I've had a c/f hood for almost 9 years now, and the finish looks like complete crap now. Oxidized, faded, etc. Tried to sand it down and re-clear but just didn't work out well. Paint shop wants several hundred to paint it to match the body.

So now I'm looking at wraps, specifically c/f wraps. Has anyone done this, and if so, how difficult was it? I'm looking at something like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/60-X-59-In-3...2f8a11&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4FT-X-5FT-CA...840f28&vxp=mtr

My biggest worry is getting it even. Normal vinyl wrap you can stretch it a little to match contours, but with c/f (-look) stretching distorts the weave a little. So is this difficult to work with? Luckily the Integra hood is very simple/flat, but it does have a couple of contours to it.

I feel like such a ricer c/f wrapping a hood, but at least it's actually c/f underneath, and I'm mainly doing it so I don't have to pay far more just to match the body perfectly. I'm a student again and may be selling this car soon, so just looking for something that will make it pass the "10-foot test." Thanks.

 

i have seen a cf wrapped hood and trunk before and it did pass the 10ft test. but i honestly would not do it on my hood though. but it is somewhat difficult to work with. i did it on my strut bar and it took me 2 sheets to get it on right and i had to keep pulling back and re-applying it because of air bubbles and unevenness. but thats just my opinion

 

Thanks for the input. All the ads say it has some sort of technology that helps eliminate air bubbles, but I don't really believe that. Maybe if I'm just very careful and patient.

 

Why don't you use real carbon fiber?

It takes a few extra steps but looks much much better and will last much much longer.

 

I'll never buy any more carbon fiber exterior parts. I wrapped my roof and it was a learning experience. I planned to wrap my hood being in the same boat you're in. It won't be easy and yes, you will get air bubbles. Even after you smooth everything out you'll spend the next couple of days dealing with them. Check Youtube for all the techniques you can use to apply it. Get an extra set of hands.

 

yea you most likely will get some bubbles with that ebay stuff. the link is exactly what i used and was pretty difficult to work with, just as all vinyl. just takes a lot of time. ^listen to him pretty much. it would be cool done though not going to lie haha

 

Probably selling the car in the next year or two.

Hmm... dammit. I have a lot of time but this is the type of stuff I feel like I wouldn't be very good at.

Argh maybe I'll just plasti-dip it black or something

 

i do vinyl wraps professionally. If you'd like input or advice just pm me.
Matte White Wrap, pic for reference.

 

some thing people dont realize is that you need heat to get the vinyl soft and be able to work with it.ive used that stuff on ebay and isnt that bad as long as you use a heat gun and work from the center out to the edges.

 

If you watch any of the Youtube videos you can plainly see that they use heat to mold the vinyl.

 

i wrapped my whole crx and im not a professional. Turned out nice and wasnt too hard. hood and roof were the biggest pain though fyi

 

I've been wrapping cars for 4.5 years....i have a hood that was beat to hell and the cf hood i had a crack in it. sold the cf hood and wrapped the beat up one if it wasn't for the dents it looks super close. the only way you can tell is the depth that cf gives you isn't there. The trick for cf wrapping is the laminate you use. I used a super glossy laminate that sketches well but u need a heat gun or a torch (torch is much better). the back side of the wrapping material should have a webbing to it which is there to allow air to be worked out.

 

also use a adhesive promoter (3m primer 94) on the edges and sharp contours.

 

I would just make sure the edges are good. Do you have any scoops or vents?

 

Better yet check out this link, it looks like he's just doing the hood, notice the rest of the car is already black and taped off??

http://www.dippedcars.com/default.asp

 

HEAT GUN!... is definitely the key even a blower dryer has worked for me but its alot easier to work with helps with the bubbles and contouring i highly recommend heat when applying vinyl or vinyl wraps from personal experience