carbon fiber hood weight vs stock

[2DaTrakNow]

im thinking about getting a carbon fiber hood to save some weight, but is it really worth it? i was wondering if somebody has the stock hood weight, and how much your average cf hood weighs? ive went to some sites that sell cf hoods, but i cant find the weight! another thing, (ive also searched for this, but have gotten many different results). How much does a bone stock 2g dsm weigh? to get more specific, a 2g GST, leather seats, 5 speed, sunroof, and power windows/locks.

 

[echostats]

Alright, I am no pro and I do not have exact weights but believe me, the cf hoods are basically weightless. I bought my ViS a few months back and it's rediculously lighter.

 

[BlueTurboSpyder]

In my opinion, carbon fiber hoods are mostly for show and very little for go. A stock hood weighs 42 pounds whereas a carbon fiber hood weighs 10 pounds give or take. Other part weights can be found at this link: http://web.archive.org/web/20050204...tonline.com/pso/pages/techtips/dsmweights.asp

 

[2DaTrakNow]

In my opinion, carbon fiber hoods are mostly for show and very little for go. A stock hood weighs 42 pounds whereas a carbon fiber hood weighs 10 pounds give or take. Other part weights can be found at this link: http://web.archive.org/web/20050204...tonline.com/pso/pages/techtips/dsmweights.asp

hmm...i like that site! thanks for the help man (ill get ya some rep points)

 

[igs]

Stock hood: 40 lbs
"Show" carbon hoods: 15 lbs
"Race" carbon hoods: 8 lbs

 

[No_Skillz]

According to your profile you are FWD. Saving weight in the front of your car will probably hurt you more than help.

 

[GVR4592]

In my opinion, carbon fiber hoods are mostly for show and very little for go. A stock hood weighs 42 pounds whereas a carbon fiber hood weighs 10 pounds give or take. Other part weights can be found at this link: http://web.archive.org/web/20050204...tonline.com/pso/pages/techtips/dsmweights.asp

I agree with you partially. Most people run carbon fiber hoods because they think it looks cool, but I'd gladly ditch 30 lbs off of my car anyday. Every little bit helps.

 

[TSITuner4Lyfe69]

According to your profile you are FWD. Saving weight in the front of your car will probably hurt you more than help.

yes that is also right why would you be trying to ditch weight off the front end when you are FWD maybe you should rethink that carbon fiber hood

 

[2DaTrakNow]

yes that is also right why would you be trying to ditch weight off the front end when you are FWD maybe you should rethink that carbon fiber hood

well the start offs from a dead stop on these FWD cars with street tires will always be bad, so the weight saving will help after the start OR from a roll. Im not saying you guys are wrong by any means, i am just saying that i would think saving 30 pounds would help more for speed than it would hurt for traction. But, you do you have a point.

 

[TSITuner4Lyfe69]

well the start offs from a dead stop on these FWD cars with street tires will always be bad, so the weight saving will help after the start OR from a roll. Im not saying you guys are wrong by any means, i am just saying that i would think saving 30 pounds would help more for speed than it would hurt for traction. But, you do you have a point.

aha ok I get where your getting at.

 

[spoolup]

The amount of weight that the hood will save a good bit, but like other stated, FWDs would like the weight up front INFRONT of the front tires. But then you have to take into concideration the center of gravity and how high the weight is also located. Personally I would doubt you would really notice any difference with launching between CF and stock hoods. BUT you will notice a few other things. Spare tire, jack, rear seats, I even removed the washer bottle, power antenna, spoiler, ect. But my car is by no means a street car with options. I am having a CF sunroof plug made that will elminate all the tracks, wiring, glass ect. for a few L shaped aluminum brackets, some JB weld, with silicon, and a few oz's carbon fiber plate. I even located a odysee 650 battery where the old SMIC was to put the weight down low and in front of the tires.

My opnion, if you can afford a NICE quiality CF hood go for it. A black car with CF looks dam good without stand out. BUT remeber you get what you pay for with CF, I have seen cheap hoods crack from distoring on the road, or fliip up and wrap over the top of the car smashing out the sunroof and damaginf the windshield/ roof. Might want to look into so hood pins JUST to be sure.

 

[my98GST]

I see that it woudln't make hardly any difference, besides maybe a little better handling but that would only come into play at all balls out kind of driving.. Save the money and just add more power.

 

[travislaw]

well the start offs from a dead stop on these FWD cars with street tires will always be bad, so the weight saving will help after the start OR from a roll. Im not saying you guys are wrong by any means, i am just saying that i would think saving 30 pounds would help more for speed than it would hurt for traction. But, you do you have a point.

You may want to think about loosing the weight still though. It may be fine for the summer, but with you living in Michigan, you are going to loose a lot of winter traction on the snow and ice.

 

[OnMyWayTo12Secs]

If your really serious about saving weight, DO IT FOR FREE, trim out all that stuff under the hood, the hood will structurally be fine, and you can strip 15 or 20 pounds off the stock hood, I did it, and my hood is about 5 pounds heavier than a 600 dollar CF hood.

