I may start making fiberglass hoods if there is an interest in them, perhaps something with a lotus elise style vent. Does anyone want anything like this? They'll probably be sold for around $250 shipped depending on the expensive of shipping, i'm really not sure what i could ship them in so damage wouldn't occur or the expensise for such a bulky item. Hood pins would have to be used in each corner.

 

Do you have any idea how many times we seen this thread by different people?

Its a great idea, especially at that price but 98% it just never happens, although I do think someone made a carbon fiber hood, but dont know what ever happened with it.

Go for it if you can do it, it would be one hell of a mold, and I think the parts would have to be vacuumed in the mold to release all the air bubbles you would get in a part of that size.

 

Yes, air bubbles are going to be a huge concern. I may be able to take care of them by sanding them out and filling them individually with resin, but i'm not sure. I started to make a mold of my airdam though and realized it wasn't really too hard, just time consuming, i'm very patient and crafty though, so i want to give this a shot and see what happens. I'm wanting around $200-$225 for the actual item, depending on the cost of materials and labor involved.

 

www.rotaryautosports.com already makes and sells fiberglass and carbon hoods.

~T.J.

 

have you ever weighed teh stock hood? one person can easily pick it up, the only problem they would have is getting a good grip on it.

it is LIGHT> no need to replace unless you are racing circuit track for team mazda or something.

 

I'm estimating the hood at 40-50lbs, a fiberglass hood would weigh around 10-15lbs. I'd add anything custom that people wanted in of course something not too elaborate... just vents, scoops, whatever.

 

I agree with IoTuS.

However,

Make this vented header panel (anybody)



And I'll buy it.

 

Holy cow, I think its the first time Ive ever seen a picture DF posted that doesnt work!!

~T.J.

 

By the way, the fiberglass hoods that www.rotaryautosports.com sells are 13.5 pounds, and the carbon fiber is 13 pounds. The stock hood weighs like 28 pounds or something, so youre saving like 15 pounds.

~T.J.

Fiberglass:


Carbon Fiber:

 

I guess the ackwardness of it made it seem much heavier. I could also try to replicate that header panel.

 

I hate to stick my nose in where it is probably not wanted but if you don't have vacuum bagging equipment nor are interested in purchasing it, don't bother. A hand layup will be 30% heavier than a bagged one so figure if the vaccuum layup is 13.5lbs, yours will be around 17+ lbs if you are lucky. There are other issues. Not trying to be a "know it all" but I build racing sailboats, I am pretty knowledgeable about glassing and different layup techniques.

If you decide to do it anyway, make sure you get a resin that can handle the temps in an engine compartment and of the sun beating down on the car, most resins break down around 130 - 140 degrees F.

 

Those hoods that rotaryautosports make aren't vacuum bagged. They'd be a bit lighter if they were though.

 

Actually, thinks for sticking your nose in, i didn't really think about the resin breaking down. Is there some sort of coating i could apply to it to help protect it?

 

any one have a pic with the carbon fiber hood on a car???