I really love my carbon fiber (cf) hood. It gives the already aggressive-looking car an even more aggressive, mean look to it. I like the fact that it has vents to let hot air escape out of the engine compartment. I also like dealing with Edgar who is the person in charge of making some really nice parts for our car. My concern is that the cf hood does weigh more than the factory aluminum hood. So what to do?

I came across someone who makes cf overlays for whatever you want, whether its car parts, or home parts or whatever. He told me that he could make a carbon fiber strip on the Maxima hood for $150. It would cover the middle "bulge" area - about 42" long and between 12" and about 19" wide. He said that the hood would have to be repainted though, which I dont really want to do. I asked if its possible to put the cf on without bodywork and I am waiting for his response.

What do you guys think of this idea? I get cf on the middle of the hood, and retain the OEM hood's lightweight. I might even have vents put in later.

Photochop anyone?

 

I've got no PS skills, but I can picture it.

Don't do it.

 

Does not sound like a good idea

Why cant he do an overlay for the entire hood instead of just the middle?

 

I thought CF was meant to be lighter..?


LOL.

You should just CF wrap your whole ride.

 

Doing a full hood piece sounds like better idea.
So if you wanted to do something different
down the line with your hood. You have option
to play around with a larger piece of overlay.

 

I got teh idea from seeing a black car with cf in the middle of the hood but the black faded to the cf. It was really hot looking

 

i wouldnt.

and if you went to add vents in later, you'd have to get it tig welded cause its obviously alluminum, which would be a lot of work and expensive.

 

That would be AAAAWWWWESOME!!!

 

weight difference between oem and the cf unit?

 

+1 by the time you add the overlay to the OEM hood, it may be more than just the CF hood by itself.

Need a photoshop in here. Were is Photogus (?) when we need him

 

because that would be completely covering a paid for carbon fiber hood. The middle would give it a hood scoop type of look.

 

About 15 lbs.

 

wait what my cf hood is 15 lbs heavier than the oem?

 

I found this pic of a mustang with carbon center part on hood, but its not exactly what i had in mind, but close:



Another car with cf center on hood, but its not faded to cf like I kinda want to do.



Another pic:

 

Yes sir. I weighed both myself on a digital scale.

 

How does that make sense? Whats the advantage?

 

Looks.

 

Looks and the CF hood has large vents on both sides to cool the engine compartment. Another advantage is that if you want to return the car to OEM, the stock hood will have less wear and tear on it

 

Im guessing, as with most knock-off hoods. That this CF hood is mostly glass, with a carbon overlay....this is where the weight problem is coming from?

I dont own that hood, but when I sold parts back in the day this is how aftermarket companys cut cost.

Its not a true 100% carbon hood... otherwise it would be expensive as hell and obviously lighter
its a carbon overlay

(am I wrong?)

 

i think ur right.

 

man deus, it seems to me you have done so many things to save weight I wouldn't think you would stand for that. Would the creator like to chime in on build quality?

 

guys there is this new company im dealing with, their hoods are definitely lighter or at least as light as the aluminum, no plans on another hood for now, but maybe something else that mounts on the rear "coughtru" nk, if the lips im making for the 07s sell good.

 

wouldnt do it.. not reeally me.. L(

 

Do it!!!!

 

you mean the cf trunk that i been bugging you about in pms? DOOO ITTT!!! MONEY READY NOWWWWWWWWWWWWW

 

The stock hood is aluminum and the CF is CF over fiberglass. Definitely ends up being more of a look deal with the vent advantage.

I wouldn't do fake CF Deus, keep your car legit.

 

It isnt fake cf. Its REAL. This guy lays a REAL coat of cf over anything. he is from San Diego. Think of the possibilities - mirrors, engine covers, shift *****, spoilers, trunk, roof, etc.

 

the vents were never tested in a wind tunnel. i wouldnt assume they are really a benefit. possibly cause more drag than cooling.

trunk is aluminum as well.

 

CF roof is cool I wonder how much that will run.

 

If he wanted to charge me $150 for a large strip down the middle of hood, I bet it would be no more than $300?? U can find teh guy on craigslist in the san diego region if u type in "carbon fiber."

 

I think this was what you were looking for. I went ahead and added a couple of more things that you should also probably consider getting done.

 

That made my night, lol!!

 

How many K HID is that? mad jDm~!

 

lmfaooo.... now that was a good 1.... i think you should just stick with the oem hood if not atleast find a lighter cf hood.. dont do the strip.. imo.

 

I'll throw togather a PS

 

 

This is what I had in mind - the strip follows the two valleys in the hood and the front stays black:



Regarding vents, maybe could take a styling cue from the GTR, and put in those two NACA ducts they have?

 

cf strip down the middle - negative.. the 2 vents frm the gtr +1...

 

I can get aftermarket vents for the GTR in dry carbon fiber too but its ungodly expensive -$600

 

damn... $600?!? better off just throwing back the oem hood back on and get the gtr vents cut in there. light weight, open vents to keep engine cool & nice stock look.