 

[2DaTrakNow]

You may want to think about loosing the weight still though. It may be fine for the summer, but with you living in Michigan, you are going to loose a lot of winter traction on the snow and ice.

yes thats true, but since my car is lowered and has chrome rims and all of that good stuff, and i going to get a different car before winter. Also, if all else failed, i could always throw my stock hood back on for winter weight.

 

[fourreGsixty3]

Yeah they look good and all but I just dont see the point of it unless you have extracted all the power out of it and your looking for a better power to weight ratio, also it wont hurt your launches to a point where you will notice it. There are other ways to shave weight off your car that dont cost anything just a little know how, such as taking out the complete ac system, save around 30lbs roughly, plus this will allow for air to directly get it the rad for a bit cooler engine temps. But Im more of a go then show guy so thats just my $0.02, the final desision is up to you.

 

[JayRolla]

Well cutting the inside of the hood is not to good of an idea. When I bought my car it was like that, the hood was so weak and flimsy. Also if he took some weight of the frontend it my help his launch. Because when you launch you front weight all transfers to the rear tires making your front end come off causing you to have less traction. If you take some weight out you will have less squat which means better traction.

 

[schemauer]

On my race car I use a trimmed stock hood. The underside is gutted out....yes, it doesn't have the structural stability of a stock hood, but once it's latched down it doesn't matter. I can send pics if needed. It's very light and accomplishes the same without spending the $$ on the carbon fiber hood.

 

[my98GST]

Damn ricers

 

[JayRolla]

I was on ebay and ran accross a carbon fiber hatch for the 1g. I wonder how much weight difference there is on this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ECLI...97325QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW#ebayphotohosting

 

[Juvenile95]

Well I bought me a cf hood.. it's pretty nice... I would say if u got the extra money to buy a cf hood go for it.. if not just wit and put a little more power.. or gut the hood and still add a little power

 

[kelvinb]

I was on ebay and ran accross a carbon fiber hatch for the 1g. I wonder how much weight difference there is on this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ECLI...97325QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW#ebayphotohosting

it will be very minimal, most of the weight is the rear glass

 

[2DaTrakNow]

You guys can't forget though...on average 100 lbs will shave off 1/10 of a sec. If you think about it, and you want to shave off lets say, 300 lbs so you can get approx. 3/10's of a sec. better. So start with the easy and cheap stuff. Remove you AC, possibly power steering, back seats, etc. It should be very very very easy to shave off 200+ lbs without spending any money(depending on what you are willing to do to your car). So then you have 100 lbs left to reach your 300 lb mark. This is where every ounce even matters. You find one oz. here, and one there, then you at 16..well hell theres 1 pound. Then you start looking at how much of a difference that 10 lb carbon fiber hood would make. Same way with the carbon fiber hatch that was mentioned earlier. Racing seats could even be a good investment, then once you get those plus a 5 point harness, get rid of your air bags, and replace your stock steering wheel. Weight is the same as power. Yes, anybody can buy a huge turbo and all of the bolt-ons, but the guy who gets half the bolt ons, can smoke him everyday with proper tuning. Looking at fuel maps and adding alittle fuel here, and taking some away from there is just like finding every little useless ounce on your car, and removing it. Your engine isnt the only thing you can "fine-tune".

 

[GSGoinFast]

You guys can't forget though...on average 100 lbs will shave off 1/10 of a sec. If you think about it, and you want to shave off lets say, 300 lbs so you can get approx. 3/10's of a sec. better. So start with the easy and cheap stuff. Remove you AC, possibly power steering, back seats, etc. It should be very very very easy to shave off 200+ lbs without spending any money(depending on what you are willing to do to your car). So then you have 100 lbs left to reach your 300 lb mark. This is where every ounce even matters. You find one oz. here, and one there, then you at 16..well hell theres 1 pound. Then you start looking at how much of a difference that 10 lb carbon fiber hood would make. Same way with the carbon fiber hatch that was mentioned earlier. Racing seats could even be a good investment, then once you get those plus a 5 point harness, get rid of your air bags, and replace your stock steering wheel. Weight is the same as power. Yes, anybody can buy a huge turbo and all of the bolt-ons, but the guy who gets half the bolt ons, can smoke him everyday with proper tuning. Looking at fuel maps and adding alittle fuel here, and taking some away from there is just like finding every little useless ounce on your car, and removing it. Your engine isnt the only thing you can "fine-tune".

I guess I'm screwed for gaining 30 lbs at college haha.

 

[OnMyWayTo12Secs]

Theres also something to be said for creature comforts and safety stuff. I mean if the goal is a full out race tub, then yeah gut everything, but if its a daily driver, why not mod for the weight. Whats the fun of having no interior, no airbags in an accident, no sound deadening, and exhaust smell in your car because its no longer insulated. Believe me I love weight savings as much as the next guy, but weight savings is one of the most overdone mods. you can pick up 3 tenths from another 2 pounds of boost.