I personally wouldn't spend that much on a carbon fiber hood, unless it was significantly lighter than stock (which they aren't for our cars). But it's all personal preference.

 

I just bought a Seibon Carbon Fiber TS hood that arrives tomorrow for my SS. Its a brand new batch so i will be one of the first to see how the fitment is on this new supply stock.

 

Exactly.

The stock aluminum hood (yes folks, it's aluminum) is an engineering marvel at under 15 lbs. Every CF hood I've ever seen is significantly higher in weight, many twice that much. The CF is used in a wet layup, like fiberglass cloth, so no weight savings are realized from the CF at all. It's not done in a pre-preg, autoclaved manner like aircraft construction. You gain no strength from the CF, either.

It's strictly for looks, at the expense of hauling around useless mass that reduces performance.

I've made composite products for a living for the past 23 years. Every automotive aftermarket part is essentially hand-made, and there are no two exactly alike. That's why some fit well, others don't, even though they may have been made from the same mold. Each part it hand-trimmed and finished, buffed to a high gloss, steel mesh added to openings, all by hand.

I guess I've been around the stuff too long to like the looks- it holds no allure for me. I'll take a perfect, glossy smooth color paint job over raw carbon-fiber any day.

But, to each, his own. If you can't sleep at night without having it, you'd better get it.

 

I didnt buy mine because of weight savings. My car was in a wreck so i cashed the claim and figured i would get a vented hood to reduce underhood temperatures and i like the look of the carbon fiber. To some people its worth it and to others its not. All personal preference.

 

The reduction of under hood temps is the only thing realized by a carbon hood, in the cheap price range. If you get a true dry carbon hood, it will have all the benefits Jethro mentioned. Those weigh only 2-3 lbs less and cost a grip, IIRC like 2300 or 3200 I'm dyslexic and mix numbers up easily.

 

$1700

 

It's honestly not worth the cost and is for mostly cosmetics. I got mine because it's vented and I honestly DO see lower coolant temps with the vents sitting right above the radiator.

But it's personal preference, really.

 

juansito, got it on the button! eh.... it ok. jethor is right I weighed them both. That is that i carried one then the other. The Cf weighed more!

 

looks cool, and cool matters.