SixthChameleon

I noticed this CF hood on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT
The buy it now price is $299, which is damn cheap.

I had a look at the website and stumbled across their Mspeed GTC replica bumper: http://www.raceonusa.com/index.asp?P...ROD&ProdID=505
How can they sell that part for $149.99 without it being total crap? I'm interested, but extremely skeptical. If anyone here has experience with their parts, please share your opinions.

rynberg

You're a fool if you think those are quality products. Also, what's the point of getting a c/f hood without venting? If you want a quality hood, look at Rotary Extreme or Ati-Hun.

Scrapiron7

SixthChameleon

Here, let me quote myself again, so as not to be labeled a fool.
The parts are made overseas (cheap labor), so there may be a remote possibility that they're not total crap. I just want to hear firsthand experiences.

scratchjunkie

why not just test them out for the sake of the whole club and write a report about them.

papsmagu

iTrader: (19)

`sl!mXP

The bodykit most likely has severe fitment issues and would cost a lot of money or time to get it to fit right. The hood I dont think is oddly priced. Its just a regular hood coated in cf on top, its stock with no vents, and your going to have to pay an assload for shipping.

I dont see much of a point to either product, the hood is going to be pointless unless you must have the cf look, and the bumper will probably cost just as much to fit as it would to buy an authentic. Well.... probably not that extreme but you get the idea right?

SixthChameleon

The shop is only about 30 miles from my house, so I won't pay for shipping and I won't buy anything until I have seen it in person. I didn't realize the hood was just a carbon wrapped OEM part until I looked at the webpage again. I guess I got it mixed up with another site which listed a weight of 14 lbs or so, which would make it a real CF part.

Anyway, I'm not really that interested in the hood. I am interested in the GTC bumper though, or I should say, I'm interested in getting one, but not necessarily their's. At that price, I'm sure the part is made from fiberglass chop. Does anyone make a cloth layup GTC replica bumper, and if so which is the best?

BFGRX7

iTrader: (2)

That hood looks like GTP's(Importfan.com). Looks like they might manu it for raceon. I don't know if it's cf or an overlay.

~Mike

REAmemiya FD3S

why don't you just drive over and bring a digicam with you. take some pictures and post them up here on the forums. and if you decide to buy it, take pictures of the initial fitment tests so we can all judge for ourselves whether raceonusa is any good.

a2zpcwiz

My first RX7 had a Mazdaspeed GTC Replica - Cost 149.99 on ebay

Fitment was horrible and the body shop had to build up the fenders with bondo to match the lines of the bumper.
I almost spend 10 times the price of the bumper to have it installed and painted.

My second RX7 has a Mazdaspeed GTC Replica - Cost 599.99 from Pettit Racing

Fitment: perfect
Cost to have it installed and painted: a few hundreds

You do the math

SixthChameleon

I'll probably do that. I guess if I bought the bumper and it end up being POS, at $150, the loss wouldn't bother me. After all, the quality should be apparent after initial fitment before it's painted.

edit:
I sure as hell am not going to bondo my fenders to fit a $150 part. The bumper is going in the trash (after I use it for target practice) at that point.

SixthChameleon

Was the Pettit part ready to bolt on or did you have to drill various and sundry holes. Also, is the part a layup or choppergun special?

a2zpcwiz

Bolts right on - no drilling

What do you mean by "layup or choppergun special" ?

SixthChameleon

A choppergun shoots out resin and fiberglass strands. This kind of construction method is easy to identify by looking at the unmolded inside of the part. You'll see what looks like fiberglass matt with fibers randomly oriented.

A layup part is generally made from a bidirectional weave, like you see in most carbon fiber parts. If the resin is added separately and the part cures at room temperature, the process is known as wet layup. If the resin is impregnated in the cloth and the part is cured in an autoclave, the material is called prepreg. Looking at the unmolded side, you'll see cloth.

Choppergun = Irregular and uncontrolled material properties, uncontrolled resin content, and low elastic modulus: ie. crap (at least for automotive purposes).

Layup is the only way to go for thin walled parts.

edit: Don't be offended by the "crap" comment if your bumper is a "choppergun special". I suspect that most fiberglass body parts are and I may very well end up with one myself.