Durability of CF Hoods..

[Need4Spd]

My fiber images CF hood should be here any day now... I was just wondering what I should expect as far as durability is concerned.

I guess it couldn't look any worse then my stock hood looks now.. with all the rock chips and swirls and scratches.. I can't stand the little white specs all over my black stock hood.

So does CF chip badly from road debris.. or does it hold up a little better? Is the finish on the FI hood harder to keep looking perfect than a stock hood?

..gimme some feedback here.. :)

[dragonfrog]

it's the same. rock chips can get right through the clear coat just as it does on the reg hood. btw - make sure u do clear coat it a few times.

[Need4Spd]

how should i go about clear coating it?

[TRlPPlN]

Originally posted by Need4Spd
how should i go about clear coating it?

take it to a reputable body shop.

[BlackGT]

umm before you get carried away with WRONG information.

Fiber Images hood COME clear coated with massive amounts of it. They actually are more durable then the stock clear/paint. I had my CF hood on for awhile and didnt see any dings whatsoever. My stock hood had more than it.

FI hoods are reliable.

-Tim

[Ntence99]

sincewe r on the subject,i was thinkin about bolting hoodspoilers on a cf hood.(white) red car.would this be safe on a cf hood

[dragonfrog]

Originally posted by BlackGT
umm before you get carried away with WRONG information.

Fiber Images hood COME clear coated with massive amounts of it. They actually are more durable then the stock clear/paint. I had my CF hood on for awhile and didnt see any dings whatsoever. My stock hood had more than it.

FI hoods are reliable.

-Tim

mine didn't feel or look like it did. there were rough spots everywhere on the hood. i tried to put a coat of wax on it, and it was NOT smooth at all in comparison to the remainder of the car.

note: i never said that they weren't reliable.

[Chris25NJ]

any special care needed for CF? just wash and wax like the rest of the car? Does CF tend to fade easily?

[X-EVIL-X]

you could use a claybar on the hood if it was rough.
i used it on my cf middle piece form the rmm spoiler and it got rid of that.
i guess it got some crap on it but its all smoth now.
wax the cf hood also.
it keeps the scratches down

[BlackGT]

ok you guys arent getting this...

Carbon Fiber hoods have clear coat on them. They are like any other part of your car. If they didnt, they would come unweaved and be useless. You can wash/wax/polish/spunk/draw on CF just like you could on a painted piece of your car.

-Tim

[dragonfrog]

Well, I've just e-mailed them. We'll see if they e-mail me back. My friend says that they come gel coated! I agree that they would be useless without some type of coating. And it does feel more like a gel coating than a clear coat due to the roughness that I described.

[cruzerz545]

I've done a lot of body work and custom fiber glassing. I do know that carbon fiber doesnt get clear coated to keep it together. The way it works is you put a layers of fiber glass, and a layer of hardener/epoxsy. Then another layer of carbon fiber and the more epoxy. And you do this until you get the desired thinkness. You let it sit for a while until its plyable. Then you can shape it into anything you want or do the fine touches. After the last layer is finished they might smooth it down and clear coat it, but it doesnt have very many layers and will probably fade away.

ALSO PLEASE NOTE

Some company's make their carbon fiber parts out of fiber glass with a carbon fiber layer. Basically, if done properly, carbon fiber should never crack. Ever.



Originally posted by BlackGT
ok you guys arent getting this...

Carbon Fiber hoods have clear coat on them. They are like any other part of your car. If they didnt, they would come unweaved and be useless. You can wash/wax/polish/spunk/draw on CF just like you could on a painted piece of your car.

-Tim

[nyoneway]

I have a FI Hood and the clearcoat wore out after a few months. I have to sand that thing down and put 3 new layers of clear coat last week to make it look new.

[jotan82]

are you guys deaf???

it's NOT a clear coat... it's EPOXY!!!!!

[Need4Spd]

so bottom line.. when I get the hood.. i can just put it on, slap some wax on it.. and treat it like I treat the rest of the car's exterior, correct?

[coOOlcelica]

I would recommend gettin it clear coated by a local bodyshop and than treat it like the rest of the car's exterior....i dunno about everyone else but thats what i am going to do...

[dragonfrog]

CLEAR COAT it like a mutha. and Lots of it! Then treat it like the rest of the car.

[LEDmod]

CF is stronger then you think..
I saw this video.. some guy was jumping up and down on CF hood... ^^
CF hood "gives" alot... and flexes well.... strong and lite....

[Ntence99]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ntence99
sincewe r on the subject,i was thinkin about bolting hoodspoilers on a cf hood.(white) red car.would this be safe on a cf hood [/QU
OTE]

HEY!!! N-E one have an answer for this question,:wave:

[dragonfrog]

Originally posted by Ntence99
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ntence99
sincewe r on the subject,i was thinkin about bolting hoodspoilers on a cf hood.(white) red car.would this be safe on a cf hood [/QU
OTE]

HEY!!! N-E one have an answer for this question,:wave:

imo, it'd be fine. well, i guess depending on who made the hood, and if the weave is done well. lots of clear coat helps. i would recommend however, that you minimize the number of holes in it. hoodpins and the scoop are needed of course.

[2002GT_Celica]

Even if it is clear coated, a little more cleat coat can't hurt. My recommendation is that if you are going to spend all that money on a CF hood, make sure it is protected as much as possible.

[xangrystylex]

need4spd shut up man, now you are going to have your hood anyday. you better not leave that garage unlocked or your car is mine biotch. j/k it looks nice as hell. i am definatley jealous. i cant wait till i get mine back and get my kit on then we will have to take some pics together. two sweet celicas on the same street. lol

[ObseneLogic]

Make sure you get hood pins...i hear the cf hood latch istn as strong as stock