Carbon/Fiberglass hoods that fit

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

Can anyone post up fitment experiences with carbon fiber or fiberglass hoods?

My stock hood has a pretty good ding in it and I've been quoted $400 to repaint it. I'm not sure that is a great investment or not. It really depends on if there exists an aftermarket hood that actually fits.

When I say fit I don't mean it sticks up 1/16" of an inch above the fender or doesn't fit the headlights, etc. It should fit like stock.

I would rather have stock than a hood that is never going to fit right or makes the car look cross eyed.

[green-lantern]

I thought the Deft Racing hoods fit really well. I don't think I've ever heard a complaint anyway. My hood is pealing and I want to go with one of theirs.


http://www.deftracing.com/carbon_fiber_hoods/images/carbon_fiber_hood_94-99_mitsubishi_3000gt_575_3.jpg

[Tigchamp]

The PRM CF hood is around 10mm (3/8") short, I put a row of LED's in mine to take up the gap
Jeff:coo3l:

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

I thought the Deft Racing hoods fit really well. I don't think I've ever heard a complaint anyway. My hood is pealing and I want to go with one of theirs.


http://www.deftracing.com/carbon_fiber_hoods/images/carbon_fiber_hood_94-99_mitsubishi_3000gt_575_3.jpg

Thanks, but you can see where the hood is higher than the fender. I'm looking for oem level panel gaps. I'm not sure I'd like the 575 scoop on a stealth, but if someone is good with photoshop:

http://www.catfeces.com/Images/photos/95TT/2012-10-26_18-11-00_943avOI_joRx.jpg

[Unlogic]

I'd also like to know if there is a brand with good fitment. There are so many horror stories out there and shipping a hood from US to Sweden is so expensive that shipping the hood back if it doesn't fit isn't an option...

[Nationalmilkman]

I'm in for the photoshop too. Always wanted to see a 575 on a Stealth.

[Drweldin]

Cianci ?
My victory hood fits really well - note it was part of the first batch made years ago...

[FeaRpb]

VIS hoods fit perfect.

[Unlogic]

VIS hoods fit perfect.

This?

Advanced Search Result - Car Trucks Body Kit Carbon Fiber Hood Trunk Hatch Spoiler (http://www.visracing.com/newcatalog/Search-Results?Make=Mitsubishi&Model=3000GT&Year=1996&Category=Hood&keyword&bycategory=yes)

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

Cianci ?
My victory hood fits really well - note it was part of the first batch made years ago...

That does look to be simply excellent

[Tigchamp]

Cianci ?
My victory hood fits really well - note it was part of the first batch made years ago...

That's about the same size gap there is at the bottom of my PRM hood.
I thought it was a bit excessive.
Jeff:coo3l:

[anyonebutme]

if what you mean by "fitting" is not having to put in spacers or oval hinge holes or move fenders........your best bet is an early Cianci hood.

I have one of the better Deft hoods and had to oval the hinge holes and put in washers to get it to even close at all. It does fit well after you put some time into it. I have heard the el-cheapo VIS and chaser hoods fit decent as well, but it depends on the style.

[IPD]

i don't think any AM hood fits 100% like stock.

[93STLTH]

I've got a Deft 575 hood and it fits like ass. People are always telling me my hood is open, the fit is so bad. Buyer beware.

[sergechronos]

Eh, just cut and do some molding on yours to make it look the way you want :P

Best way to end up with OEM quality fit.

[FeaRpb]

This?

Advanced Search Result - Car Trucks Body Kit Carbon Fiber Hood Trunk Hatch Spoiler (http://www.visracing.com/newcatalog/Search-Results?Make=Mitsubishi&Model=3000GT&Year=1996&Category=Hood&keyword&bycategory=yes)

Yarrrrrr

[wingnut]

I'm in for the photoshop too. Always wanted to see a 575 on a Stealth.

dis one?!?

http://www.deftracing.com/bumpers/images/deftracing_stealth_venom_18.jpg

[stealthee]

if what you mean by "fitting" is not having to put in spacers or oval hinge holes or move fenders........your best bet is an early Cianci hood.

