java

I have been talking with a manufacturer of light weight racing hoods for 98 and up Pontiac Ram Air and Camaro SS Style hoods. As I stated in my previous thread I wanted to talk to the manufacturer and ensure I had all of my questions answered before I let everyone know who I have been talking to. I also know how fickle some can be and didn't want a bunch of gruff if things turned out badly. Anyway, I am satisfied and will be ordering my hood soon.

They are giving us a good pricing deal for LS1-Tech members .... these hoods are made in two combinations, one is fiberglass and the other is a composite of fiberglass and carbon fiber.

The special pricing for LS1-Tech is;
1.) Carbon Fiber = $450 (12 lbs paintable version, 20 lbs clear)
2.) Fiberglass = $300 (25 lbs)

These are PIN ON hoods.

The paintable version comes with a primer that just needs to be roughed up a bit before painting. The clear hood has a heavy / clear resin that shows off the carbon fiber for those that want everyone to know they have a carbon fiber hood. It can be painted but why bother, it is just more weight and is the same hood except for all the resin. They did mention that they can do a paintable version of the Ram Air hood with the "humps" left in clear showing the CF ... you could then paint the rest of the hood and leave the carbon fiber look on the "humps". This sounds pretty trick!!!

Other Option for a BOLT ON hood;
1.) $595.00 in glass
2.) $745.00 in carbon fiber

no weights on these yet.

Which means there are provisions for the factory hardware (struts and latch) but they recommend pinning the front end instead of using the factory latches. Either traditional pins or the 1/4 turn style.

The Ram Air style hood takes about 2 weeks from the time of order and payment to shipping. I do have a bit of bad news in that the SS style hood forms are not complete, they think it will be about another 2 months (8 weeks) until these are ready.

Ok, I was educated a little bit on hood / body construction as well ... someone was a dis-believer in that these hoods couldn't be this in-expensive. As mentioned above, the CF hood is a combination of fiberglass lay-up with carbon fiber overlay. This gives a strong yet light weight hood at an affordable price. They can make a hood of pure carbonfiber, call for pricing. Also, the 100% CF hoods are made for 200 plus mph race cars, I don't think any of us will see that type of force so the composite hoods are just what we need.

Ok, enough delay, the company is Carbon Fiber Manufacturing and you can contact Kenny Farrel at 803-548-4601 or e-mail at kenny@carbonfibermanufacturing.com. Kenny will take Pay Pal, Master Card and Visa but you have to remember to specify LS1-Tech to get this special pricing. He is going to e-mail me pictures

One last thing, he said that he would make a custom hood if he has at least 10 orders and we pay the molding and tooling cost (about $900-1000) Rapid Motorsports and Futral Motorsports are contacting them to set up as distributers so look for their products soon.

I made a couple of mistakes in this thread and have corrected to include pricing for PIN ON and BOLT ON hoods. Also, call for pricing on a hood made of all carbon fiber.

<small>[ October 02, 2002, 09:54 PM: Message edited by: java ]</small>

z28pwr

Good Deal, how much does the stock hood weigh ?

CKZ

iTrader: (1)

If the quality of these hoods are good then these prices are very reasonable.
I might pick one up very soon...save a good chunk of change on paint too!!

Sears

Are the scoops on the ram air hood open or do they need to be cut like US body hoods?

Justin

Tom the roofer

iTrader: (9)

Thanks JAVA, I'll be ordering tomorrow. Bummer about the 8 weeks out for the SS hoods.

I like the idea of a light weight bolt on hood. I was going to get a pin on but I usually go to the races myself and didn't like the idea of removing the hood and setting it on the roof myself. I know it is easy but just a hassle. JMO

I think I'll get the paintable CF hood and use pins instead of the stock latch.

Where do you get good pins that won't rust up?

Thanks again JAVA

Tom <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

<small>[ October 01, 2002, 06:29 PM: Message edited by: Tom the roofer ]</small>

GTS SS

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by java:
[QB] I do have a bit of bad news in that the SS style hood forms are not complete, they think it will be about another 2 months (8 weeks) until these are ready.
QB]</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That figures.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" />

Tom the roofer

iTrader: (9)

Forgot to ask. What does the stock SS hood weigh and how much will the CF paintable hood weigh after its painted?

