FD3S: New FEED HOOD. Revised and Revived!
08-21-17, 07:47 PM
#1
FD3S: New FEED HOOD. Revised and Revived!
Ok Guys. We're creating a new thread for our new FEED Style hood just for easy viewing of the most updated information.
Here is a link to the old thread if anyone wishes to scour through it:
https://www.rx7club.com/shineautopro...d-pics-570048/
To quickly summarize the old thread, our first version was built with a full skeleton, just like the original FEED hood from Japan. For our second version, we decided to reduce weight and open up exit ventilation by removing the center of the skeleton. Over time, both molds warped on us slightly and forcing us to discontinue them. There were a few other prototype failed attempts, which is why it has taken us 4-5 years to re-introduce this hood. Hood molds are finicky and they are more susceptible to warping than other parts. We have learned quite a bit from our past mistakes and we're confident we can now build them correctly this third time around. Our standard increased each time around. Our new version meets these standards and I can say with confidence, our hoods are built the "right way" and is indeed the best version on the market. Far better than even an original FEED hood.
We will be offering several variations. However, at the moment, we're pushing only one variation, which is an FRP version reinforced with carbon fiber. We're working on building a second mold to keep both active as there is quite a bit of demand for our hood. The second mold will be reserved strictly for aesthetic carbon versions as we want to keep FRP and Carbon hood production separate. Carbon hood production will begin as soon as that mold is complete.
Production time: Typically, it takes roughly 5-6 working days to produce a hood IF built correctly allowing proper drying/curing times. I would be hesitant to purchase a hood from a manufacturer who claims they can produce 3 hoods from the same mold per week. The last thing you want is hood still curing while it is on your car. This is why we need two molds to keep up with demand. At the moment, our production schedule is fairly booked as there is demand across the board for our other products. We're producing 1 hood roughly every 2 weeks. With two molds, we should be able to produce 2 hoods every 2 to 2.5 weeks.
Why should you consider our version over others?
1. Accuracy in design. From the top side, our version is most true in design accuracy to the original FEED hood. The most overlooked feature is the raised rear edge of the FEED hood, which closely mimics the raise of two vents the hood is famous for. It is subtle, but the feature Is there, which adds further detail to a rather simple design. There are companies who are offering a version built off a custom prototype where FEED vents were grafted onto an OEM hood. That’s fine (if positioned perfectly), only they forgot about the raised back edge. There is also a noticeable ridge design, which leads into the first vent that is missing, which is another important detail to look for as it adds subtle definition. It is more noticeable on a painted hood than a carbon fiber hood.
2. A redesigned skeleton for a cleaner underside look. Ours is currently the only version on the market with a more professional looking underside. It is nice to be able to open a hood and be able to have a beautifully built underside to compliment your beautiful motor.
3. Reliable construction quality. We use quality materials and have built a strong brand because of it. We don’t cheat the process, which is why our brand has held up since 2005, while other fly-by-night manufacturers have come and gone. We use the good stuff, we don’t just say we do and our track record proves it. Who’s to say there is the same level of integrity from no-name, fly-by-night brands? As a consumer, you really don’t… until something goes wrong.
4. Built-in custom stainless steel hardware. Our stainless steel hinge mounting fasteners custom built aircraft grade. It will last the life of the hood as long as you don’t over torque them. Our latch striker is also a custom 304 stainless steel rod professionally welded onto a plate to protect against failure. This Is the “right way” to build a hood. Jimmy-rigging a rod and gluing it onto a hood, will only last you so long until a failure occurs. Our rod diameter is also perfectly spec’d to metric size to ensure butter smooth latching and de-latching. The custom striker is also bonded to the hood using aerospace grade adhesive to protect against failure. There needs to be a strong bond between metal and composite material. The hood will also come with stainless steel washers and bolts.
5. Mesh Grille installation option (additional $100). Installing a mesh grille onto a FEED hood requires some thought. It is not as easy to do as it looks. The mesh has to be the perfect size. You will also need a special bonding adhesive to stick it on. We don’t recall seeing many mesh grilles on Feed hoods and the difficulty of adding it on is probably the reason. We can do this for you if you want a more complete and professional look. We use a high black powder-coated aluminum mesh grille. This is not your typical home depot mesh. Nothing can downgrade the look on your quality part faster than installing a low quality mesh.
Prices will be listed below for each variation.
Shipping is $165 to a business or $185 to residential. Combined shipping with other items from our company is also available.
Here is a link to the old thread if anyone wishes to scour through it:
https://www.rx7club.com/shineautopro...d-pics-570048/
To quickly summarize the old thread, our first version was built with a full skeleton, just like the original FEED hood from Japan. For our second version, we decided to reduce weight and open up exit ventilation by removing the center of the skeleton. Over time, both molds warped on us slightly and forcing us to discontinue them. There were a few other prototype failed attempts, which is why it has taken us 4-5 years to re-introduce this hood. Hood molds are finicky and they are more susceptible to warping than other parts. We have learned quite a bit from our past mistakes and we're confident we can now build them correctly this third time around. Our standard increased each time around. Our new version meets these standards and I can say with confidence, our hoods are built the "right way" and is indeed the best version on the market. Far better than even an original FEED hood.