I have one of the better Deft hoods and had to oval the hinge holes and put in washers to get it to even close at all. It does fit well after you put some time into it. I have heard the el-cheapo VIS and chaser hoods fit decent as well, but it depends on the style.

Early Cianci FTW. My hood fit nice. I hope to be able to fix it, rather than deal with getting another hood that won't fit near as well.

[mb3000]

Every time you swap body panels you're going to have to make adjustments. If you bought an OEM hood from Mitsu you would still need to make minor adjustments to fit like the factory installed one.

I would personally give Cianci a try. Ordering 3rd party would be the best bet.

[stealthee]

I made zero adjustments when I put my Cianci hood on and it fit perfect.

[Unknownvr4]

If you order from C7, you will wait a month for your product and every time you call it is "just getting finished up" or "shipping out next week with the rest of the orders."

[green-lantern]

I've got a Deft 575 hood and it fits like ass. People are always telling me my hood is open, the fit is so bad. Buyer beware.

Damn :(

[ictponder]

Mine fit perfect!

[HLxDrummer]

Seems like adjustment is a big part of it. My dad is a body man and is obsessed with lines/gaps/fitment and he has to adjust stuff constantly to get it to work right. Obviously the part itself has to be reasonable as well. What sucks is if a hood doesn't fit it isn't easy to take it back.

[Ange]

I've got a Deft 575 hood and it fits like ass. People are always telling me my hood is open, the fit is so bad. Buyer beware.

dang I've been wanting one for the longest time now...

[Hans@GZP]

I have a victory hood coming in later this week if you're interested.

There is also a 599 hood in stock right now as well.

[ictponder]

dang I've been wanting one for the longest time now...

See my post above!

[Nater3kgtVR4]

Just an FYI for everyone. Even if you have a stock hood, if it is not adjusted right it will have the higher than the fender look. the only real fitment issues to be looked at is gap between Fender-Hood and Fender-Front Bumper. Height wise should be easily adjusted unless in the case of vented hoods, if the vents sit too low on the inside and do not allow the proper adjustment as the hood will hit engine components.

[green-lantern]

Mine fit perfect!

Cool that's encouraging, I think Tom might be the 1st I’ve heard complain about them.

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

Just an FYI for everyone. Even if you have a stock hood, if it is not adjusted right it will have the higher than the fender look. the only real fitment issues to be looked at is gap between Fender-Hood and Fender-Front Bumper. Height wise should be easily adjusted unless in the case of vented hoods, if the vents sit too low on the inside and do not allow the proper adjustment as the hood will hit engine components.

what I have seen in many of the hoods is you can't adjust the height properly because the arc of the hood doesn't match the arc of the fender. So, you can get it right in one spot and wrong in others.

Adjustment is perfectly acceptable, but if you can adjust it until you are blue in the face and it still doesn't fit perfectly then I don't want that.

[Unlogic]

Seems like it's easier to find a unicorn than a reliable source of well fitting lightweight hoods for our cars these days :shake2:

[fullracegt]

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h372/fullracegt/2011-06-13_11-39-31_411.jpg (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/fullracegt/media/2011-06-13_11-39-31_411.jpg.html)

mine is a "jun style" from chaser fit great by the headlight/bumper area but had 1/2" gaps on both sides going up the fenders. i also had to play around with washers on the hood hinges to get the hight spot on with the chaser cf front fenders(DO NOT BUY FIT LIKE SHIT!) but its its pretty light,really helps with heat disapation and i guess okay for the money.

-matt

[Unlogic]

How long did it take for you to get the hood Matt?

I've been looking at a Chaser hood but I've heard that they are very slow when it comes to delivery.

[fullracegt]

It shipped out that day but I would see if its in stock first,I'm pretty sure their OEM style hood would probably have the best fitment if that's what your looking for but don't expect OEM fit nd finish.

[Stealth_RT]

Thinking about buying a Scoote 2 hood from Chaser for my 1G. Sucks it only comes in FG, but it seems like the best venting hood made for a 1G. Haven't checked yet to see if they have them in stock. A few years ago, I kept looking into getting a GT300 CF hood from them, but every time I inquired, they didn't have any in stock and it was going to be '6 months before a shipment will arrive'. Then I read that they didn't really vent that well, so I quit looking at them.

