what are S5 turbo hoods made of and what are 10th ani S4 hoods made of? i need to get a new turbo hood so whats a good choice?

 

Aluminum.

JDM bonnets are crafted from unicorn farts.

 

Both S5 and S4?

 

Yup.
I've read of odd batches of steel vented hoods but never seen one and believe they are somewhat rare.
Which is ironic...the rarity could inflate the price of an otherwise meh part.

 

I've read that they were pretty well mixed between steel and Aluminum depending on whatever was cheapest to use that day.

 

I kind of doubt that.
You can't just randomly throw aluminum or steel in an industrial stamping machine, it needs to be set up for the specific material it's dealing with.

 

they were the same part number, and its NLA from mazda now. the phrase sticker shock definitely applied, list was in the $1300ish

 

True statement. I stamped aluminum and steel for an entire summer while I was in college. Set up varies.

Informed speculation is that the steel TII hoods were after-market replacement parts that were spec'd by Insurance companies. Some of the hoods were used in crash replacement found their way into the market.

 

I was pretty sure it was vehicle weight dependent. some lighter cars got the steel because it was cheaper. they were trying to get the weight in a certin ball park. same reason all convertables got aluminum hoods.

 

I had a 88 vert with a steel hood.

 

Did you get it from the factory that way? It was likely a replacement hood. Because it was cheap and available.

Not that any of this matters, this business of what the car is supposed to come with vs. what it has now after 25 years...

 

Well I'm asking cause there is a dent on my hood that looks like it was shot with a 22 that didn't pierce through. Someone is selling me one and he says it's aluminum and it's white. I have S5 and I'm not sure what car he got that hood off of. How can. Tell if it's actually aluminum?

 

It won't weigh a crap ton. Take a magnet with you if you're not sure.

 

steel hoods are spot welded together, aluminum hoods are riveted. magnet test is easiest though.

 

Oh right. The magnet won't stick to aluminum right?

 

Correct, the magnet will only stick to steel.

 

Take a 90 # weakling with you. If the hood is steel, he won't be able to lift it. If the hood is aluminum, he will lift it with one finger.


Seriously, there is a huge difference. The aluminum hood will feel dramatically lighter. If you have a steel hood currently, you will NOT be able to mistake the difference.

 

^ I happen to weigh 100# or less. Ill test it myself thank you.

 

I was gonna bring a magnet with me to test a hood I was looking at.

Seriously, you can lift an aluminum hood with your pinky finger.

 

like someone already said, in the front by the hatch hook, the AL hood is riveted and the iron hood is welded.

 

Thanks for the help guys! I love the fc community!