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View Full Version : Is carbon fiber hood illegal?

GT-S Celica
11-18-2001, 10:03 PM
Just wondering...
DaileyDog
11-18-2001, 10:11 PM
i can't think of a reason why it would be.

so, my guess is no.
ctkrider
11-18-2001, 11:34 PM
i think it might be, because of safety reasons
cybrpunk
11-19-2001, 12:32 AM
what kind of safety reasons? Explain yourself. It's just a hood.
oldster
11-19-2001, 01:07 AM
Is it designed to crumple like an OEM hood, probably not. Would it come through the windshield in a collision, possibly. Is it illegal, don't think so.
ctkrider
11-19-2001, 07:03 AM
like oldster said, if you get in an accident, the hood may not crumble like a metal hood would. Carbonfiber will more than likely flex a bit and put pressure agains the window, thus shatter it and may cut ur head off..well..i don't know about the last part, but i think it could possibly pose as a hazardous mod, but then again, you'd have to get into an accident with a good amount of force. I'd say a 25mph accident would do it for sure. I could be wrong though, cuz I have heard of people w/ cf hoods that got into a car accident and their hoods jus shattered into a few pieces, but then their hoods may have been of low quality or thin, etc...so I don't think there's any way of really knowing for any particular cf hood unless you get one and get into an accident, I wouldn't take the chance in case of the worst case scenario happens.
11-19-2001, 10:21 AM
i do not believe it is illegal otherwise it would state for off road use only..
jACEDesignsLtd
11-19-2001, 10:58 AM
Puzzles me too. I think it has to do with the CF hood going through the windshield--violates safety standards.

However, my friend got a ticket for a CF hood on his accord up here in Vancouver so he changed back to original.
143hawaii
11-19-2001, 03:43 PM
I actually wouldn't see why it wouldn't be legal. Yes, at first I thought the same as oldster. But then I read some interesting info about carbon fiber and it's properties. Hearing that "CF" can actually be made stronger than steel (while being lighter) made me thing, "Bullsh*t!"

Then a memory popper into my mind! If anyone here knows how great the McLaren F1 and know a little about it you'll remember that it's entire body is made of some sort of carbon fiber inlays impregnated with something that they will always keep secret. In fact their entire process of their body making is *hush hush*. But the point is if they can make an entire body of CF then I don't see why it wouldn't be legal. The real question is how it stands up in an accident and is it as safe as steel. Everyone I know just speculates about what might happen. I think we need to see an actual incident.
oldster
11-19-2001, 04:23 PM
Originally posted by 143hawaii
I actually wouldn't see why it wouldn't be legal. Yes, at first I thought the same as oldster. But then I read some interesting info about carbon fiber and it's properties. Hearing that "CF" can actually be made stronger than steel (while being lighter) made me thing, "Bullsh*t!"

Then a memory popper into my mind! If anyone here knows how great the McLaren F1 and know a little about it you'll remember that it's entire body is made of some sort of carbon fiber inlays impregnated with something that they will always keep secret. In fact their entire process of their body making is *hush hush*. But the point is if they can make an entire body of CF then I don't see why it wouldn't be legal. The real question is how it stands up in an accident and is it as safe as steel. Everyone I know just speculates about what might happen. I think we need to see an actual incident.

I don't think anyone will dispute the strength of CF, that is not the issue. It used to be thought in racing applications that the stronger and stiffer the better. Obviously that thinking has changed to designs that absorb the impact of the crash while protecting the drivers compartment. So you are correct in that we don't know what will happen in a crash with the CF hood. Don't confuse safe with strength though, they are two different dynamics. The question still remains would the CF hood crumple as the stock unit is designed to do or act as a Guillotine? I don't think anyone knows that.

Back to the original question, I haven't seen anything regarding body replacement parts that were illegal.
11-19-2001, 05:05 PM
my friends didnt believe me so I walked up the hood of my car.. and it held mine 145lbs )
Luni420
11-19-2001, 05:18 PM
Gawd Larry.. Let ME walk up your hood. Im 6'1 and 230 lbs. Lets see if it can hold me.. Geez youre light.
GTS808
11-19-2001, 06:14 PM
I don't think it would be illegal. I think the hood would shatter into pieces before going through the windshield or maybe just slide over the windshield because it's so light. If there are any problems with safety we'll find out when the new NSX-R has it's safety tests done. It has a carbon fiber front hood.
pinoyracer
11-20-2001, 09:08 AM
like oldster said, if you get in an accident, the hood may not crumble like a metal hood would. Carbonfiber will more than likely flex a bit and put pressure agains the window, thus shatter it and may cut ur head off..well..i don't know about the last part, but i think it could possibly pose as a hazardous mod, but then again, you'd have to get into an accident with a good amount of force. I'd say a 25mph accident would do it for sure. I could be wrong though, cuz I have heard of people w/ cf hoods that got into a car accident and their hoods jus shattered into a few pieces, but then their hoods may have been of low quality or thin, etc...so I don't think there's any way of really knowing for any particular cf hood unless you get one and get into an accident, I wouldn't take the chance in case of the worst case scenario happens.