[IPD]

i have a scoote 2. it does work. quality isn't top-notch, but acceptable. if you're picky about PERFECT fitment, i wouldn't advise it. front gap isn't bad at all, but there's a little gap with the fenders (probably due to my shocks). i'm content with it though. and it's held in place with just the stock latch mechanism at +90 mph.

make sure you PAINT it immediately. gel coat isn't sufficient covering.

[Greg E]

Can anyone post up fitment experiences with carbon fiber or fiberglass hoods?

My stock hood has a pretty good ding in it and I've been quoted $400 to repaint it. I'm not sure that is a great investment or not. It really depends on if there exists an aftermarket hood that actually fits.

When I say fit I don't mean it sticks up 1/16" of an inch above the fender or doesn't fit the headlights, etc. It should fit like stock.

I would rather have stock than a hood that is never going to fit right or makes the car look cross eyed.

Pay the $400 to get your stock hood panted. It'll fit perfect and you don't need hood pins.

[anyonebutme]

Good thing about carbon hoods, when you get into a minor crash, they just flex and don't get damaged, lol.

[Ange]

Good thing about carbon hoods, when you get into a minor crash, they just flex and don't get damaged, lol.

but the rest of the car gets damaged worse since the a steel hood absorbs damage :)

abit of a tradeoff just like running crashbar or not

[93STLTH]

Cool that's encouraging, I think Tom might be the 1st I’ve heard complain about them.

It's a problem with the first gen hoods more than the 2nd gens. They had a bunch of first gen blanks that were not right, but he sold them anyway. I'd get rid of mine in a second if I could find another hood in blue/black carbon fiber.

[Hans@GZP]

We just got in a CF and a fiberglass 2G victory hood at the shop. I will be glad to test fit them.

[Hans@GZP]

Here are some pics of the CF Victory hood that we fitted this morning. C7 Carbon CF Victory Hood | Ground Zero Performance (http://www.groundzeroperformance.com/product/hoods/c7-carbon-cf-victory-hood-3000gt-stealth)

http://www.groundzeroperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/94-99_victory_hood_cf2.jpg

http://www.groundzeroperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/94-99_victory_hood_cf3.jpg

http://www.groundzeroperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/94-99_victory_hood_cf4.jpg

http://www.groundzeroperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/94-99_victory_hood_cf5.jpg

http://www.groundzeroperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/94-99_victory_hood_cf6.jpg

http://www.groundzeroperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/94-99_victory_hood_cf7.jpg

[Hans@GZP]

http://www.groundzeroperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/94-99_victory_hood_cf8.jpg

http://www.groundzeroperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/94-99_victory_hood_cf9.jpg

http://www.groundzeroperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/94-99_victory_hood_cf10.jpg

http://www.groundzeroperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/94-99_victory_hood_cf11.jpg

http://www.groundzeroperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/94-99_victory_hood_cf12.jpg

[ggmel333]

I have a VIS cf hood. Fit just like stock. It's on my 95 vr4 with a 99 front end

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

Thanks Hans, extremely helpful! Gaps are too big for me.

[R/T93]

It seems to fit all around the same, its just 3/16" small everywhere :(

From the phone.

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

they probably made it to stock dimensions and THEN rounded the edges, instead of making it a little large to start.

[Hans@GZP]

I wouldn't say it's THAT far off. Also, remember... fender and bumper gaps can be manipulated. But this hood fits great in person. We could have bumped in the fenders a bit and even the front bumper, but I wanted to show what it looked like right out of the box.

[Hans@GZP]

Also, the edges of the CF hood have a black edge to them. I guess that could make the gap seem larger than what it really is.

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

I hear you, but as soon as you move the fenders then they won't line up with the doors, etc. Move the bumper and then it doesn't sit right with the headlights.

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

Also, the edges of the CF hood have a black edge to them. I guess that could make the gap seem larger than what it really is.

The worst part for me is where it meets the bumper. I could put a finger in there. At speed that type of gap catches air and turns the hood into a sail.

[Hans@GZP]

Here is a slightly different perspective on the hood. Cell phone picture

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/922392_10152815552580307_1386559321_o.jpg

[Hans@GZP]

The worst part for me is where it meets the bumper. I could put a finger in there. At speed that type of gap catches air and turns the hood into a sail.

