Fiberglass Hoods with hood struts?
03-19-2006, 11:18 PM
#22
Originally Posted by Mustang5.Ohater
Some good examples of engineered plastics are the GM Saturn. It's body panels are comprised mostly of plastic. Most front and rear fascias are plastic as well. Also the front fenders of the 2002 Trans Am are engineered plastic.
I have personally seen a Saturn get rammed by one of those stupid automatic contraptions that the lazy people at Walmart use to push the carts with. An idiot let the machine run into the side of the car and you couldn't even tell it happened! Good engineering!
03-20-2006, 06:58 AM
#23
Originally Posted by Mustang5.Ohater
Well if your talking about the company that I think your talking about 
, it says that there hood is made of the same "OEM material"
Taken from there website...................
More and more today, OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) are using engineered plastics as the product of choice for body panels on their vehicles. There is a good reason for that. They are lighter in weight, which makes vehicles more fuel-efficient, plastic does not rust and it does not damage easily.
Some good examples of engineered plastics are the GM Saturn. It's body panels are comprised mostly of plastic. Most front and rear fascias are plastic as well. Also the front fenders of the 2002 Trans Am are engineered plastic.
The OEMs rarely, if ever, use hand-laid fiberglass components because it is unstable and will crack and distort over time.. It also adds a lot of unwanted weight. Since hand-laid fiberglass ram air hoods are made by hand, they are more susceptible to imperfections and misfits.
Engineered plastics are the perfect choice because in the long-run, they hold up better, are lighter, easier to paint, have better impact resistance and make for a perfect fit every time. Engineered plastics are not to be confused with urethane plastic parts, which are often used in the aftermarket. Unlike urethane parts (where paint does not adhere well), primer and paint stick very well to engineered plastic.
Why hassle with the problems of a fiberglass ram air hood when you can have a ram air hood made of the same quality OEM materials that GM & other OEM's use on their vehicles?
, it says that there hood is made of the same "OEM material"Taken from there website...................
More and more today, OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) are using engineered plastics as the product of choice for body panels on their vehicles. There is a good reason for that. They are lighter in weight, which makes vehicles more fuel-efficient, plastic does not rust and it does not damage easily.
Some good examples of engineered plastics are the GM Saturn. It's body panels are comprised mostly of plastic. Most front and rear fascias are plastic as well. Also the front fenders of the 2002 Trans Am are engineered plastic.
The OEMs rarely, if ever, use hand-laid fiberglass components because it is unstable and will crack and distort over time.. It also adds a lot of unwanted weight. Since hand-laid fiberglass ram air hoods are made by hand, they are more susceptible to imperfections and misfits.
Engineered plastics are the perfect choice because in the long-run, they hold up better, are lighter, easier to paint, have better impact resistance and make for a perfect fit every time. Engineered plastics are not to be confused with urethane plastic parts, which are often used in the aftermarket. Unlike urethane parts (where paint does not adhere well), primer and paint stick very well to engineered plastic.
Why hassle with the problems of a fiberglass ram air hood when you can have a ram air hood made of the same quality OEM materials that GM & other OEM's use on their vehicles?
03-20-2006, 11:51 AM
#24
I have a fiberglass hood as well, and my stock hood struts do not work AT ALL.
The hood won't close.
I was using just one strut for a while, but I stopped that too cuz it creates uneven pressure on the hood.
So for right now I'm not using any struts until I can find another option or some old worn out ones or something.
The hood won't close.
I was using just one strut for a while, but I stopped that too cuz it creates uneven pressure on the hood.
So for right now I'm not using any struts until I can find another option or some old worn out ones or something.
03-20-2006, 11:57 AM
#25
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Originally Posted by WhiteKnightZ28
Tomorow I'll do a little write up with pics on how to mod your stock struts to use a pin, its been working great for me.
That sounds like a pretty good idea. My only question would be how far in to the strut body does the strut shaft extend at "full open"?
03-20-2006, 02:13 PM
#26
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Originally Posted by Camaroholic
I'm guessing you just drill a hole in the strut body (thus eliminating the 'pressure' behind the strut), and use a small cotter pin or similar? Stick the pin in the hole to prop the hood open when you want, pull the pin to close the hood.
That sounds like a pretty good idea. My only question would be how far in to the strut body does the strut shaft extend at "full open"?
That sounds like a pretty good idea. My only question would be how far in to the strut body does the strut shaft extend at "full open"?
Don't worry, a write up with pics will be coming in a few hours.
03-22-2006, 04:28 PM
#28
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Originally Posted by WhiteBird00
The parts manual lists the same part number for the hood struts on a T/A (metal hood) as on a WS6 (fiberglass hood). So it would seem that GM thinks it's OK to use the stock struts with fiberglass - at least on their own hoods.