Tom <img border="0" alt="[Camaro]" title="" src="graemlins/camaro.gif" />

NastyWS6

iTrader: (7)

I would also like to know how much the stock ws6 hood weighs ??? This is definitely a great deal if the quality is good.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Good luck with the hoods.

Java, I own this board, and as always will make comments to protect our users.

I hope the hoods are fantastic, but be fair when you folks get them as far as how much prep work they need etc.

<small>[ October 01, 2002, 07:23 PM: Message edited by: Pro Stock John ]</small>

JS

iTrader: (4)

Sounds good Steve....
Can u tell me the weight of a stock WS6 hood...
I'm gonna go with the standard cleared version in CF

My boss and I will Dzus fasten it in the front of the car but use the bolt on brackets from the rear of the factory hood.

Should make for a nice look on a PEWTER WS6 <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
JS

java

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Pro Stock John:
<strong>Good luck with the hoods.

Java, I own this board, and as always will make comments to protect our users.

I hope the hoods are fantastic, but be fair when you folks get them as far as how much prep work they need etc.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">good advice and good point, John!! these are not 100% carbon fiber, as John has said a 100% CF hood would be very expensive.

Everyone please remember, I have not seen these hoods nor do I vouch personnaly for their quality. I am just doing research on our behalf and hope it works out. Remember to mention LS1-Tech

Also,

java

I don't know the stock weights of our hoods, sure wish someone could answer that for us!!!

java

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Jsears8:
<strong>Are the scoops on the ram air hood open or do they need to be cut like US body hoods?

Justin</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">thanks Justin, forgot to mention that they have to be cut. Kenny told me he is working on the molds for the ram air kit.

java

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Tom the roofer:
<strong>Thanks JAVA, I'll be ordering tomorrow. Bummer about the 8 weeks out for the SS hoods.

I like the idea of a light weight bolt on hood. I was going to get a pin on but I usually go to the races myself and didn't like the idea of removing the hood and setting it on the roof myself. I know it is easy but just a hassle. JMO

I think I'll get the paintable CF hood and use pins instead of the stock latch.

Where do you get good pins that won't rust up?

Thanks again JAVA

Tom <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Tom, please let us know as soon as you can on the quality of these hoods, like I said I haven't seen them in person.

Sears

Thanks for doing the legwork on this java. I am considering getting one if the quality is better then my ASCD hood. <img border="0" alt="[barf]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_barf.gif" /> ie: dimples in glass, chipped glass, line up with the fenders good. Some pics on a car would sell these like hotcakes. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

Justin

Tom the roofer

iTrader: (9)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Tom, please let us know as soon as you can on the quality of these hoods, like I said I haven't seen them in person.[/QB]</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">It will be 8 weeks Java but I will let you know. The Pontiac guys can let us know also. If they are a POS I can cancell my order.

I think they will be just fine.

Tom

CamaroCain

iTrader: (1)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by z28pwr:
<strong>Good Deal, how much does the stock hood weigh ?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">does any body know this answer?

Ebbsnflows

iTrader: (15)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by CamaroCain:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by z28pwr:
<strong>Good Deal, how much does the stock hood weigh ?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">does any body know this answer?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Don't quote me, but I think it was discussed a while back on here, and 35lbs seems to stick in my head regarding the stock SS hood.

Fenris Ulf

Still waiting for pictures and confirmed stock hood weight <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
That carbon / paintable version sounds really cool!

TTtop

iTrader: (6)

I just bought a stock TA hood from Trishy and weighed it the other day on my digital bathroom scale.

Results: Me + hood = 273 lbs.
Me only = 228 lbs.

Difference: = 45 lbs.

The hood did'nt have a thermal blanket on underside so add 2-3 lbs. for that, too.

So, Stock TA painted hood comes in at 47-48 lbs.

I know ya'll are talking about an SS hood, but I thought you might like to know!

Randy <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />