Good vented hood (FD3S)
Good vented hood (FD3S)
Im looking to purchase a good quality vented carbon fiber hood. One that looks like the Mazda speed. Any suggestions and experience people have please post.
Here you go:
http://www.roninspeedworks.com/Ronin-Cowl-Hood---CF/
Ronin has the better fitting aftermarket hoods out there. IIRC, it even uses a stock hood latch so no goofy hood pins.
http://www.roninspeedworks.com/Ronin-Cowl-Hood---CF/
Ronin has the better fitting aftermarket hoods out there. IIRC, it even uses a stock hood latch so no goofy hood pins.
"better" is subjective. Everything has trade offs.
Some would say the stock hood is better because it maintains the 50/50 front-to-rear weight distribution, and also prevents water/debris from getting into the engine bay.
If you want different hood, you should first decide WHY you want it (cooling? weight reduction? style?) and then decide which hood to go with.
Some would say the stock hood is better because it maintains the 50/50 front-to-rear weight distribution, and also prevents water/debris from getting into the engine bay.
If you want different hood, you should first decide WHY you want it (cooling? weight reduction? style?) and then decide which hood to go with.
im running the seibon hood, and the cooling is retardedly good..
Late atumn and 5 degrees celcius, when lowrev-cruising for a few km, and downshifting, the car sometimes would not let me boost up the second turbo as **** was too cold... Dunno if this was caused by a broken part or just good cooling..
the tradeoff was that the car hated the rain and salty seaside conditions here.. After two seasons, the wiring loom started to degrade FAST. The old original wiring loom was from 93, and crispy from loong baking time in the engine bay and cali-sun before it was imported to norway. The car had a mazda reman engine, and it seems that when they pulled the engine, they had pulled on the wires and not the connectors, so many wires was exposed to the elements as the wires had been partally pulled out of the connector, or the plastic/wrap had been pulled back and exposed the wires a few mm. The rain here and salty conditions started to eat the wires when the water dripped down through the coolant vents, and it was just a matter of time before the wires started to go on me... Got a new loom now, and the car will not be used when the weather is bad..
not my car, but the hood:
Late atumn and 5 degrees celcius, when lowrev-cruising for a few km, and downshifting, the car sometimes would not let me boost up the second turbo as **** was too cold... Dunno if this was caused by a broken part or just good cooling..
the tradeoff was that the car hated the rain and salty seaside conditions here.. After two seasons, the wiring loom started to degrade FAST. The old original wiring loom was from 93, and crispy from loong baking time in the engine bay and cali-sun before it was imported to norway. The car had a mazda reman engine, and it seems that when they pulled the engine, they had pulled on the wires and not the connectors, so many wires was exposed to the elements as the wires had been partally pulled out of the connector, or the plastic/wrap had been pulled back and exposed the wires a few mm. The rain here and salty conditions started to eat the wires when the water dripped down through the coolant vents, and it was just a matter of time before the wires started to go on me... Got a new loom now, and the car will not be used when the weather is bad..
not my car, but the hood:
Last edited by oyvindjs; Jun 4, 2012 at 09:54 AM.
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You're not going to save a ton of weight with an aftermarket hood—the OEM is very light. You'll also have to deal with rain if that concerns you (i don't have a vented hood, but I've never really had an issue with underhood water after cleaning, so I'm not really sure how much of a concern that really is, depending on how/when you drive it).
You'll definitely get better cooling with regard to heat soak while not moving or moving slowly. You <should> also get better cooling at speed, if it's a well designed hood. The only one that I know of that ever underwent any aero testing was the Mazdaspeed, so a nice replica is probably a good bet.
You'll definitely get better cooling with regard to heat soak while not moving or moving slowly. You <should> also get better cooling at speed, if it's a well designed hood. The only one that I know of that ever underwent any aero testing was the Mazdaspeed, so a nice replica is probably a good bet.