I agree, My friend used to have a 97 GSR and has a CF Hood, He parked his car on the street and we where chillin at his garage, when a garbage truck backed up at his GSR and saw the garbage truck just crushed the front of his Integra. We were surprised because when the garbage truck backed up, it pushed the CF hood right underneath the windshield and almost went through the dashboard. You know the metal screw or bolts that hold the cf hood, they where in there but that thing underneath the cf hood where the screws are bolted, those got ripped off on the impack. When you compare the cf hood to the stock one, the cf hoods are tough but they don't crumple like the stock metal hoods.
GT-S Celica
11-20-2001, 09:53 PM
i saw a sticker on the cf hood that stated it should be used only for off road.
Chiznarles
11-21-2001, 02:15 AM
wow i always pictured larry as a big guy..

anyways, my roommate JUST got a CF hood on his camry (i know, but hey, different strokes for different folks) AND he got into an accident this past weekend. He rear ended someone on the freeway. The CF hood didn't shatter, but it flexed and stayed pretty much intact, no shattering, just the layers were falling apart. He drove off w/ the hood attached and then the hood flew off his car on the freeway. So i dunno if its legal or not, but I think its a little more dangerous. The stock hoods go thru vigourous crash tests and is made to absorb impact.. I doubt that cf hoods go thru the same testing..
11-21-2001, 08:09 AM
Originally posted by Chiznarles
wow i always pictured larry as a big guy..

anyways, my roommate JUST got a CF hood on his camry (i know, but hey, different strokes for different folks) AND he got into an accident this past weekend. He rear ended someone on the freeway. The CF hood didn't shatter, but it flexed and stayed pretty much intact, no shattering, just the layers were falling apart. He drove off w/ the hood attached and then the hood flew off his car on the freeway. So i dunno if its legal or not, but I think its a little more dangerous. The stock hoods go thru vigourous crash tests and is made to absorb impact.. I doubt that cf hoods go thru the same testing..

hehe.. not at all.. 5'8 145 :)
SilvrGTSShadow
06-24-2003, 09:11 PM
I was concerned with this as well and I installed hood pins! I don't know if this will help in an accident but heh, can't hurt to be a little cautious now and then...
GTS808
06-24-2003, 09:18 PM
damn, this thread came back from the dead.
LaW
06-24-2003, 09:30 PM
Originally posted by SilvrGTSShadow
I was concerned with this as well and I installed hood pins! I don't know if this will help in an accident but heh, can't hurt to be a little cautious now and then...

dude wtf n00b :(
GT-Nitrous
06-24-2003, 09:31 PM
Originally posted by 143hawaii
Hearing that "CF" can actually be made stronger than steel (while being lighter) made me thing, "Bullsh*t!"


carbon fiber is atleast twice the strength of steel and is like 1/4 of the weight.
gilboman
06-24-2003, 09:35 PM
this thread was almost 2 years old before somebody dug it back up from the grave.:eek:
alphasubzero949
06-24-2003, 09:58 PM
Holy old thread Batman!
RADR1732
06-24-2003, 10:15 PM
http://www.fiberimages.com/images/survivor1lrg.jpe

http://www.fiberimages.com/images/survivor2.jpg
jotan82
06-25-2003, 05:53 AM
yet another reason to get hood pins...

they hold your CF hood down when you get into an accident so it doesn't chop off your head :thumbup:
Blue Bomber
06-25-2003, 06:19 AM
I remember someone posted a video of a guy jumping up and down on a CF hood to prove how strong it was. :gap: The hood flexed fine, but didn't crack or warp at all.
Mistrimeat
06-25-2003, 06:23 AM
Originally posted by RADR1732

http://www.fiberimages.com/images/survivor2.jpg

Nothing a little Zaino couldnt fix :ugh:
SexyCelica
06-25-2003, 06:51 AM
A little OT, but how come larryd posts show up as guest on my screen?? Did he get banned or something lol
F35-JSF
06-25-2003, 09:06 AM
Gawd dayum some one did digging.......... :eek:
GT-Nitrous
06-25-2003, 12:06 PM
Originally posted by jotan82
yet another reason to get hood pins...

they hold your CF hood down when you get into an accident so it doesn't chop off your head :thumbup:

i thought the pins kept the good from flying upwards... the hold decapitation thing would happen if the hood got pushed straight back through the windshield.
jotan82
06-25-2003, 12:16 PM
Originally posted by GT-Nitrous


i thought the pins kept the good from flying upwards... the hold decapitation thing would happen if the hood got pushed straight back through the windshield.
looking at the pic of that integ...

the hood stayed in place, instead of snapping the screws and flying (insert destination here)
Jersey Jay
06-25-2003, 01:52 PM
No it's not ilegal, all the 04 ZO6's come with a C/F hood as standard equip.
Chiznarles
06-25-2003, 02:09 PM
Originally posted by gilboman
this thread was almost 2 years old before somebody dug it back up from the grave.:eek:

I always start reading the post.. and then i hit a post of MINE and go.. "WTF??" and then look at the date..

its weird.. i've read so many posts that when old ones come back i forgot i already read it until i see my own old post.. then i read back what i wrote and see if i still agree with myself 2 years later.. haha
TRD GT-S
06-25-2003, 05:23 PM
this makes me feel great about having a c/f hood :ugh:
sleepy celica
06-25-2003, 05:50 PM
i think its illegal but it just depends whether the cops wanna be an ass and pull you over for a fixing ticket. Yea sure you guys make a good point on how it's "doesn't crumble" along with a lot of other good reasons in a car collision but how does this make any different than any other aftermarket parts? cold air intakes gives a little more boost, superchargers for more power, lowering the car for more handling, etc..got my point? Pretty much all aftermarket parts are recommended for off road use ony. cf hoods is just another aftermarket part, and we all know the state doesn't tolerate those on street use. Just my .02 cents.