You must have really tiny fingers LOL. The hood sits flush with the front bumper. No way for air to get in there.

[Hans@GZP]

I hear you, but as soon as you move the fenders then they won't line up with the doors, etc. Move the bumper and then it doesn't sit right with the headlights.

It's honestly moving the parts maybe a 1/16th of an inch. The gaps are hardly larger than factory. Adjusting the fenders and bumper that much will have no effect on the alignment of those parts to other neighboring body parts.

[stealthee]

I'm with Hans. You guys are looking at this thing too hard. When OI got my Victory hood the gaps were damn near perfect out of the box. I did slightly move the fenders and even the front bumper cover to make them even tighter and you could not tell any adjustment was made.

[VR4Rob]

There have been a handful of hood designs that I've liked over the years but I have never seen aftermarket 3/S hood that I would have been satisfied with putting on my car. Plenty of them are fine for the average car out there but if you're looking for something perfect, the closest I think you'll get is early Cianci stuff. I ended up having my stock hood professionally repainted.

[Hans@GZP]

The early Cianci stuff is made in the same molds that are currently producing the hoods. The new hoods are much better quality. We have both at the shop right now.

[IPD]

molds don't last forever. if cianci is using the same molds still...i'm not sure that's a good thing.

[Hans@GZP]

You are a composites expert?

[stealthee]

It depends on what the mold is made out of. I have a mold where I work that has made around 20,000 bedliners since I have been there, who knows how many it made before that.

[IPD]

maybe the mold is fine. maybe the way it's used has gone to shit.

[stealthee]

That is more likely the case.

[Emilie@GZP]

maybe the mold is fine. maybe the way it's used has gone to shit.

They seem to be using it just fine, as the quality and fitment of the parts we have been getting is spot on.

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

There have been a handful of hood designs that I've liked over the years but I have never seen aftermarket 3/S hood that I would have been satisfied with putting on my car. Plenty of them are fine for the average car out there but if you're looking for something perfect, the closest I think you'll get is early Cianci stuff. I ended up having my stock hood professionally repainted.

my car is not as nice as yours, but I have the same feelings. If it is a step backwards from the oem stuff in terms of fit and finish then I'm not going to do it. All of the body lines on my car are perfect and it isn't worth screwing that up. Besides that I'm really glad Hans posted it up on a 2g stealth, because as I suspected its aggressiveness and lines just don't match the front end of one.

[MR2]

+1 for repair your OEM

while in theory you should adjust the fenders and front bar to fit nicely with the hood, you just won't get the OEM fitment, you get slight lifts on corners, slight off-set vents and things like that

[IPD]

+1 for repair your OEM

while in theory you should adjust the fenders and front bar to fit nicely with the hood, you just won't get the OEM fitment, you get slight lifts on corners, slight off-set vents and things like that

SO true. i wish that MFG's would just add like a centimeter on all sides of their molds. i would rather have to "shave" my hood a tad, rather than having horribad gap.

vents...that's another annoying issue. i absolutely love the look of my vents, especially with the 99 lights. i just hate that they're a tad off center. it would also be nice to have a raised center-section so that there's a little bit more room between the vents and the plenum.

[Hans@GZP]

Spending 5 minutes to adjust the fenders and bumper sounds better than spending hours trimming a hood. Especially if you have to pay a body shop to do it.

[IPD]

Spending 5 minutes to adjust the fenders and bumper sounds better than spending hours trimming a hood. Especially if you have to pay a body shop to do it.

says the guy whose own pic still shows gaps, albeit "small" ones.

[Hans@GZP]

The gap was acceptable for the customer. He didn't request us to push in the fenders or bumper at all. The gap (in person) was totally fine. I just don't think the pictures do it justice due to the black edge on the hood.

[Sin'sVr4]

I have a VIS and it is horrible. want a PRM one someday. hate this hood. only reason I have it is because I did a conversion and couldn't use the 1g hood. I hate it

[stealthee]

The gap was acceptable for the customer. He didn't request us to push in the fenders or bumper at all. The gap (in person) was totally fine. I just don't think the pictures do it justice due to the black edge on the hood.

