Different MazdaSpeed Replica Vented Hoods
10-22-01, 10:07 PM
#1
Rotary Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Different MazdaSpeed Replica Vented Hoods
Hello all,
We have found a custom fabrication shop locally that can and will make us high quality replica MazdaSpeed hoods for the 3rd Gen. I know that there have been a few replicas being sold, but the quality of these have been low quality, with fitment issues, poor manufacturing and material use. I know, because I bought one of the Replica hoods. Don't get me wrong, I bought the hood because I liked it, and I got exactly what I was expecting and what I paid for. I was NOT unhappy. However, I had to sell the hood because I am going to replace my turbos. Anyway, I made a contact before I decided to sell the hood, and I was going to take the hood to them and they were going to fix the problems with the hood, for about $150 or so, not too bad. I gave the contact info to the person who bought the hood, Mike, and we both went down together to their shop to see what the scoop was.
Oh, my GOD! Can these people fabricate anything in fiberglass and carbon fiber. I mean, if anyone has seen the Real MazdaSpeed carbon fiber hood have seen quality; those hoods don't compare to what we saw. This company makes all of the fiberglass and carbon fiber hoods, spoilers, etc for Saleen, and many other cars, and some awesome carbon fiber snowboards. They admired the design of the mazdaspeed replicas, but thought they were a bit "rough." They suggested several improvements were possible with a similar final cost. Different resins hold up to the heat a rotary engine puts off better, and the final fit and finish could be a couple notches higher, to provide a "paint and mount" product. The framework underneath should be much tighter to the top so not to have any play and add rigidity. They showed us what they do with these hoods, how they are a perfect fit, no surface blemishes, perfect edges, extremely rigid no flex ( we thought the hoods were metal and the bracing/framework underneath were metal ). We were told that we could also have the hoods made with with select portions carbon fiber, so just the depressed center portion where the vents are up to the back of the hood, leaving the rest to be painted, or full carbon fiber. They would also insert stainless steel mesh into the vents; they showed us some on the Saleen hoods, and it looked awesome. They also make some of the second gen and first gen widebody kits that are sold to/by Mazdacomp.
The reason for this post is to find out if there are people seriously interested in these hoods. This company is specialized in custom work. They are making the mold as we speak, and Mike is having a test/demo hood made for himself. To make the prices as low as possible, and to get them interested in creating and selling other products for the RX-7, we need 20 people for this to be beneficial for all. The prices will be in line with what other fiberglass and carbon fiber hoods are selling for, approximately $450 to $650 plus shipping. We will know more about pricing once the first hood is ready. We will post pictures as soon as the hood is ready. From what we saw, the price is right, but the quality, craftsmanship, rigidity, and quality is what really got us. Also, the turnaround time is very quick once the mold is created; a couple of weeks.
If the interest is high enough other items may be made as well. They could make full carbon fiber interior panels to replace the stock ones, a carbon fiber cover for the rear view mirrors, and so on. Any suggestions would be appreciated for future pieces. But for now we will start with the hoods.
I apologize for the long post, but the information we got and the work we saw was amazing, and I'm sure I missed some additional info.
Please email any questions to rx7hoods@atihun.com.
Thanks.
Attila Fisher and Mike Lenhardt
We have found a custom fabrication shop locally that can and will make us high quality replica MazdaSpeed hoods for the 3rd Gen. I know that there have been a few replicas being sold, but the quality of these have been low quality, with fitment issues, poor manufacturing and material use. I know, because I bought one of the Replica hoods. Don't get me wrong, I bought the hood because I liked it, and I got exactly what I was expecting and what I paid for. I was NOT unhappy. However, I had to sell the hood because I am going to replace my turbos. Anyway, I made a contact before I decided to sell the hood, and I was going to take the hood to them and they were going to fix the problems with the hood, for about $150 or so, not too bad. I gave the contact info to the person who bought the hood, Mike, and we both went down together to their shop to see what the scoop was.
Oh, my GOD! Can these people fabricate anything in fiberglass and carbon fiber. I mean, if anyone has seen the Real MazdaSpeed carbon fiber hood have seen quality; those hoods don't compare to what we saw. This company makes all of the fiberglass and carbon fiber hoods, spoilers, etc for Saleen, and many other cars, and some awesome carbon fiber snowboards. They admired the design of the mazdaspeed replicas, but thought they were a bit "rough." They suggested several improvements were possible with a similar final cost. Different resins hold up to the heat a rotary engine puts off better, and the final fit and finish could be a couple notches higher, to provide a "paint and mount" product. The framework underneath should be much tighter to the top so not to have any play and add rigidity. They showed us what they do with these hoods, how they are a perfect fit, no surface blemishes, perfect edges, extremely rigid no flex ( we thought the hoods were metal and the bracing/framework underneath were metal ). We were told that we could also have the hoods made with with select portions carbon fiber, so just the depressed center portion where the vents are up to the back of the hood, leaving the rest to be painted, or full carbon fiber. They would also insert stainless steel mesh into the vents; they showed us some on the Saleen hoods, and it looked awesome. They also make some of the second gen and first gen widebody kits that are sold to/by Mazdacomp.
The reason for this post is to find out if there are people seriously interested in these hoods. This company is specialized in custom work. They are making the mold as we speak, and Mike is having a test/demo hood made for himself. To make the prices as low as possible, and to get them interested in creating and selling other products for the RX-7, we need 20 people for this to be beneficial for all. The prices will be in line with what other fiberglass and carbon fiber hoods are selling for, approximately $450 to $650 plus shipping. We will know more about pricing once the first hood is ready. We will post pictures as soon as the hood is ready. From what we saw, the price is right, but the quality, craftsmanship, rigidity, and quality is what really got us. Also, the turnaround time is very quick once the mold is created; a couple of weeks.
If the interest is high enough other items may be made as well. They could make full carbon fiber interior panels to replace the stock ones, a carbon fiber cover for the rear view mirrors, and so on. Any suggestions would be appreciated for future pieces. But for now we will start with the hoods.
I apologize for the long post, but the information we got and the work we saw was amazing, and I'm sure I missed some additional info.
Please email any questions to rx7hoods@atihun.com.
Thanks.
Attila Fisher and Mike Lenhardt
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11-06-01, 12:41 PM
#10
Hey, I'm one of the guys working on these hoods
Just to let you guys know, there is more information on these hoods in the 3rd gen specific forum. The thread is sticky and we check there more often, so if you are interested the most recent updates are in that thread.
11-13-01, 09:32 PM
#12
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: New Jersey soon Tehas
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well ill be interested either way actually.. so let me know..
jusrt wanna see pics first.. also are these gonna need hoodpins or are they gonna use the stock hinges and latch??
Sorry for the second post..
jusrt wanna see pics first.. also are these gonna need hoodpins or are they gonna use the stock hinges and latch??
Sorry for the second post..
