Cheap carbon fiber hoods are almost as heavy as stock

[matt36415]

Just hope you never crash with a carbon or fiberglass hood, carbon especially, they dont bend when you hit a person, they crack and break into nice sharp edged pieces. They are illegal in Australia for this reason.

[pascal28]

Originally Posted by pascal28

You mentioned that when you took it off it weighed 9 kg/20 lb. Was that for the hood alone without the hinges or latch?

I have just taken the bonnet off my Honda Insight G1 and weighed it (aluminium part only i.e. excluding hinges, heat/noise shield, rubber seal, windscreen spray nozzles and tubes, bonnet stay, bolts & lower catch mechanism). I got 6.0 kg (13.2 lb) exactly.

I agree with Red Lions comments regarding the type of weight that would be possible from a CFRP resin infused solution (~7 to 10 lb).

Thus, as Honda did such a good job with the Insight's bonnet, there is not much to get even from a well made CFRP version - won't stop the brave from trying though...

[UltArc]

The point has been made, so I was Thanking instead of posting it, but to add a personal experience, I have NEVER found an all carbon fiber hood.

I also notice they never post the weight. All of the "carbon fiber" hoods I have searched have said in small print that they are fiberglass, with carbon fiber exterior or print added. This brought me to confusion if any really existed, or if a standard cf part was mixed with fiber glass.

I tend not to research awesome technology if it's possible for me to do something like, say, buy carbon fiber and make a hood...lol

[kach22i]

Just adding what little I know on the topic.

The light weight hoods are typically ill equipped to deal with the stress of hinges and latches, which is why hood pins are used (be it completely removable or just one end pinned at the corners).

I have seen photos of air cooled Porsche's on the track, the hood billowing upward and bowing while almost being sucked off. Not for the street, will leak like silly if it rains.

[pascal28]

Originally Posted by pascal28

I have just taken the bonnet off my Honda Insight G1 and weighed it (aluminium part only i.e. excluding hinges, heat/noise shield, rubber seal, windscreen spray nozzles and tubes, bonnet stay, bolts & lower catch mechanism). I got 6.0 kg (13.2 lb) exactly.

I agree with Red Lions comments regarding the type of weight that would be possible from a CFRP resin infused solution (~7 to 10 lb).

Thus, as Honda did such a good job with the Insight's bonnet, there is not much to get even from a well made CFRP version - won't stop the brave from trying though...

Done (9.6 lb):
CFRP Bonnet (Hood) - Insight Central: Honda Insight Forum

[backpacker3]

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

Any time I remove components from the Insight, I weigh them. The stock hood, which is aluminium, weighs 9kg/20lbs.......

Your run of the mill $600 CF hood for a Civic weighs 18lbs. So you probably save 6lbs versus aluminum.

However, I might be able to make my own carbon fiber hood for around $100 in materials. A hood-sized sheet of fiberglass cloth weighs 1lb per layer, and CF is lighter. Of course you'd have to add resin, and bolt on "features" like hinges, latch, and washer nozzles, but I couldn't picture it coming in over 7lbs.

I'm confused you say the stock hood is 20lbs but that a cheap cf hood is 18lbs but that it's a 6lbs difference. Where are the other 4lbs?

Also how are you going to find enough fiberglass for a hood for less than $100? That is an incredible deal!