Fixing Carbon Fiber Hoods

[BoostGetsULaid]

I just purchased a carbon fiber hood for dirt cheap. The reason it was cheap was because the previous previous (I'm the 3rd owner) owner didn't have hood pins in and the hood popped open. When it popped open the hood cracked and was damaged. some of the clear coat is pretty deep, some even to the carbon itself and on the side of the hood it is split open.

Was wonder is there any ways to seal the seams on the side back together. i know i use epoxy on some of the crack. but i dont really have any experience with any of this. can anyone help me with a walkthrough or a DIY

heres some pics:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/xtypical360aznx/hood/pictures007-1.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/xtypical360aznx/hood/pictures006.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/xtypical360aznx/hood/pictures005-1.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/xtypical360aznx/hood/pictures004-1.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/xtypical360aznx/hood/pictures003-1.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/xtypical360aznx/hood/pictures002-1.jpg

[240mph]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that hood will not be able to be repaired to it's original condition of the carbon look. The only way you will be able to repair it, is by using epoxy resin or backyard style by using bondo and re-painting the complete hood.

[Vision Garage]

yea he is right. Just gotta paint over it. and the cracks will spread so it will look worse over time.

[SW20Racer]

yeah man epoxy will be your friend then sand it, paint it and call it a day. personally, i spent 3 days and 30 bucks on making my own fiberglass hood with scoop for my 93 tercel(4e-fte swap, the newest addition to my toyota rap-sheet) its lighter, just as strong and i got the level of customization i want. it wasnt hard just a little time consuming with the sanding (i definitely need to invest in power tools)

[HyperTek]

back in 02 i had a cf hood pop on me on my s13 that i only had for like 3 weeks and i jus ripped the hood off and threw it away lol that was back in teh day wish i kept it, it was a coworker that suggested i throw it away cuz i could have always got another one (i worked at a bodykit company at the time) . but yah jus expoxy resin the chit out of it, rock hood pins, and paint it... you could always spray it flat black or throw a vent on it and it would still be pretty cool bein a cf hood =p

[k's_silvia2.0]

Here the best solution.
http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=157463

[BoostGetsULaid]

back in 02 i had a cf hood pop on me on my s13 that i only had for like 3 weeks and i jus ripped the hood off and threw it away lol that was back in teh day wish i kept it, it was a coworker that suggested i throw it away cuz i could have always got another one (i worked at a bodykit company at the time) . but yah jus expoxy resin the chit out of it, rock hood pins, and paint it... you could always spray it flat black or throw a vent on it and it would still be pretty cool bein a cf hood =p

it has a vent on it hahha i just never shared the pic of it. if i threw epoxy resin on it would that be a clear coat. cuase i dont plan on painting it if i just threw hte epoxy on it what would it look like?

[DOOK]

it has a vent on it hahha i just never shared the pic of it. if i threw epoxy resin on it would that be a clear coat. cuase i dont plan on painting it if i just threw hte epoxy on it what would it look like?

it would look like a car with body work and no paint.... carbon fiber look is gheyyyyyyy anyways... fix it up, prime and paint to match... carbon fiber shouldn't be about the look, but weight savings anyways... People who get carbon fiber for looks are fanboys and need to get rid of their nissan and buy a honda.

[BoostGetsULaid]

it would look like a car with body work and no paint.... carbon fiber look is gheyyyyyyy anyways... fix it up, prime and paint to match... carbon fiber shouldn't be about the look, but weight savings anyways... People who get carbon fiber for looks are fanboys and need to get rid of their nissan and buy a honda.


im going for the 2tone look.

[jesuchristo]

The reason it was cheap was because the previous previous (I'm the 3rd owner) owner didn't have hood pins in and the hood popped open.

