronco.

Set pin location and fasten...dab a bit of paint/nail varnish etc on pin tops...

....close hood , and presto...self marking inside hood.

Then drill from underside ......:cool:

that sounds a whole lot easier.

you could probably even replace "paint/nail varnish" with grease or something similar since it should rub off to mark the spot and you can easily clean it off the pins once you're done.

08/13/2008, 11:09 PM

that sounds a whole lot easier.

you could probably even replace "paint/nail varnish" with grease or something similar since it should rub off to mark the spot and you can easily clean it off the pins once you're done.

Yep - grease sounds good.
Besides, I don't carry nail polish in my handbag - errrr tool box.:o:o:bwgy:

PK

don moore

08/13/2008, 11:14 PM

Easy way is to just set the pins and let the hood slam down on them ...if your lucky they will make holes for you.......Just kidding.....hehe:o

Ldub

08/14/2008, 05:51 AM

Yep - grease sounds good.
Besides, I don't carry nail polish in my handbag - errrr tool box.:o:o:bwgy:

PK

Up here in the colonies, that's called a "manbag"...:smilewink
All of us Ugg boot wearing metros are carrying them...well, except for me.:rolleyesg

Easy way is to just set the pins and let the hood slam down on them ...if your lucky they will make holes for you.......Just kidding.....hehe:o

I've used that method on two hoods, while it doesn't actually make a hole, the dimple in the sheetmetal keeps the drill bit centered from the underside.:smilewink
And yes, it would FUBAR a nice C/F hood.

JoFotoz

08/14/2008, 11:00 PM

DUDE...

I don't carry nail polish in my handbag - errrr tool box.:o:o:bwgy:

PK

What if...ya wanna mark a few nut positions ?

Or...ya identify the Pre -Torqued bolts?

Or....ya line mark yer wheel nuts ?

Or...ya number/mark bits...so ya use em ALL when re-assembling :o

OR...some hot chick wants a pedicure!!!!! :)

I rest my case ...(or set down my Manbag!!! ) :p

jo

.

taylorRichie

08/15/2008, 06:55 AM

DUDE...
What if...ya wanna mark a few nut positions ?
Paint Pen

Or...ya identify the Pre -Torqued bolts?
Paint Pen

Or....ya line mark yer wheel nuts ?
Paint Pen

Or...ya number/mark bits...so ya use em ALL when re-assembling :o
Paint Pen

OR...some hot chick wants a pedicure!!!!! :)
White out, and clear coat (spray)

I rest my case ...(or set down my Manbag!!! ) :p

jo

.

http://www.markingpendepot.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=13

ScottinMA

08/15/2008, 02:12 PM

I was "restoring" my VX with the CF hood insert that I purchased long ago not from CF one. It was looking really bad so I hit it with a rubbing compound and a Bosh orbital sander/polisher. It now looks brand spanking new.

08/15/2008, 09:35 PM

DUDE...

What if...ya wanna mark a few nut positions ?

Or...ya identify the Pre -Torqued bolts?

Or....ya line mark yer wheel nuts ?

Or...ya number/mark bits...so ya use em ALL when re-assembling :o

OR...some hot chick wants a pedicure!!!!! :)

I rest my case ...(or set down my Manbag!!! ) :p

jo

.

Jo, you nearly had me convinced, especially with the hot chick reference.
Fortunately TaylorRitchie put it all back in perspective and my manhood is safe again.

Phew!!!!!!

PK

Vehi-Cross-Az

08/20/2008, 06:58 PM

just have one more left just to update

r6boater

08/26/2008, 04:33 PM

My g/f had a c/f hood on her cavalier. It never had a problem with coming open, but it did show it's age. We used "Honda Polish" on it. It's a spray cleaner/polisher that worked pretty well. I recommend it for any and all vehicles.

As for making marks for the holes... I have cut some holes in plastics for frame sliders on my motorcycles. I learned from doing that to use some silly putty or playdoh on the inside of the piece you are needing to drill. Stick in in the general area of the hole to be drilled, rest hood down on pins, marks are made on the doh or putty. Then drill through the mark. Volia, you have a perfectly marked/drilled hole.

Gussie2000

08/28/2008, 06:05 PM

VCrossfan

08/28/2008, 06:39 PM

Gussie2000

08/28/2008, 09:03 PM

Got a pic???

No,but i will take one with my cell

WormGod

08/29/2008, 07:47 AM

OK guys, i need you expertise on this one....:confused:

For some unknown reason the hood insert got a small peel off right at the right edge.

What can i do to fix this one ?

Is there any product that works for this sort of situations ?

All inputs welcome

Think of it like your actual hood or another body panel with paint/clearcoat. If the clearcoat peels any at all, your paint is now unprotected and fading of the paint is innevitable. The clearcoat will most likley continue to weaken and peel away as it ages as well.

The resin coating/clear on the hood insert will do much the same. Once the protective coating is gone, the damage begins. It needs to be lightly wetsanded (I recommend 1000-1200 grit) and then re-shot with a clear. I plan on doing this to my scoop eventually and shooting the whole thing a mat black since the C/F has yellowed and faded anyways.

Gussie2000

08/29/2008, 11:08 PM

Think of it like your actual hood or another body panel with paint/clearcoat. If the clearcoat peels any at all, your paint is now unprotected and fading of the paint is innevitable. The clearcoat will most likley continue to weaken and peel away as it ages as well.

The resin coating/clear on the hood insert will do much the same. Once the protective coating is gone, the damage begins. It needs to be lightly wetsanded (I recommend 1000-1200 grit) and then re-shot with a clear. I plan on doing this to my scoop eventually and shooting the whole thing a mat black since the C/F has yellowed and faded anyways.

Thanks for the input,but i need info about the products to be use.Any brand name ?

Ldub

08/30/2008, 06:12 AM

Thanks for the input,but i need info about the products to be use.Any brand name ?

3M...it's called sand paper & new paint...:smilewink
As long as ya got it sanded down, throw a hood scoop on there & have some fun with bondo...:naughty:

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSC01671.JPG

Gussie2000

08/30/2008, 10:07 AM

3M...it's called sand paper & new paint...:smilewink
As long as ya got it sanded down, throw a hood scoop on there & have some fun with bondo...:naughty:

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSC01671.JPG

Yes,i have in mind adding a scoop,but there's so many of them that will look awesome installed it keeps me wondering over & over :(

Which paint brand should i use to fix the small peel :confused:

WormGod

09/02/2008, 07:09 AM

Just keep in mind, this really shouldnt be done like some garden variety lawn furniture. That said, simple sanding and spray painting will most likely look just like that.... a spray paint job done in your back yard. Just my $.02.

The only suggestions I can make are based on professional use since I have the equipment (compressor, gravity feed gun, paint mixer, etc). I would just listen to what Dub said and sand it down, clean it up WELL, and spray paint it. No real knowledge of can spray paint, but I would get something that can at least hold up to the elements (so you don't end up repeating this process every summer).