We will be offering several variations. However, at the moment, we're pushing only one variation, which is an FRP version reinforced with carbon fiber. We're working on building a second mold to keep both active as there is quite a bit of demand for our hood. The second mold will be reserved strictly for aesthetic carbon versions as we want to keep FRP and Carbon hood production separate. Carbon hood production will begin as soon as that mold is complete.
Production time: Typically, it takes roughly 5-6 working days to produce a hood IF built correctly allowing proper drying/curing times. I would be hesitant to purchase a hood from a manufacturer who claims they can produce 3 hoods from the same mold per week. The last thing you want is hood still curing while it is on your car. This is why we need two molds to keep up with demand. At the moment, our production schedule is fairly booked as there is demand across the board for our other products. We're producing 1 hood roughly every 2 weeks. With two molds, we should be able to produce 2 hoods every 2 to 2.5 weeks.
Why should you consider our version over others?
1. Accuracy in design. From the top side, our version is most true in design accuracy to the original FEED hood. The most overlooked feature is the raised rear edge of the FEED hood, which closely mimics the raise of two vents the hood is famous for. It is subtle, but the feature Is there, which adds further detail to a rather simple design. There are companies who are offering a version built off a custom prototype where FEED vents were grafted onto an OEM hood. That’s fine (if positioned perfectly), only they forgot about the raised back edge. There is also a noticeable ridge design, which leads into the first vent that is missing, which is another important detail to look for as it adds subtle definition. It is more noticeable on a painted hood than a carbon fiber hood.
2. A redesigned skeleton for a cleaner underside look. Ours is currently the only version on the market with a more professional looking underside. It is nice to be able to open a hood and be able to have a beautifully built underside to compliment your beautiful motor.
3. Reliable construction quality. We use quality materials and have built a strong brand because of it. We don’t cheat the process, which is why our brand has held up since 2005, while other fly-by-night manufacturers have come and gone. We use the good stuff, we don’t just say we do and our track record proves it. Who’s to say there is the same level of integrity from no-name, fly-by-night brands? As a consumer, you really don’t… until something goes wrong.
4. Built-in custom stainless steel hardware. Our stainless steel hinge mounting fasteners custom built aircraft grade. It will last the life of the hood as long as you don’t over torque them. Our latch striker is also a custom 304 stainless steel rod professionally welded onto a plate to protect against failure. This Is the “right way” to build a hood. Jimmy-rigging a rod and gluing it onto a hood, will only last you so long until a failure occurs. Our rod diameter is also perfectly spec’d to metric size to ensure butter smooth latching and de-latching. The custom striker is also bonded to the hood using aerospace grade adhesive to protect against failure. There needs to be a strong bond between metal and composite material. The hood will also come with stainless steel washers and bolts.
5. Mesh Grille installation option (additional $100). Installing a mesh grille onto a FEED hood requires some thought. It is not as easy to do as it looks. The mesh has to be the perfect size. You will also need a special bonding adhesive to stick it on. We don’t recall seeing many mesh grilles on Feed hoods and the difficulty of adding it on is probably the reason. We can do this for you if you want a more complete and professional look. We use a high black powder-coated aluminum mesh grille. This is not your typical home depot mesh. Nothing can downgrade the look on your quality part faster than installing a low quality mesh.
Prices will be listed below for each variation.
Shipping is $165 to a business or $185 to residential. Combined shipping with other items from our company is also available.
Last edited by shineautoproject; 08-21-17 at 09:21 PM.
08-21-17, 07:51 PM
#2
Full FRP (budget version, not recommended) $600.
This version will come with an FRP upper skin + FRP skeleton. There will be no carbon fiber reinforcements for added strength and stability. However, it will have integrated stainless steel hinge fasteners and latch striker. It is not recommended simply because it will be flimsier than our other options. It won’t fly off. It will be equally effective as the other options, however, it might be a bit more susceptible to vibrations. It is still better than FRP versions we've offered in the past as it will have the unique open skeleton design and stainless steel hardware.
*We are not offering this version at the moment due to high demand. When demand settles down, we will be open to offering this less costly version.
This version will come with an FRP upper skin + FRP skeleton. There will be no carbon fiber reinforcements for added strength and stability. However, it will have integrated stainless steel hinge fasteners and latch striker. It is not recommended simply because it will be flimsier than our other options. It won’t fly off. It will be equally effective as the other options, however, it might be a bit more susceptible to vibrations. It is still better than FRP versions we've offered in the past as it will have the unique open skeleton design and stainless steel hardware.
*We are not offering this version at the moment due to high demand. When demand settles down, we will be open to offering this less costly version.
08-21-17, 07:57 PM
#3
FRP reinforced with Carbon Fiber. $750 (recommended ).