WTF? someone is an idiot.... even if you lose your pins..... stick a fuckin stick in there or something.:rolleyes:

Anyway.... go to a boat supply store and get some 2 part epoxy clear laminating resin (NOTE: there are 2 kinds of resin for this kind of stuff, epoxy and polyester. Polyester doesn't always dry clear and it stinks and it sucks, so use epoxy). Regular 12-24 hour room temperature cure stuff (some needs heat to cure). Slather that shit on and make it smooth with a squeegy(credit card) then wipe the excess off. The epoxy should soak into the white spots after a bit of working with the squeegy. You can thin epoxy with 99% alcohol or by heating it up a little bit (not too much, just get it lukewarm and it should flow good) You can stop here if it looks good enough or... Get some .5oz/square inch fiberglass (the LIGHTEST stuff you can find, can get it at a hobby shop) and lay a layer of it over the damage. Soak with epoxy and lay some wax paper over it.... put a bunch of books on top so its flat and wait for it to cure. Clean excess epoxy before it cures with 99% alcohol.

It doesn't look like there's much fiber damage, just epoxy matrix damage so you might actually be able to make it look halfway decent.:bigok:

I build model airplane wings from scratch from carbon fiber... its actually very easy to work with once you get used to it.

Oh yeah, after yer done doing this.... paint the top of that shit. You can rock the carbon fiber underside of the hood when that shits popped, and still keep a non-ricer paint scheme.

im going for the 2tone look.

gunna paint it black then? 8)

[BoostGetsULaid]

WTF? someone is an idiot.... even if you lose your pins..... stick a fuckin stick in there or something.:rolleyes:

Anyway.... go to a boat supply store and get some 2 part epoxy clear laminating resin (NOTE: there are 2 kinds of resin for this kind of stuff, epoxy and polyester. Polyester doesn't always dry clear and it stinks and it sucks, so use epoxy). Regular 12-24 hour room temperature cure stuff (some needs heat to cure). Slather that shit on and make it smooth with a squeegy(credit card) then wipe the excess off. The epoxy should soak into the white spots after a bit of working with the squeegy. You can thin epoxy with 99% alcohol or by heating it up a little bit (not too much, just get it lukewarm and it should flow good) You can stop here if it looks good enough or... Get some .5oz/square inch fiberglass (the LIGHTEST stuff you can find, can get it at a hobby shop) and lay a layer of it over the damage. Soak with epoxy and lay some wax paper over it.... put a bunch of books on top so its flat and wait for it to cure. Clean excess epoxy before it cures with 99% alcohol.

It doesn't look like there's much fiber damage, just epoxy matrix damage so you might actually be able to make it look halfway decent.:bigok:

I build model airplane wings from scratch from carbon fiber... its actually very easy to work with once you get used to it.

Oh yeah, after yer done doing this.... paint the top of that shit. You can rock the carbon fiber underside of the hood when that shits popped, and still keep a non-ricer paint scheme.



gunna paint it black then? 8)

wow that walkthrough was really confusing. the under isn't carbonfiber it is a fiberglass. hehehe. but atleast it's light....thanks

[jesuchristo]

It's actually easier done than said. You just want the epoxy to soak into the cracks.

[BoostGetsULaid]

so let me get this straight.

-Buy Clear Laminating Epoxy Resin
-Apply it to damaged part of hood
-Use credit card to even it out
-Wait till dry
-Use 99% rubbing alcohol on it to smooth it out
-Enjoy

[jesuchristo]

Oh I can see how you got confused about the alcohol. It's only use is to clean up any excess drips around the repair area, or to mix a small amount with the epoxy to thin it out if needed. It will have no effect on cured epoxy. epoxy doesnt shrink much. If it looks smooth when its wet, it should stay smooth. Make sure to let it cure flat also. You don't want the epoxy to run before its cured.

Practice on the least visible areas first. You will get the hang of it quickly as you see the results.

-Mix epoxy
-Spooge a small amount onto the crack
-Wipe with card till its smooth and the crack has soaked with epoxy
-Wipe excess epoxy off of undamaged areas with alcohol
-Let it cure
-Done

[kognition]

That's not going to be easy to make it look good again. I would paint over it, and maybe do some nice two tone where some of the carbon shows.

[BoostGetsULaid]

so i'd go to a boating supply store and ask for a 2-part clear epoxy laminate how much would a decent sized one cost?

do you think i can get it at auto zone

[jesuchristo]

boat supply or tap plastics (do ya have those up there?). A hobby shop might have laminating resin (finishing resin is common at hobby stores, you can use this also but you cant put another coat ontop of it, I dunno never used it but it should be fine.) they wont have it at autozone.

