Painting a Carbon Fiber Hood

[PCspeed3]

who needs a hood?

 

[ForceFed]

Oh. Yea, I didn't notice anything different while driving it, but I'm sure if you take off 50-75lbs, its gonna help somewhere.

Sorry here guy...but you didnt shave that kind of weight by doing the Hood and hatch....Just to let you know.

Cosmetic CF is not that much lighter than the OEM panels of Today.
If you are buying CF panel with the delusion thhat you are spending your money wisely on a weight saving mod...you are mistaken.

CF that is built and manufactured for most is done so for cosmetic purposes. Yes it may be a bit lighter....but it is not a signifigant amount and your money on weight saving mods would be much better spent on other aspects of the car.

Not to mention....90% of CF out there is CF layed over FG....so its not even true 100% CF parts as those that are designed for Race applications such as F1/Indy Car racing. Those cars have True CF bodies and are light....but they are purpose built and never have the intention of seeing a city street. Manufacturers of CF parts for the daily Street car, even thought it says "For Off-Road Use Only" is designed musch differently because they know it will spend its entire life on the streets.

Just something to think about.
I guess the long and short is this.....
If you are buying CF parts for your car for any other reason than the aesthetics thinking you are saving a signifigant amount of weight to improve it's performance...you have bought into the hype.

(BTW...Before I get the Argumentive response.....I likely Own, Have installed on my own vehicles...2 and 4 wheel and currently have more CF material in my possession that you have likely ever laid your hands on....sO I think I might know a thing....maybe two)

 

[Drizz-OH!]

+1, that's what I've been trying to explain.

 

[screaminMS]

the way i was going to have it painted it would have left areas exposed. you know on the mps extreme where its flat back striping on the hood is where i was going to leave the CF showing. when i buy these 2 items is going to be after i have bought my suspension and performance parts. cuz i know its not going to make much of any diffrence. the whole reason i would be buying it is cuz i can say i have it pretty much. i was just wondering if it is possible to paint over CF. i do appreciate yalls input very much.

 

[twelveinch]

Please refrain from getting into an argument as I am not taking anyone side but making a general post.

Have you guys actually weighted the OEM MS3 hood? I raised many different hoods in my life (LOL, that sounded funny) from Mazda, Fords, Subaru to Ferrari and let me tell you the OEM MS3 hood is heavy like a mofo but not the heaviest. Try the 2008/09 Subaru Outtback now that's a heavy mofo.

The stock MS3 hood weights at least 60 pounds. A CF/FB hood could weight (obviously it will very) but could weight as little as 16 pounds: so do the math.

So, you bought what appears to be a CF/FG hood? You sure that's what you bought? Perhaps you have a buddy or buddies that know what they're talking about and told you, without actually comparing weights) that there's no significant difference, but wait, there is.

Buying a CF hood for looks? What looks? All you have is a hood (especially if it's CF/FG with no vents and it looks bone stock- the only thing it looks like you bought a used hood and are to cheap to have it painted.

The MS3, unfortunately, looks horrible with a CF hood that is unpainted and has no vents. Whether you buy a vented or un-vented hood (and here is where I throw IMHO) looks horrible. To make this car look good, perhaps give it an edge and keep it low key, paint at least the sides to have it match the outline of the side fenders and leave the middle un-touched.

If you actually did buy real carbon fiber hood you would notice the weight reduction- and if you didn't, either you don't know what you're looking for or actually didn't buy real CF- but that's a different story.

Do you even know what real CF/FG is made out of? Look it up, do some research, do your homework.

 

[Wastegate13]

I don't think people are debating whether you could tell a difference between a hood that weighed 12 lbs as opposed to one that weighed 50 if say, you were picking it up to put on the car. The argument comes in whether you could tell a difference in the way the car drives. A lighter set of wheels would be much better money spent performance wise.

 

[Drizz-OH!]

FWIW, I installed my 5zigen FN01R-C's 3 weeks ago. I have noticed faster acceleration, quicker steering response and increased gas mileage. Also since these wheels have a lower offset and are wider than the factory wheels, the car feels much more planted and secure.

 

[UHATEIT]

FWIW, I installed my 5zigen FN01R-C's 3 weeks ago. I have noticed faster acceleration, quicker steering response and increased gas mileage. Also since these wheels have a lower offset and are wider than the factory wheels, the car feels much more planted and secure.

great job on the lighter wheels, thats something you SHOULD feel if changed.

Also +1 on the wider stance, feeling more planted is a noticeable difference as well.

 

[twelveinch]

If you could not tell a difference when you replace a CF (let's use the MS3 for example) with the OEM speed3 hood- you're just don't know what to look for.

You sure you didn't buy a what they call a CF hood from Ebay? You want real carbon fiber you gotta spend that money son.

But, hey, to each his own, if you think putting a CF doesn't do that much difference (I really don't see (logic here) how 50 isn't a big difference in weight reduction) then go spend your money else were.

But let's keep the facts straight.