Hi
If a Mazdaspeed hood is made of carbon fibre could it be an original or will it be a copy. How do you tell the difference between the two with so many copies around? Who is making the best fitting copies. Are the CF hoods fiberglass with a CF outer coating?
Hope the questions are not too stupid.
Thanks

 

Unfortunately, the only way to tell the real from a "copy" would be to familiarize yourself w/ the product. In this case, I do not believe the original Mazdaspeed hood was made in carbon fiber (I could be wrong, but I'll let other forum members verify this). In this case, assuming that you know there was no carbon fiber version available...you obviously know it is a copy.

There can be difference between the original and the copy...but again, IF you are familiar w/ originals and copes...you can spot the difference. Originals have very good fitment. Usually, the product itself is light in comparison w/ the copy. The fitment w/ copies are not necessarily as good and in worse cases, are really bad. The copies usually have more fiberglass than the original.

There are a number of sources for copies. It is hard to say who makes the best copies because no one can positively say their copy is the best. First off, who in the right mind would want to claim to be able to make the best copies in the first place? Even the people that make imitation Gucci and Prada handbags do not dare claim to make the best. Second, no one has spent the time and money to purchase all the copies that are available and compare them.

Your last question about whether CF hoods are made from fiberglass w/ a CF exterior. That question is purely up to the "rip off" artist. Not everyone uses the same methods. Some could make a 100% CF hood...others make them exactly as you described. That's like asking which foot do you put your sock on first...left or right? That's entirely your choice.

 

I can say there is so much to know it's not even funny. The composition of the fiberglass, the type of resin used... The type of CF, the generation of copy, etc. I figure the real issue is cost, and quality.
With the hoods we're having made, we're using a shop that makes great products for quite reputable companies (Saleen). The guys know their stuff, and have been doing it since before I walked on this earth. They know the temp a rotary puts out, and the composition of resin necessary to avoid flexing when heated. Their molds are extremely tight, and don't look like any fiberglass product i have ever seen. They also can make Carbon Fiber(CF) overlaid hoods, or entire hoods in CF. It come down to how much you wanna spend. Our hood was moplded from a stock hood (mine) and had the mazdaspeed style vents grafted in. This will hopefully give extremely tight lines and good looking final product.
In the end I'd just reccommend seeing the final product, and listening to reviews before shelling out the $ for a hood. I know I'm in this whole thing just to make an affordable vented hood for my car, and hope to pass the deal on to other forum members.
If ya want more info on the hoods I'm involved with, it's under the different mazdaspeed replica hoods thread.
-Mike