Just ignore him Hans. It will never be good enough because its C7/Cianci and it actually has style that fits the car.

[Hans@GZP]

And the vents are straight :p

[IPD]

Just ignore him Hans. It will never be good enough because its C7/Cianci and it actually has style that fits the car.

i sometimes wonder if you could ever live a fulfilled life if i weren't around to be your whipping boy, brian.

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

I'm not sure why the OPINION that the gaps are acceptable is any more valid than the OPINION that they are not?

If I am going to pay $800+ to get a hood shipped here and $400 to paint it I'm sure not going to have a part that fits worse than stock. Am I not entitled to feel that way? You guys can do what you want and I am not going to try to change your opinions, so why must those of us displeased with the fit be criticized simply for our high standards?

[sergechronos]

Can't you see this constant fighting is tearing us all apart!?

But seriously though, it's a personal preference both ways. If someone want to do it then that's their choice to make before purchasing whether or not they're comfortable with perhaps having to adjust gaps. And if not, then don't buy it. Any time you buy something non-OEM you have to accept that it may not fit as well as OEM components in the same way that non OEM timing items may not hold up as well as the OEM stuff. It's the buyers choice. The end.

[Ange]

Does anyone know if the deft racing hood fits on a 1g with strut bar? Thanks.

edit: nvm seems like it does googling pics..

[IPD]

i'd consider a hood like this one. i think it would flow remarkably better than the POS gt300:

http://image.motortrend.com/f/roadtests/coupes/1303_2014_srt_viper_ta/44255381+w799+h499+cr1+ar0/2014-SRT-Viper-TA-front-end-hood.jpg

[Ange]

if going for a plain hood which brand would you go with, deft or chaser?

deft's plain 2g style hood is suprisingly cheaper than the chaser

91, 92, 93 Mitsubishi 3000GT Carbon Fiber CF Hood (http://www.deftracing.com/carbon_fiber_hoods/carbon_fiber_hood_91_93_mitsubishi%203000gt.htm)

OEScoopless Hood | Z16A/Z15A [H36(CF)] - $449.00 : Chaser Aerodynamics, LLC. (http://www.aerokits.net/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=78_217&products_id=1608)

I'm pretty sure Deft right.

[dbest671]

I've had Chaser CF stuff before, albeit it wasn't a hood, and everything fit like crap (not to mention it cracked). I would go with Deft just from my previous experience with Chaser stuff.

[IPD]

i wouldn't spend the extra $$$ on CF; just go with FG. the weight savings is MAYBE 10 lbs...if you're lucky.

[stealthee]

Most of the stuff like Chaser and even Deft isn't even true CF, its an overlay, so you are just paying extra for a look.

[Ange]

Most of the stuff like Chaser and even Deft isn't even true CF, its an overlay, so you are just paying extra for a look.
I know. but with CF overlay I dont have to paint it. It will look good as is. And Right now I dont want to spend money on a paintjob it would cost me half of what my car is worth lol


i wouldn't spend the extra $$$ on CF; just go with FG. the weight savings is MAYBE 10 lbs...if you're lucky.
it's overlay like said. so the cf hoods probably weigh slightly more :bigthumb: more durable though

[TurboSinceBirth]

I wonder how easy it would be to do a hydrographic dip on a fiberglass hood. The clearcoat applied over the top is automotive quality so I'd think it would hold up well. The biggest issue would be getting a large enough tank to hold the water so you could dip it and then it'd probably take two people to handle it.

[Sean Johnson]

That's my old black 99 with the 575 CF Deft hood. Nice Paul...

[Ange]

I love the deft cf 575 hood look on a first gen. only problem is it priced twice as much as the oem look hood from deft. for some reason..

http://www.3si.org/wiki/images/6/68/DS_stance.jpg

[93STLTH]

I love the deft cf 575 hood look on a first gen. only problem is it priced twice as much as the oem look hood from deft. for some reason..

http://www.3si.org/wiki/images/6/68/DS_stance.jpg

He's got his hood pins way outside, towards the fender. I wish I had done that, I wouldn't have as much of a lift at that corner if I did.
I think the reason it's so much more expensive is the CF overlay around the hood scoop is harder to do than a plain, flat surface, like the oem hood.