Carbon Fiber vs Fiberglass

[delusions of grandeur]

Which is a better material for hoods? I have heard that Fiberglass has waves and wrinkles that take a lot of work to smooth out and fit to vehicles, ending up heavier than the stock steel. Is this true? I am looking at the VFN sunoco style hood for my 98 camaro and don't want to end up with a crap product. Please help.

[zpwn06]

Re: Carbon Fiber vs Fiberglass

not heavier than steel unless your adding a bunch of crap on there.
that said, CF will probably be way lighter/stronger/cooler/more expensive/harder to find.

[delusions of grandeur]

Re: Carbon Fiber vs Fiberglass

yeah all the CF hoods i found are either STUPID as hell or SS. Thing is i really like the cowl induction.

[T-Mill]

Re: Carbon Fiber vs Fiberglass

I bought a Z-Roc Cowl induction hood several years back... can't remember where from, but it was fiberglass, and was smooth... barely took any prep work before paint. It was definitely lighter than the steel also, not a ton, but noticeable when I had them both off the car.

[T-Mill]

Re: Carbon Fiber vs Fiberglass

Just be sure that wherever you buy from is reputable, and you shouldn't have any of the problems with waviness, or wrinkles. If you do get fiberglass, find one with a gelcoat... it makes prepping for paint much quicker and easier.

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Carbon Fiber vs Fiberglass

There are some good Carbon Fiber hoods on ebay. I believe the company name is VIS. My VFN hood was a NIGHTMARE. I bought a stock style WS6 bolt on hood. Was quoted 13 hours of labor to make it decent. Huge fender gaps, headlight gaps, unfinished edges, I can go on and on. NEVER again will they see a dime of my money.

[LETZRIDE]

Re: Carbon Fiber vs Fiberglass

I think with carbon fibre you have to be careful no? I knew a guy with one on an older prelude and his mechanic closed the hood by dropping it down and the thing split right up the middle...

[zpwn06]

Re: Carbon Fiber vs Fiberglass

I think with carbon fibre you have to be careful no? I knew a guy with one on an older prelude and his mechanic closed the hood by dropping it down and the thing split right up the middle...

then it must have been suckily made. In my experience fiber is hella strong, even thin layers. the trick is to get the fibers going every direction so that theres no grain, and to use as little resin as possible

[LETZRIDE]

Re: Carbon Fiber vs Fiberglass

I thought it was strong but brittle at the same time...like take for instance a CF driveshaft...they are not streetable because if something kicks up and hits it, it will disintegrate....

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Carbon Fiber vs Fiberglass

I thought it was strong but brittle at the same time...like take for instance a CF driveshaft...they are not streetable because if something kicks up and hits it, it will disintegrate....

That's over exaggerated. I know a couple people that street drive carbon fiber driveshafts with out a problem. One being on a 1000+whp evo.

[LETZRIDE]

Re: Carbon Fiber vs Fiberglass

That's over exaggerated. I know a couple people that street drive carbon fiber driveshafts with out a problem. One being on a 1000+whp evo.

A 1000+whp car is not a daily driver...you cant really use that as an example...and Im just saying what I heard, and what I saw on this guys car...just so the op has an Idea on what to possibly expect...

[Firebirdkid96]

Re: Carbon Fiber vs Fiberglass

That's over exaggerated. I know a couple people that street drive carbon fiber driveshafts with out a problem. One being on a 1000+whp evo.

Well, for one, the issue of concern isn't even horsepower, because we're not addressing a carbon fiber driveshaft's ability to withstand torque.

We're talking about a stone kicking up and hitting the driveshaft, causing a nick which will DEFINETLY cause the driveshaft to splinter apart. Whether you're car is putting out 1000rwhp or 100rwhp, this can still happen.

I don't know how we got on driveshafts anyway, since we're talking about hoods, but yes, carbonfiber is very strong and light, only issue I've heard is with people painting it, since it's hard to find a CF hood that's been gelcoated. But if you're buying CF in the first place, odds are you're not painting it because you want that cool checker pattern look.

I have a Harwood Fiberglass Ram Air Hood on my '96, and it's completely fine. came shipped to my door $600, already gelcoated. Took a bit of fabbing to get it to go on right, but when it got painted it looked great, and not a problem in the world with it since. I'd go fiberglass.

It's cheaper, easier to work with, and more readily availible.

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Carbon Fiber vs Fiberglass

A 1000+whp car is not a daily driver...you cant really use that as an example...and Im just saying what I heard, and what I saw on this guys car...just so the op has an Idea on what to possibly expect...

I've seen more Aluminum shafts break than I've seen carbon fiber shafts unwind. Back to the topic at hand. We've had really good luck with the carbon fiber roof, doors, trunklid, and spoiler on the evo. Loading it in the trailer for events typically involves me pushing it by the trunk lid, and that shows no wear or stress. There is a big difference between good carbon fiber and bad carbon fiber.

I'm curious why you think a 1000awhp car can't be a daily driver? It gets driven to our office plenty. Turbo cars are a wholly different animal! It probably only makes 200ish hp on motor! It doesn't get buck wild and rowdy until the boost starts coming on strong.

[delusions of grandeur]

Re: Carbon Fiber vs Fiberglass

Actually I don't like the look of CF, think its kinda cheesy, I would buy CF for strength not looks. But as I said i have found only two hood styles in CF and one looks ricer stupid and the other is SS, which im not trying to make an SS clone. So fiberglass is what I am going to go with. Sucks you had problems with your hood from VFN Bird, I called GMMG to find out who the maker of the hood for the Super cars was and they make them in house but are contracted to GM exclusivly. Their recomendation was VFN.

[zpwn06]

Re: Carbon Fiber vs Fiberglass

[QUOTE=delusions of grandeur;846030]Actually I don't like the look of CF, think its kinda cheesy, QUOTE]

you can't tell when its painted except that its thinner and lighter.