A week and a half ago my car got BEATEN with hail and since the hood has about 50 dents it will be more cost effective to replace it (I love insurance...sometimes). I think the replacement was listed at about $470 for a brand new one, and from looking around this is in the neighborhood of a CF hood. I was wondering a couple of things though. Does anyone know the weight savings and what the lifespan of a CF hood would be? Also, though this may sound strange, can you paint CF? I dont really like the look of the stuff, but weight savings, especially off the front, appeals to me. Any responses are greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

 

i think u save like 10 pounds, that can take off 10 seconds on ur 1/4 =x

 

10 seconds off your 1/4 mile!? I thaught it only took 9.5 seconds off the 1/4, oh nevermind, that was the Mugen sticker.

 

Darn, I was hoping for 10.5

 

This EXACT thing happened to me, minus the insurance paying for it part. My car got beaten badly in a hail storm, and I opted to relpace the OEM metal hood with a carbon fiber unit. The OEM hood weighs in at around 60 lbs, while most CF hoods will be closer to 12 lbs. As you can see, that's a great weight savings. Most CF hoods also come gel coated, so you can prep and paint it much the same way as any other metal body part. I looked into this option, too, in case I didn't like the CF look. On my black GSR, though, I really like the hood. It doesn't stand out. In fact, it looks like the stock hood from a distance (well, except for my hood pins ). Up close, especailly in full-light it looks awesome. There are some pics of it up on my site (link's at the bottom). I would recommend hood pins, though. I got the FiberImages hood, through BodyKits NW (great service, I might add -- thanks Andy!). Everyone says this hood doesn't need pins. But, once I got the car up to 80+ mph with the CF hood, it danced around enough to make a hood-pin believer out of me. Trust me. You'll thank yourself.

Good luck with the decision. Post or e-mail me if you have more questions.


Here's a pic.



And here's the link, in case photopoint is still having fits.


[Modified by ndustryalGSR, 1:58 PM 7/19/2001]

 

Thanks a lot ndutryalGSR. I do have two questions. How much did you pay for it including pins and any other related hardware? Also, do you know what the lifespan of Cf is and, if relevant, whether it would compromise the structural ridgidity of the car? Thanks again.

 

Not sure on the durability of carbon fiber, but the hood really only serves to cover the engine bay and help with aerodynamics, no real structural support whatsoever. A front strut bar would give you more structural support if you don't have one yet. A 6-point roll cage would really stiffen up the chassis too!

 

As long as you get a good quality CF hood and take good care of it, it should last as long as you have your car. It does need regular waxing, like any other part. I hear that UV rays aren't the best for it, and waxing helps block them. As for rigidity, the hood is very rigid (i.e. not malleable like the metal one). So, if it gets hit hard, rather than deform, it will crack. I wouldn't look to a CF hood to save you in a wreck, either. But, then again, the OEM metal hood is just made to crumple and stay out of the way in an accident, anyway. I got it from Andy at BodyKits NW almost 9 mos. ago. Then, it was ~$475, shipped (FedEx 3 day - yay!), but it might be a little more now, since shipping prices have been on the rise. You can get him by e-mail at silence@e-z.net He's super friendly and great to deal with, and he can answer any questions that I can't. I think my hood pins ran me ~$20, and they come with all the hardware need for the install. I got the Sparco pins (good quality and design). I don't know if I have any pics since I put the pins on, but I'll look around to see.

Install of the hood is fairly easy, but there are some tips I can give for tweaking it for ultimate fit, if you like. Installation of the pins took some finesse, but I'd be glad to offer up my suggestions there, too.

 

Its alot more than 10lbs your saving. Take off your hood and pick it up then pick up a cf hood. BIG DIFFERENCE.

 

My stock '00 Integra hood weighed roughly 32 lbs. The Fiber Images hood weighed approximately 16 lbs. on the same scale. The FI hood saves around 16 lbs. on the 94+ Integra's.

 

Thank you guys for all the replies. If the cf is not that much extra then I will probably do it. Once again, thanks

 

Cool.

20 lbs sounds about right. I wish the stock hood weighed 60 lbs though, then I would "have" to get the cf one, hehe.

I'll prob just save a few hundred lbs and go with a Civic Hatch

Take care,

FB