Are Carbon Hoods worth it?

[Future303]

I mean they take off like 30lbs from your front, and that should make a difference to acceleration, not to mention slightly higher mileage.

I have heard that they are dangerous in an accident, because instead of crumpling, they will slice thru the cabin, along with any passengers there.

Any opinions?

[zx2srdotnet]

go with fiberglass if your worried about that

[HighRev87]

As much as it might help, alot of domestics dont bother with cf, it really (although shouldnt be) is a rice thing. Although most of them dont have true carbon fiber, it is still associated with those civics with painted black hoods. If a good fiberglass kit is available, id probally go for that.

[StillGoin5.0]

i agree i would stick with a fiberglass one.

[Escort_Service]

Fibre Glass is not a strong as CF and not as heat resistant

[StangNut86]

Originally Posted by Escort_Service

Fibre Glass is not a strong as CF and not as heat resistant

true, but it's a hell of a lot less expensive and when unpainted, it doesn't make your car look ricy

[GTStang]

CF is not worth it... you can pick my fiberglass hood up by yaself it weights barely anything. CF will save you maybe a pound or two and for what pretty much double the cost?

Take the money saved go buy gears and a fiberglass hood and it will do 10X what just the CF hood would do.

[HighRev87]

Im not really into hood replacement right now, but wouldnt a light weight hood need pins or something of the sort to hold it right at high speeds? Or would it be ok with an oem latch?

[lckycharm713]

the stock hoods on mustangs are fiberglass, how much lighter can you go. stay fiberglass. besides, i think that CF look tacky on a mustang, its like a big old nasty wing, they just dont belong on muscle cars

[Grey03Cobra]

Originally Posted by HighRev87

Im not really into hood replacement right now, but wouldnt a light weight hood need pins or something of the sort to hold it right at high speeds? Or would it be ok with an oem latch?

A fiberglass hood should be okay with the OEM latch (I think the stock hoods are fiberglass anyways). With CF hood pins are a good idea.

[whoisdabomb86]

4 " full liftoff fiberglass cowl for me, cost me 250$ shaved at least 35 lbs from the front and and made noticable differeance in acceleration. its not a problem to take off myself but pain in ass

[StangNut86]

stock hoods are steel guys...

if you get a fiberglass hood and don't want hood pins guy a bolt-on hood. it accepts your stock latch and hinges.

[SVTcobra306]

'94 and later stockers are a composite material. Not fiberglass, but not steel either.

I agree, save money and go fiberglass.

[GTStang]

96-04 Hoods and trucklids are made out of a composite that is pretty much like fiberglass slightly different.

Fiberglass hoods can be bought two ways:

Lift-off/Pin-down style: no supporting structure underneath so you need hood pins to hold it down cause there is no place for the stock hood latch or hinges.

OEM style: Fiberglass hoods can also be bought with a full structural support underneath and metal backing plates to use the stock hinges and the stock hood latch. These are perfectly fine I have had one on my car for two years without hoods pins and iot has never come undone on me or anything like that. I'll try to post pics of the underside of my hood later.

Note: Hood pins are a good idea wether you have the stock OEM steel or an Aftermerket fiberglass hood. I have seen the stock hood latch and safety latch fail on bother aftermarket fiberglass and stock OEM hoods it's not pretty.

This is a pic of what happens when the hood comes up on the hioghway.

[Xtreme_098]

It does help with your weight distribution. You can get them painted to match the car. Its about performance not the looks of it.