It's kinda expensive I get my epoxy from a local composites supplier www.acp-composites.com (http://www.acp-composites.com) and its $18 for the smallest container.

and yes, it wont look perfect. It will be less noticeable from far away tho :P

[ixfxi]

i spent 3 days and 30 bucks on making my own fiberglass hood with scoop for my 93 tercel

93 tercel huh?

that must look TITE y0.

tercel is a serious car, for serious drivers.

[dued]

93 tercel huh?

that must look TITE y0.

tercel is a serious car, for serious drivers.

Theres no need to disrespect the man's car. If it gets him where he needs to go then it is a good car.

[kandyflip445]

It has four wheels and runs, right? lol

[kognition]

Dry carbon FTW! 9lb' race hood for our time attack 350z :2f2f:
http://kognitiondesign.com/350z-dry-carbon.jpg

[ae13bravo]

^^^^^^That is a sweet hood^^^^^^
Love the dry carbon fiber look. You (BoostGetsULaid) should get a hood like this and forget about yours.

[ohspizzill]

Oh I can see how you got confused about the alcohol. It's only use is to clean up any excess drips around the repair area, or to mix a small amount with the epoxy to thin it out if needed. It will have no effect on cured epoxy. epoxy doesnt shrink much. If it looks smooth when its wet, it should stay smooth. Make sure to let it cure flat also. You don't want the epoxy to run before its cured.

Practice on the least visible areas first. You will get the hang of it quickly as you see the results.

-Mix epoxy
-Spooge a small amount onto the crack
-Wipe with card till its smooth and the crack has soaked with epoxy
-Wipe excess epoxy off of undamaged areas with alcohol
-Let it cure
-Done

good post but remembet to clamp the split together so you can seal it together and that it bonds back to the shell.

[DOOK]

Dry carbon FTW! 9lb' race hood for our time attack 350z :2f2f:



that is freakin amazingly light...

[Edgar]

Dang! Thats a nice hood.

I dont think carbon is something you can repair, once it's fucked, it's fucked

[jobestudios]

damnit kognition, when are you going to start selling dry carbon s13 silvia hoods with a uras vent and doors :) Lay down the shittiest weave ever and make it look like crap anyways because it will get painted.

Me an my brokeass

[fromxtor]

I second that^^

[BoostGetsULaid]

I'll probably have to sand the damage to be smooth right?

anyone have pictures of the epoxy resin dried on a carbon hood. i'm just wondering what it would look like

[kognition]

Usually these hoods are not made with epoxy. But a polyester gel coating resin.
So if you use a different material to recoat, then you should sand the area with some 120 grit. Recoat until your scratches are gone. You need those scratches for grip if using a dissimilar resin system. Because they will eventualy separate.

I'll probably have to sand the damage to be smooth right?

anyone have pictures of the epoxy resin dried on a carbon hood. i'm just wondering what it would look like

[kognition]

I hope very soon. Just really busy with other projects. Nothing new. But if i got ten people to place orders, i would prioritize it. I would get a hood from my local dealer (Panda Garage) and get it started.

damnit kognition, when are you going to start selling dry carbon s13 silvia hoods with a uras vent and doors :) Lay down the shittiest weave ever and make it look like crap anyways because it will get painted.

Me an my brokeass

[KA24DESOneThree]

93 tercel huh?

that must look TITE y0.

tercel is a serious car, for serious drivers.

I saw that too and had the same response.

Fiberglass hood. '93 Tercel. Incongruous. Hood scoop is definitely needed to give those ponies some space to roam!

[jesuchristo]

Kognition would Definately be a better authority on this subject than me. 8P

Dry carbon fiber, is that the same thing as pre-preg?

[B Love]

Just paint it

[kognition]

There are two kinds of dry carbon fiber, prepreg... which is rolled thru a large roller to squeegee out excess resin, then stored/shipped frozen. Then there is infused carbon fiber, which is simply where resin is sucked into a mold with the dry fabric under vacuum. Then left to cure in that state. I don't consider myself an authority on the subject, as there is always plenty to learn. :bow:

Kognition would Definately be a better authority on this subject than me. 8P

Dry carbon fiber, is that the same thing as pre-preg?