This is the version we would like to push over the Full FRP version. This version will come with an FRP upper skin that is reinforced with carbon fiber + FRP skeleton. Reinforcing the upper skin with carbon gives it added strength and stability. It is as strong as most after-market carbon hoods as 99% of them are made with 1 layer of carbon + 1-2 layers of fiberglass. Ours is the same, only the laminate schedule is reversed, which allows the FRP skin to be on the very outer side for easy prepping (for paint). Our surface coat is a special hybrid gelcoat & primer formulation. It is designed to be easy to sand and adhere to primer much better than FRP products built with conventional gel coats as there is a stronger tendency for primer to bond to primer. With FRP being on the outer skin, there is less prep work needed to minimize carbon fabric “print-through” when compared to prepping conventional carbon hoods for paint. In short, this version is easy to prep for paint, while still retaining strength and rigidity properties of a carbon fiber hood.
*Edges of hood are shown with a thin layer of primer as the edges of each hood needs to be sanded and grinded (excess bonding adhesive and fiberglass) after assembly. There is some body work for finishing touches and the edges are later sprayed with a light coat of primer. It is highly recommended the entire hood is primered before painting if one wants a quality paint job.
We have produced 3 of these version so far (for customers).
This is the version we would like to push over the Full FRP version. This version will come with an FRP upper skin that is reinforced with carbon fiber + FRP skeleton. Reinforcing the upper skin with carbon gives it added strength and stability. It is as strong as most after-market carbon hoods as 99% of them are made with 1 layer of carbon + 1-2 layers of fiberglass. Ours is the same, only the laminate schedule is reversed, which allows the FRP skin to be on the very outer side for easy prepping (for paint). Our surface coat is a special hybrid gelcoat & primer formulation. It is designed to be easy to sand and adhere to primer much better than FRP products built with conventional gel coats as there is a stronger tendency for primer to bond to primer. With FRP being on the outer skin, there is less prep work needed to minimize carbon fabric “print-through” when compared to prepping conventional carbon hoods for paint. In short, this version is easy to prep for paint, while still retaining strength and rigidity properties of a carbon fiber hood.
*Edges of hood are shown with a thin layer of primer as the edges of each hood needs to be sanded and grinded (excess bonding adhesive and fiberglass) after assembly. There is some body work for finishing touches and the edges are later sprayed with a light coat of primer. It is highly recommended the entire hood is primered before painting if one wants a quality paint job.
We have produced 3 of these version so far (for customers).
Last edited by shineautoproject; 08-21-17 at 08:49 PM. Reason: update pictures
08-21-17, 08:02 PM
#4
Carbon Fiber w/ FRP Skeleton. $950.
This version is made like most after-market carbon fiber hoods with an additional layer of carbon for a total of 2 carbon layers. Most after-market carbon hoods including Seibon and also genuine ones from Japan are usually constructed of only 1 layer of carbon. Keep in mind quality carbon fiber is close to $50 a yard. Each layer for a hood is about 2 yards for a total of 4 yards for this version. This assures more sturdiness than our $750 FRP version, although the added sturdiness might be a bit overkill. If you want to have an exposed/aesthetic carbon hood (unpainted), this is it.
*We will begin production of carbon versions when our second mold is done in the next few weeks.
This version is made like most after-market carbon fiber hoods with an additional layer of carbon for a total of 2 carbon layers. Most after-market carbon hoods including Seibon and also genuine ones from Japan are usually constructed of only 1 layer of carbon. Keep in mind quality carbon fiber is close to $50 a yard. Each layer for a hood is about 2 yards for a total of 4 yards for this version. This assures more sturdiness than our $750 FRP version, although the added sturdiness might be a bit overkill. If you want to have an exposed/aesthetic carbon hood (unpainted), this is it.
*We will begin production of carbon versions when our second mold is done in the next few weeks.
08-21-17, 08:04 PM
#5
Carbon Fiber w/ CF Skeleton. $1400.
This is the version if money is no object and you are looking for a nice showoff piece that looks great top and bottom. This version will have a carbon upper skin reinforced with an additional layer of carbon + a carbon skeleton. The carbon skeleton is an intricate piece with numerous grooves and curves. For this reason, the skeleton is much more difficult to build in aesthetic/exposed carbon than the upper skin, hence the huge jump in price. However, this is the hood to have if you want to make an impression at an event while your hood is propped up. I don’t believe such a version has ever been made by us, FEED, or anyone else. This version is time consuming to build and definitely overkill, but if you’re one of those who just has to have it, then give us a call.
*We will begin production of carbon versions when our second mold is done in the next few weeks.
This is the version if money is no object and you are looking for a nice showoff piece that looks great top and bottom. This version will have a carbon upper skin reinforced with an additional layer of carbon + a carbon skeleton. The carbon skeleton is an intricate piece with numerous grooves and curves. For this reason, the skeleton is much more difficult to build in aesthetic/exposed carbon than the upper skin, hence the huge jump in price. However, this is the hood to have if you want to make an impression at an event while your hood is propped up. I don’t believe such a version has ever been made by us, FEED, or anyone else. This version is time consuming to build and definitely overkill, but if you’re one of those who just has to have it, then give us a call.
*We will begin production of carbon versions when our second mold is done in the next few weeks.
Let's see ho in debt this t project can put me... lol