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 86
Likes: 1
From: Tampa
My ViS "scoot" CF hood weighs in at 25lbs vs. 45lbs for the stock hood. It also uses the factory hardware, I'm pretty sure that's the case with Seibon as well.
That replica looks like really good quality that gracer7-rx7 posted by the way.
That replica looks like really good quality that gracer7-rx7 posted by the way.
... and also prevents water/debris from getting into the engine bay.
If you want different hood, you should first decide WHY you want it (cooling? weight reduction? style?) and then decide which hood to go with.
On a hot day I can see waves of hot air coming out of the vents, particularly above the turbo.
FEED or Mazdaspeed hood here. I'm still debating. The Scoot would have been perfect if it wasn't for the center vent. It's good for an aggressive look, but not so much for a clean OEM fella like myself.
The R-Magic hood is sexual but also $1600.
The R-Magic hood is sexual but also $1600.
Yea I really want the mazdaspeed hood but can't seem to find one anymore. So if I go aftermarket it will have to be carbon fiber but with the mazdaspeed vented looking one. But which one out their have anything they actually have that fit perfect like oem? Doesn't make any sense if the hood weight is is heavier then stock, even for better cooling. Im after better cooling/heat transfer for the stock located intercooler (added spal fan) and weight. I dont like the aggressive look but rather the clean look like the mazdaspeed.
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 86
Likes: 1
From: Tampa
LV-20B.
Sorry, I was thinking about the difference between the pre cat and a downpipe in the context of 50/50 weight ratio. Later decided to leave that alone and stick with the hood well so I thought...
The stock hood is about 18lbs and the ViS around 10 lbs. The stock hood still had the heat shielding attached.
Yea I really want the mazdaspeed hood but can't seem to find one anymore. So if I go aftermarket it will have to be carbon fiber but with the mazdaspeed vented looking one. But which one out their have anything they actually have that fit perfect like oem? Doesn't make any sense if the hood weight is is heavier then stock, even for better cooling. Im after better cooling/heat transfer for the stock located intercooler (added spal fan) and weight. I dont like the aggressive look but rather the clean look like the mazdaspeed.
These are hand made and VERY good quality.
They see me derpin'
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 39
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From: Seattle, WA
Does it really matter if the difference is <10lbs? Even if the hood was 10lbs heavier you would only be increasing the FD's total weight by approximately 0.4% - totally worth the benefit of extra cooling IMO.
It depends on the application I guess. The 10lbs doesn't mean squat to me. But for the guy that has seriously invested time and money in his FD to make it light for the track, 10lbs is just one more thing. If there were two hoods that cooled the same, the racer may choose lightness over looks and lines, compared to the driver of a street car.
But considering what seems to be the OP's goals, 10lbs is nothing. A single person's daily weight fluctuates 5-7lbs based on their diet and hydration.
It's really hard to find the perfect balance. Ultimately, I decided on a Mazdapseed. Though the knighsport vents are larger, I feel it's still a little too aggressive for my cars lines. The mazdaspeed vents aren't that big in the scheme of things, but they will work fine for a street car.
Honestly, vmounts and Rx7's for that matter, don't "need" a vented hood, it just helps.
But considering what seems to be the OP's goals, 10lbs is nothing. A single person's daily weight fluctuates 5-7lbs based on their diet and hydration.
It's really hard to find the perfect balance. Ultimately, I decided on a Mazdapseed. Though the knighsport vents are larger, I feel it's still a little too aggressive for my cars lines. The mazdaspeed vents aren't that big in the scheme of things, but they will work fine for a street car.
Honestly, vmounts and Rx7's for that matter, don't "need" a vented hood, it just helps.
The quality of their product is far beyond their web skillz. If you do some research on the old mazdaspeed replica hood here on the forum going back 10 years, you'll see that their product fits well, has the proper reinforcement under hood. Unlike some of other companies whose products are flimsy, don't have a OEM hood latch requiring the use of pins, their customer service is quite good. I've met them in person both at Seven Stock and at one of the guy's houses in so-cal picking up parts.
