The latest of my insanity, home made hood!
#61
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (17)
I gotta give you some mad props for doing this....but after all is said and done, isn't it cheaper to buy a CF hood then to make it yourself? All the small costs add up + the time it takes to do this kind of work. Doesn't it defeat the purpose of the project since from the beginning you wanted this to be a money saver?
#62
Instructor
Thread Starter
Thanks for the props man.
before anything, saving money was never my initial objective. My initial and main objective was/is saving WEIGHT, have the ability to reproduce parts in case of a crash on the track, all while abiding to my specifications. Paying 500-600 bucks for a fiberglass hood backed by a carbon fiber "ricer" layer was not gonna ever be on my to do list. So, I decided to make my own to my specs. In the process, I learned a new skill that I plan to further put it in use, I satisfied my "do-it-yourself" need and I'm mentally more prepared to a crash when it happens lol
With that said, I have to mention a couple of other things. If your main objective is looks and NOT function, then the pre-made cheap hood are probably a better choice. If you never plan on re-making the same part again, then, again, this is the wrong route to take. Making the mold is extremely expensive, and it's even more expensive if you never done it before. The learning curve is really steep, and it will take a lot of research/ trial and error. Don't even bother asking professionals, they won't answer the important questions, and some of them will actually mislead you like they did to me!!!
I hope my reply clarified things
before anything, saving money was never my initial objective. My initial and main objective was/is saving WEIGHT, have the ability to reproduce parts in case of a crash on the track, all while abiding to my specifications. Paying 500-600 bucks for a fiberglass hood backed by a carbon fiber "ricer" layer was not gonna ever be on my to do list. So, I decided to make my own to my specs. In the process, I learned a new skill that I plan to further put it in use, I satisfied my "do-it-yourself" need and I'm mentally more prepared to a crash when it happens lol
With that said, I have to mention a couple of other things. If your main objective is looks and NOT function, then the pre-made cheap hood are probably a better choice. If you never plan on re-making the same part again, then, again, this is the wrong route to take. Making the mold is extremely expensive, and it's even more expensive if you never done it before. The learning curve is really steep, and it will take a lot of research/ trial and error. Don't even bother asking professionals, they won't answer the important questions, and some of them will actually mislead you like they did to me!!!
I hope my reply clarified things
Last edited by madmax98; 04-09-11 at 10:15 PM.
#65
Instructor
Thread Starter
I pulled the hood out after sobering up hahahah
It looks a little dirty which is expected but buffing will take car of that.
bagging pulled out
absorbing material
you can see the excess resin on the absorbing material\
the Nylon barrier material pulled out to reveal the inside of the hood
The top side, before buffing and cleaning
And the best part, it weighs 7.6 pounds before trimming and cutting the excess pieces.
It should weigh less than 7.0 pounds when i trim it
It looks a little dirty which is expected but buffing will take car of that.
bagging pulled out
absorbing material
you can see the excess resin on the absorbing material\
the Nylon barrier material pulled out to reveal the inside of the hood
The top side, before buffing and cleaning
And the best part, it weighs 7.6 pounds before trimming and cutting the excess pieces.
It should weigh less than 7.0 pounds when i trim it
Last edited by madmax98; 04-10-11 at 02:22 PM.
#67
Instructor
Thread Starter
#71
Driver
iTrader: (2)
"I looked around and I wasn't about to pay 600 bucks for a fiberglass hood with a CF layer on top. So, I said F this, I'm gonna make my own 100% Carbon fiber hood."
Great job on the hood man....but you spent more that 600 for the hood lol... I wouldnt even know where to begin with doing something like this..... awesome work and nice car
Great job on the hood man....but you spent more that 600 for the hood lol... I wouldnt even know where to begin with doing something like this..... awesome work and nice car
#73
Instructor
Thread Starter
Hahaha thanks for the kind words!
Now I gotta design and make vents, figure out how to attach it to the hinge. I can't find a vent design that I like yet, maybe you guys can brainstorm with me
Now I gotta design and make vents, figure out how to attach it to the hinge. I can't find a vent design that I like yet, maybe you guys can brainstorm with me