Carbon Fiber Hoods Anyone?

[Matt]

Is anyone interested in getting c/f hoods for their lincoln? If we can get 8-10 people for each hood then a Group Buy can be arranged. We can use an OEM design or have a cowl integrated into the hood. Or even a custom design whatever you guys want. Right now I'm having Carbon Fiber parts made for my SHO (trunklid and spoiler is out to get the mold made at the moment) Now don't think total ricer, you CAN paint carbon fiber, and you can get colored carbon fiber. Or you could just get the regular black c/f. Prices are around $395 + shipping for a hood but final pricing may change, and their may be a group discount if we get a large enough group.

What do you guys think? Anyone interested?

[ July 06, 2005: Message edited by: Matt ]

[Desert Stallion]

Well, considering how light the VIII's hood is already, that's not really worthwhile. How 'bout a Mark VII hood? :eek:

[Matt]

any hood can be done as long as there are 10 people to buy..

[Desert Stallion]

What would pricing be on a VII hood, considering it has the dimensions of a Geo?

[Matt]

my brother has a mark VII, I know they're not that small... But if it's the smaller of the two sizes of c/f rolls the shop uses then each will be $50 less.

[re-Markable LSC]

I want a c/f cowl hood for my VII. That would go great with the GTC kit.

[Matt]

well lets do a Mark VII cowl hood. I'm thinking just the normal 1" cowl raised, about.. 3-4 inches? does that sound good? If we can get 5 people that want them then I can get them made.

[Nick]

I'm a little interested, but it'd have to look stock, bolt on, and not require hood pins. Could it use the original hardware off the stock hood? Yeah, I'm picky. tongue.gif

[Matt]

I can't see how carbon fiber would look stock with the whole weave look and black'ish color to it but.... if you get fiberglass (which you CAN, for $50 less) you can get it painted and then it'll look stock, or as stock as a cowl hood will look.

Yes, you can use it with no hood pins: using stock hinges and stock latch, although I'm not sure if it's safe to use the springs on the latches, it may be too much stress on that part of the hood, I recommend a prop rod.

[ July 07, 2005: Message edited by: Matt ]

[Matt]

I sent a few pictures of Mark VII's to the hood manufacturer and based on the pictures alone, he says it'll need the larger fabric, and for a cowl (since body work is required to make the hood to then make the mold for the c/f hood) it'll be a little more. So right now we're looking at $600 per Cowl C/F hood. Can I get someone with a Mark VII to take some measurement and perhaps some big pictures of the hood, underside and top, also if anyone has one with the hoodmat removed, pictures of that would help, so we can see the bracing.

[Desert Stallion]

Eh, hate to say it but $600 just lost my interest. Glass cowl hoods for the VII are only $440 for a 3" cowl, and $300 for a stocker hood, and there's nothing carbon fiber could net me that fiberglass can't. I'm not that much of a ricer that I need to have carbon fiber bits on my 20 year old car.

[Matt]

the price was $600 because that's only if we were to buy 5 hoods, and that's the SHIPPED price. If we were to buy 10 hoods, then the price would be $480 shipped. To start it going and get the c/f stuff made it would require all 10 to pay a 50% deposit, which IF we can get 10 people, will be $240, or if we only have 5 people the hoods are $600 and the deposit is $300.

[Jon90LSC]

I am kinda with Ben on that one. Can you use teh same mold to do carbon fiber and fiberglass? If so, that might open up a new set of possibilities. From what I understood, when MP made the glass hoods, fitment was a bit of a problem. If they fit and looked good, you might have a pretty good deal there.

[Matt]

once the mold is made yes, you can get either carbon fiber or fiberglass, fiberglass will be $50 less the a carbon fiber hood. These hoods will fit like the stock hood the mold is made from, and if anyone is in the socal area you can come to the c/f shop and they will install it and align it for free.

[Nick]

I meant stock looking as in a non-cowl induction hood. I'm not concerned about the weave pattern. Carbon fiber is pretty stiff, but the design will be rigid enough to not twist when I lift it or jiggle when the hood is closed, right?

[Matt]

when it's mounted correctly it will not jiggle or move.

I was at the c/f shop today and the manufacturer says that hood will require hood pins, also, if you want to get an OEM style Mark VII c/f hood the price will be MUCH lower. Do we want to go with that instead? Probably close to 25% lower, I'd have to double check on the exact price difference.

[Desert Stallion]

So I'm assuming since you need to use pins, that the stock mounting hardware won't work at all, be it the spring hinges or the release/safety latch?

[re-Markable LSC]

I'm in. I would prefer a 1" cowl, but I won't hold up the process with my individual desires. If its stock, fine. Pins, cool. turfscape(at)charter.net

Mike

[Matt]

Just to clear things up, we can have whatever design you guys want. Hood pins are required, you may or may not use the OEM latch, you can still use the OEM hinges though and the hood has threaded holes to accept the hinges and latch.

[Matt]

regarding my above post.. you will can still use all the existing hardware, the hoodpins will be in addition to that. Hope this helps clearify.

[Desert Stallion]

Not to hang a cloud over the party, but I'd really, really like to see an application that's successfully using spring-loaded hinges on one of these hoods.

Even Cervini's says explicitly NOT to use spring-hinges, and they're about the best there is in fiberglass. I don't see carbon fiber being any different.

[re-Markable LSC]

As in the case of the GTC body kit project, there will be many naysayers. Make it happen dude. I'm in for one. A cowl between what MP offered and stock would be cool, 1-2".

[Desert Stallion]

Of course I'm a nay-sayer. I've got horses and other misc livestock, and they're all nay-sayers too! tongue.gif

[Matt]

You can't just bolt the hood on, you need to take the springs off the hinges if that's possible, if left on they will add stress to that area of the hood. A proprod would then be needed. And hoodpins will add security as well as improve fitment.

[re-Markable LSC]

The cowl will allow an intake spacer between upper and lower. I would like that option to show off valve covers and more.

[Nick]

You can use spring hinges, but you'd have to redesign them. The stock ones are designed to support the steel hood, which is much heavier. The amount of tension given by the springs is too much for the lighter fiberglass. It'll be fine when the hood is up, if it doesn't take your head off popping up, but it will put a lot of force on a small area when the hood is closed.

[Matt]

Well I see intrest for 2 or 3 hoods, but to even get them made we need 5 buyers, and for those five the price will be $600 with a 50% deposit needed to start production. If we get 10 the price will be $480 and the deposit will drop to $240. I don't think there's enough interest though..

[DDragon]

I am very interested but I'd want a cowl.
3" is a bit much though. 1"-2" would be good. Carbon fiber is stronger than fiberglass and it's lighter isn't it?
I'd really like a one piece front end and tilt it!

[ July 10, 2005: Message edited by: DDragon ]

[DDragon]

Ooh, I just did a search and http://www.motorsportspartsusa.com has a sh*t load of Mark VII fiberglass parts.

[SQ_LSC]

Carbon fiber is a stronger product but in order to get that high gloss, deep finish, alot of resin is needed over the finished side which actually makes it more brittle.

I don't believe you'd ever be able to use springs with a fiberglass or carbon hood even if the tension was lessened. It's just too much weight. Now if you were to fabricate a lightweight, steel framework for the underside, It could be feasible to have springs.

Even without springs, I've heard of the wind ripping off a few carbon hoods at shows. If your running a fiber or carbon hood, make your prop rods so they "hook" on preventing the hood from raising also.

[re-Markable LSC]

What happened here?

[Desert Stallion]

quote:Originally posted by reMarkable LSC:
What happened here?

Nothing.

[re-Markable LSC]

wah-wah :(