Rep Power: 0

Hey guys,

After some extensive searching, I must say that there are numerous questions about which is the "best carbon fiber hood." Well I found there are too many complaints about the VIS with the quality and fitment so I decided to pinpoint one hood....

So after hearing there is a special going on for the Fiber Image cf hood, I want to jump on that deal. From what I've read, there were no problems with this hood & and I want to hear more feedback about it. I don't want to hear about VIS, DG (too expensive), or any other brand unless you know for sure the Fiber Image cf hood sucks.

I want this hood for my daily driving car...more for show.....so I want this hood to last me years to come....I will be waxing the hood often to protect the hood from the sun.

Are there any known fitment problems, lack of quality in the Fiber Image? Also I want to make sure the hood sleeves are rolled, the underfinish is good and comes with a heatshield, and oh the most important thing is I want to confirm this hood needs no hood pins. I look forward to all feedback. Thanks alot!

 
Rep Power: 0

ive held both and quality is about the same, as long as you get the FI hood with the automotive clearcoat and full CF support but yea the vis has has a few fitment problems ive seen, not on 7thgen specificaly but on others...

other than that the vis is quite a bit heavier than the FI to.

ohh and i dont know about the hood pins... i would get them just for looks/safety/theft protection(locking pins)

 
Rep Power: 414

ALL Carbon Fiber hoods should have hood pins. This is purely for safety. CF hoods are different from stock hoods. Your stock hood is designed to crumple in the event of an accident.

CF hoods will flex. Because they flex and do not crumple, the pressure will break the hood at it's weakest point. This point is where it hinges to the car. Some people have died because their CF hood broke off the hinges and flew through the window decapitating them.

Also, another reason for hood pins is to keep the hood attached. At high speed it is possible for the hood to become unlatched and fly up. This has happened to some members on the site.

 
Rep Power: 414

The best hood's to get are.......

1. Fiber Images
2. Kaminari
3. Sunny Stylin'
4. DG Motorsports

 
Rep Power: 0

Not only that..........but on a stock hood the latch is welded in place. On cf hoods, its just held on with epoxy, which is basicly glue. Could very easily come loose.

 
Rep Power: 376

Good info guys!!

 
Rep Power: 0

I have seen people with Seibon CF hoods and so far the comments are positive.

 
Rep Power: 315

good thread guys lotsa good info

 
Rep Power: 0

^^^ thats what im sayin'

 
Rep Power: 0

since were talking about cf hoods... my clear coat is fading off... i was wondering if the makers of the hoods use the same clear coat as the painters use?

 
Rep Power: 0

not all hoods are clear coated. SOme just use a uv protectant resin.

If its a little dull, you can usually buff it out and get it back to its original shine. I wouldnt reccomend getting it recleared. If the clear that the shop uses is different form the clear that the manufacturer of the hood uses and is incompatible, you will have one big mess.

I know Fiber Images hoods arent clear coated.

 
Rep Power: 0

I'm going to call Fiber Images tommorow for more info but you say the hoods aren't clear coated? Well the hood might be of extreme quality, but just the fact that it's not clear coated leaves me with some doubt. Never the less, I could get a paint shop to put a clear coat on the hood, but it's going to cost more $$$ and time. Plus I hope the shop doesn't screw up while doing so. $450 is no chump money.

 
Rep Power: 414

Why on earth do you want it clear coated anyways? The UV coat is what you need and that's what Fiber Images provides.

If you put a clear coat on your CF hood then it will turn a nasty brownish yellow.

 
Rep Power: 0

clear coat wont turn a nasty yellow on CF hood trunk or anything else CF. Clear Coat is usually used to fill in imperfections in the finish when it is pulled from the mold and for UV protection where Uv resin is not used.

But I agree, the UV resin is best.

 
Rep Power: 414

I disagree, I've seen people who have posted about them clear coating their hood, and about 2 months later they come back bitching because it's turned colors, etc from the sun on the coat.

That's why I would just wax the hood instead.

 
Rep Power: 0

It doesnt turn colors just because its clear coated. The resin will do that to. Could be that a low quality clear coat was used. If it aint PPG or Dupont, its pretty much trash.
Its just like the paint on your car.

You have to keep it waxed. Your paint will get dull and fade too if you dont take care of it. SO will resin. Thats the first thing I did when I got my hood is wax it, and I try to wax about every 2 months or so.

If the finish gets dull, you can pretty much guarantee buffing and waxing will bring that shine back.

 
Rep Power: 0

i asked kazell about it and he uses a dupont clear coat, i was just curious if the auto bodyshop uses the same type of clear coat they use for the cf hoods. since im getting my car repainted i would probably just have them reclear my hood.

why the hell would i wax the hood if its faded enough where i could touch the fibers....... my car IS in the sun 24/7

 
Rep Power: 0

i cant figure out how the *** to post a poll.. wtf, vis or fiber images.. i'm ordering one tomorrow, right now i have spoon sports. i'm taking it off for winter tho, and need a spare to dik around with..

so what is it..

vis or fiber images?

 
Rep Power: 0

dude, if you can touch the fibers........you need more than just clear coat.

 
Rep Power: 0

what will i need TunedN?

 
Rep Power: 0

Its amazing how much I've learned off this thread. I sure am glad I posted this topic. So far, it's agreed on that a cf hood requires for sure some type of UV resin........as for the clear coat...........I rather not take chances on anything turn any colors just b/c the paint shops around here aren't the most reliable...thus using a cheaper clear coat. My best bet is to wax my hood once a month during the summer and maybe twice during the off season. If anyone doesn't seem to have a legitimate reason why I shouldn't buy a Fiber Images hood today, then $450 plus $125 for shipping is coming out of my pocket. Thanks again for all the info. I hope more is to come...

 
Rep Power: 0

I'm sorry. I was reading over my post and I meant to say "wax my hood twice in the summer, and once during the offseason." The Texas sun can tear up anything.

 
Rep Power: 414

You have to be a premium member to be able to post a poll.

 
Rep Power: 0

I know this may be off topic but what can you do when you get the foggy look on the CF hood... I tried to buff it off, but did not press too hard did not want to burn.. the hood is 2yrs old...forgot where I got from..

 
Rep Power: 0

i was just curious, to the people who have the invader type hoods
when it rains where does the water go from the scoop( i.e like where does it land, or does the rain hit the exhaust manifold or what ), curious b/c thats the hood im saving up for. i know it doesnt have its own path from the scoop cause ive seen the under side.

 
Rep Power: 0

on the monster and invader style the vents are closer to the front end so it wont hit the manifold. I have the moster styler hood and the water just drops down and hits the ground, between the header and the radiator.

 
Rep Power: 0

also sorry i forgot to mention on the FI cf Hood. I think they are good hoods as far as strengh, but they go to crap and fade out and look like dooky after awhile.

 
Rep Power: 0

completely not true.

my FI hood looks as gorgeous as the day i bought it. everyone who sees it comments on how gorgeous the weave is. plus i was just in a major accident and the hood is completely unharmed. FI is the way to go.

 
Rep Power: 513

sunny stylin'?? never heard of that company or seen their products? what style CF hoods do they make?

 
Rep Power: 0

I guess my FI hood was just from a bad batch. Plus ive seen some fi hoods on some cars and they always seem faded. I dont know.