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eastcoastS14
05-03-2007, 07:28 PM
just picked up another 240....considered getting a carbon fiber hood, but one thing I always wondered is how safe are they? I know carbon fiber is supposed to be a relatively strong material, but wondering how it would hold up in a crash compared to a stock hood. If I were to get one I would consider getting something like seibon rather than cheap ebay stuff...but I put my last 240 into a telephone pole so Id probably stay away from them if they are weaker....I was amazed how easy it is to destroy the metal hood so anything weaker would be out of the question...any info would be great

liv2drift045
05-03-2007, 07:33 PM
A stock hood doesn't really "hold up " in a crash either. You're still gonna have to replace it. A cf hood is not as strong as metal be it seibon OR the cheap stuff. You run it into a pole and you can forget you even bought one.

eastcoastS14
05-03-2007, 07:41 PM
yeah....the whole front end of my car got owned pretty hard but the hood still crumpled and absorbed some of the impact

Slidin240Wayz
05-03-2007, 07:45 PM
What matters most is quality and fitment.

Carbon fiber has its pros and cons.

Lighter but more expensive.

Just go with one that matches your liking.

Carlos

azndoc
05-03-2007, 07:53 PM
If you want something light still, just go with a FRP hood. Not as expensive as a CF but still kinda light. Also saves you money if your going to paint over it anyways.

Also the majority of the CF hood sold are CF overlay onto FRP anyways.

No matter what if you hit something it's not going to hold up anyways so just save your money by staying with stock or get a vented FRP hood like I did.

TheWolf
05-04-2007, 05:14 AM
I'm a big fan of Fiberglass hoods for 240's. They don't require pins like carbon fiber ones do and maybe are 10lbs heavier. I'll take the 10lb hit for a real hood release and no flexi flyer hood.

drifting_changed_mylife
05-04-2007, 06:55 AM
its not much the hoods job to absorbed the inpact, thats why you got the whole front end. even with stock hoods, they always end up getting totaly fucked in a crash u know what i mean

cisco240
05-04-2007, 08:01 AM
A stock hood is supposed to "fold" in a front impact crash where a CF hood will just crack/break apart.

bigOdom1
05-04-2007, 08:20 AM
your choice of hood is not going to save you life in a crash. the hood is not a safety feature. ask yourself why you are getting the cf hood, and then decide

fliprayzin240sx
05-04-2007, 09:26 AM
If your worried if the hoods gonna save your ass...keep the stocky buddy. If your not, then get a cf hood and stop acting like a lil bitch.

PS: Dont get Seibon, I didnt like their clearcoat...my shiet started fading after a year...

MadScientist
05-04-2007, 10:20 AM
Stock Hood is super heavy... getting a Carbon or FRP Hood is a great up-grade, but expecting it to be the same Stock in a crash is dumb... not ripping on you but think about that logically!! If your aftermarket FRP Bumper will explode when hitting a possum crossing the road.... what do you think a Carbon/ FRP Hood is going to do against a pole?!?!

Metal Bends... Carbon and FRP is a fabric incased in a solid resin matrix... it will give and flex, but it will not bend! There are Hybrid Body Kits, but no Hybrid Hoods (talk about sag).

Pick you hood wisely... you mentioned SeiBon as Quality... some would laugh at that statement simply because they dont make True Carbon Fiber Hoods (same with VIS and most US made Hoods).

Things to look for in a Quality Carbon Hood:
1. Weave - the weave is the patern the fabric makes... if the fabric was laid wrong you will see it in the weave. Air bubble will look like a circular dent in the hood although its flat... folding, cut edges, etc... all make for imperfections.
2. Resin is a liquid and can get Air bubbles that are only fixed by sanding and re-clearcoating the surface. These are usually very small and most people would over look.
3. Edges are always rough but if the maker spends time on them you can get a nice round edge and roll the carbon over to the inside so you dont have a visable cut line... you can almost always see cutlines in the Vent areas.
4. Resin Rich - this is a term for to much Resin and not enough Fabric... this will show up normally as a yellow/ orange or almost like a burnt spot on the surface... normally this happens in corners or along an edge.

Japan v:s USA
Most hood in the US (as mentioned above) are Hand laid into a single sided mold. Dry rolled Carbon is used as exterior appeal only, and Fiberglass is laid as backing. The frame is done the same way... some dont use any Carbon on the underside of a hood at all. Some newer shops are catching on to higher quality but the prices go up with it regardless.
Nearly all Hoods made in Japan are true 100% Carbon Fiber... I have only seen a few shops that use FRP backing, and those that do use very very little. Also the Molds are made for Vacuum (Bagging or Double sided Mold)... this leaves very little resin that is not needed because its added weight. They also use more than just single layers of Carbon. Some go even further and use a Pre-Preg... its like a frozen Fruit Roll-up, but its carbon that is already saturated in Resin and Catalist... it has to stay cold or it with Catalize and harden. Pre-Preg is the easiest way to make a Carbon Part, however its the most expensive!!
C-West uses Pre-Preg & Vacuum Molding on all of their Carbon Fiber parts!!

Enjoy...

Peace
Drew

J-Style
05-04-2007, 10:41 AM
I own a 1993 240sx and I picked up a Seibon CF hood for it in December. I like the look and weight-saving's of it, but I just noticed that it is starting to warp and lose color around the edges. I am thinking about putting the stock hood back on so my car will be one color again (and the cops will leave me alone). It is your decision, but I think you will be happy with a CF or an FRP hood. Good luck!