Fiberglass vs. Carbon Fiber

[stock1g4g63]

Hey guys, I was actually thinking about getting a fiberglass hood (since it's a little cheaper, and I'd planned on maybe getting it painted to match my car). I know cf is way better in almost every aspect, but what are the downsides of getting a fiberglass hood? Is there any warping due to engine heat or anything like that?

 

[theboogieman]

There is no downside really. If made properly a fiberglass hood can weigh just as less as a carbon fiber hood or even lighter, just depends on the process to make it...the strength to weight ratio is where carbon fiber wins over fiberglass.
I would say go with the fiberglass hood since you are looking to save some money and are painting it anyhow. You'll still save some weight also as long as the y don't just use a bunch of chop strand and resin.
Check out www.frankscustomfiberglass.com His hoods are just about the same weight as the carbon fiber hoods. The fiberglass hoods weigh about 10 lbs. I have yet to see one of his hoods go over 12! The carbon fiber hoods weigh less of course.
Leo

 

[flowfx]

If you're painting it just do fiberglass.

KEEP IN MIND; EVERY material in the world holds paint differently. A painted hood probably won't match the rest of your car because it's a different material. The variation in difference depends on the material painted, and the color you paint it.

 

[igs]

Originally posted by flowfx
KEEP IN MIND; EVERY material in the world holds paint differently. A painted hood probably won't match the rest of your car because it's a different material. The variation in difference depends on the material painted, and the color you paint it.

There's something called a base coat.

 

[jepherz]

Keep in mind, a lot of the CF hoods out there are just for looks, and not actually 100% CF. A friend of mine bought what he thought was a CF hood and all it was was one layer of CF on the top for looks anyways.

Also, if you are painting, I don't think the weight is enough to want to spend possibly a few hundred more on a CF hood and also, if any cosmetic damage ever takes place on the CF, you will end up fixing it and then painting over it anyways.

Its all just personal opinion, but I really only like CF if it is really subtle, say if you were to have a dark grey or black car and it doesn't stick out that much at first.

Good luck!

 

[jepherz]

I agree with IGS. With my experience in body work and painting, if you use a BC/CC combo, the color wont be affected by what material is painted. Sometimes ruberizing additives are used in the paint for uses on bumpers which can add an unwanted color too your ending paint job or possibly make it fade differently, but the base coat should not be changed by the surface material.

 

[flowfx]

Originally posted by igs
There's something called a base coat.

Eh, maybe you guys are correct. I worked at a paintshop for quite awhile, and there was some form of a burnt orange they couldn't get to match. They blamed it on the differing metals.

 

[stock1g4g63]

Thanks for all the help, my car is going to be painted black, so I may just get a cheap cf one somewhere (then at least I won't have to paint it) depending on the price. I just checked, and there are some VIS cf hoods for really good deals on ebay, about the same price I've seen for some of the fiberglass ones.

 

[mifirefghtr4g63]

Dont buy a cf hood on ebay. My last one had a fly and spider in the clear coat. It was a piece of junk hood.

 

[Zdrummer15]

Dont buy a cf hood on ebay. My last one had a fly and spider in the clear coat. It was a piece of junk hood.

You should really check the date on threads before you reply. This one's been dead for 6 years!

 

[stock1g4g63]

And I'm still here... but my car is barely running... but hey... 6 years and still running! Not bad for a DSM!

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

Did you ed up getting the hood you wanted? What did you end up going with? How did it turn out?