I keep seeing these carbon fiber hoods all over eBay, and there's gotta be a reason why they're so freakin cheap. Anyone have any kind of experience with these or know for a fact whether they're any good or complete crap. The price tells me they're crap, but it's worth checking ...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33646

 

This might be part of it:
Shipping costs: US $149.00 - Standard Flat Rate Shipping Service (within United States)

but, then again, if you go to their website, they are $430 shipped for the protege.
so... i don't know...

 

$150 for shipping is still reasonable though. Carbon fiber hoods are pretty big ... and pretty fragile. Hell, I sent out a 15"x7"x4" package to Australia today that weighed a mere 5 pounds and that cost $50 to deliver it within 4-6 WEEKS!!! DGMotorsports usually charged me about $120 for shipping for my side skirts & front lip, so the shipping rate isn't all THAT bad. I just wanna know about the product ...

 

don't know, but if it is a quality product, i'm interested too

 

IMO, good quality carbon fiber parts have:
1) low resin content as a percentage of piece volume (low weight & high strength)
2) Gelcoat surface finish for high gloss
3) Woven fabric CF used throughout (no fiberglass matting with a thin layer of CF on the top just for looks)
4) Are well trimmed and include durable mounting locations for latches, hinges, etc
5) Might offer a surface finish and durability gaurantee
6) And be sure to ask what kind of resin was used (some absorb moisture)
7) No air inclusions, vacancies, etc.
DG Motorsports costs money. But, I suspect it's worth it. My CF eyelids are fantastic.

 

Straight from there site:

ECC Carbon fiber hood line:This is our new line of carbon fiber hoods. Our new line offers a one piece fiberglass bottom gel-coated with a black high gloss show finish, Stainless steel hinge, rolled edges, gel-coated top (marine grade) will never fade, direct bolt on, THIS is one of the strongest hoods ever made. Thick supports, you DON'T need to run hood pins with our hood. This is a grade A hood.

 

...a fiberglass hood with CF trim on top? If you want just the look of CF, it's okay. But, if you want the lightness of it, look elsewhere. Notice how there is no mention of weight savings vs. the stock hood.

 

Most CF Hoods have at least a little fiberglass in them

 

So what I gather is that it's junk ... as suspected. Thanks for that little list you made for us juddz, that'll help out in the future. As far as DGM goes, yea it is expensive and yea it is worth it. I've bought about 10 different CF parts from them and so far they've been worth every penny, except that I snapped my front lip recently, and if I had the money for it I'd buy their hood in a second too. This baby would be mine if money was no object http://www.dgmotorsports.com/details...&ProcessType=1

 

Which is why Fiber Images is the best! There a small metal frame around the edges, and nothing but good, pure carbon fiber on top. I would not buy a CF hood with a fiberglass shell on it, it defeats the entire purpose of getting a CF hood in the first place (flexability, light weight, etc).

While I'm in a CF hood thread, does anyone know where I can get some very low profile, preferebly black, hood pins or locks? The hood itself is a great piece, but it's just so lightweight, it seems like it might catch too much wind on the freeway and break the hood latch. Maybe it's just my imagination though.

 

DGM hoods are great, but $1200 + shipping for a hood that gives you maybe 10 hp at 80 mph? Not worth it to me. Look into Fiber Images if you're in the market for a hood. You WILL NOT be dissapointed, you have my personaly assurance of that.

 

Yeah i think fiber images have a hood for like $700, the evo style 1.
and they also have the oem carbon fiber hood for about $500 i think.
I can't remember the site where you could actually purchase it though.
I'm not home, so when I get home I could get the site for you.

 

When I ordered mine, they didn't have internet sales up. I went through a local shop, but you could probably order direct from fiber images. Just gotta use the phone instead of the keyboard for a change.

 

Vis...is still my numero uno choice (as it's been on all my previous cars)...but since I'm going w/the budget build avenue w/ "Cheap Thrill"....we'll see how much $$$ I throw down for her.

 

i checked the site but somehow it's down.
it's supposed to be http://www.andrewsimportperformance.com

hey jdm-p5, vis has a evo-style carbon fiber hood for the 99 pros?