 fiberglass hood vs stock, weight-wise |
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 May 19 2004, 08:29 PM
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#1
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Advanced Member  Group: Advanced Members Posts: 452 Joined: 12-January 04 From: Charleston, SC Member No.: 121  |
I got a bolt-on ls1 firebird (no ws6) hood from VFN, and I dropped it off to my mechanic to fit it. He calls me up and asks me what's the point. I say weight, he says my stock hood IS fiberglass already and there's no point to replace it, unless I'm going to ram air hood.
Is this true? What's the weight of the stock one? the VFN hood i got is very light (13lbs) and while the stock hood doesn't feel heavy, but it doesn't feel like it's 13lbs either. Confused and aggrevated, Marcin |
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May 19 2004, 08:44 PM
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#2
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FRRAX Owner/Admin Group: Admin Posts: 15,394 Joined: 13-February 04 From: Ohio Member No.: 196 |
I am curious as well. I have been thinking about a 'glass hood lately for the same reason.
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May 19 2004, 09:18 PM
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#3
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Senior Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 5,226 Joined: 24-December 03 From: Danville, CA, USA Member No.: 27 |
I don't have the weights in front of me, but I believe the stock hood is above 30 lbs. , so at 14 lbs you are saving 15-20 lbs.
I would go for a more "agressive" looking hood if it was me though... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) |
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May 19 2004, 09:21 PM
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#4
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Senior Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 5,226 Joined: 24-December 03 From: Danville, CA, USA Member No.: 27 |
I don't have the weights in front of me, but I believe the stock hood is above 30 lbs. , so at 14 lbs you are saving 15-20 lbs.
I would go for a more "agressive" looking hood if it was me though... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) ...OK....I looked it up....it says stock hood with insulation etc. is 44 lbs.... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) |
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May 19 2004, 09:24 PM
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#5
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Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 452 Joined: 12-January 04 From: Charleston, SC Member No.: 121 |
I looked it up too on ls1tech someone compiled a big list of weight savings, and it says 30lbs for going stock->fiberglass, which sounds about right. Can anyone actually weight it?
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May 20 2004, 12:16 AM
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#6
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newbie Group: Members Posts: 22 Joined: 30-April 04 From: Port Orchard WA Member No.: 329 |
the stock non ram air hood is metal, the SS, WS6, and firehawk hoods are all fiberglass
On my old car (T/A) I got hail damage on the three metal pieces on my car: 2 dents on hood and 1 on each rear fender (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) |
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May 20 2004, 12:18 AM
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#7
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Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 440 Joined: 25-December 03 From: Newport Beach, California Member No.: 41 |
all the gm hoods are steel
slp hoods are not steel |
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May 20 2004, 01:52 AM
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#8
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Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 452 Joined: 12-January 04 From: Charleston, SC Member No.: 121 |
Do we have any part numbers, or option codes, so I could tell my mechanic he's an idiot and just do as he's told? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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May 20 2004, 02:37 AM
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#9
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Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 382 Joined: 23-December 03 From: Kathmandu, Nepal Member No.: 2 |
I suggest bringing a magnet to your mechanic’s shop. When it sticks to the OEM hood, he should be convinced that it is not fiberglass. If he feels the magnet clinging to the hood and still says that it is fiberglass, I would consider getting another mechanic.
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May 20 2004, 03:03 AM
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#10
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Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,015 Joined: 28-December 03 From: Texas Member No.: 55 |
I have stuck magnets to the flat hood on my T/A.
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May 20 2004, 03:13 AM
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#11
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Insert catch phrase here Group: Advanced Members Posts: 2,098 Joined: 23-December 03 From: Michigan Member No.: 20 |
Marcin, it sounds like you and your mechanic could very easily solve this disagreement if he has a scale. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) If you have a stock metal hood you should save at least 30 lbs. I got a pin-on VFN hood for my '94 but haven't installed it yet. Heck, I can fling this hood around with one hand. All you have to do is lift your stock hood with the help of the struts and you know it's a LOT heavier.
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May 20 2004, 03:17 AM
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#12
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Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,766 Joined: 10-April 04 From: New Orleans, LA Member No.: 303 |
Wonder if there's a savings with my WS-6 hood. Only way that an aftermarket fiberglass one would be lighter is if it was thinner fiberglass. But, then I'd worry about stone strikes, strength at attachment points, etc.
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May 20 2004, 03:36 AM
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#13
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Insert catch phrase here Group: Advanced Members Posts: 2,098 Joined: 23-December 03 From: Michigan Member No.: 20 |
Oh, I guarantee you the VFN hood is thinner and lighter than your stock WS6 hood, especially if you go with the pin-on version of the VFN hood. No OE would put this hood on their car to sell to the general public. They also sell a bolt-on hood which is heavier, but I bet it's only different where reinforcements are needed for the strut mountings and the front hook point.
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May 20 2004, 05:07 AM
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#14
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Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 452 Joined: 12-January 04 From: Charleston, SC Member No.: 121 |
I got the flat bolt on version, it's only 2 lbs heavier than the pin-on, so not much difference there. Since this is just a hood, vs stock hood (whether it's fibercarbon or metal), could there potentially be 30 lbs difference in sound dampening material + mounts + struts alone? ( since we don't know what does the 44lbs for the stock setup truly entails)
If all SS/WS6/Firehawk people have non-steel, would you have some sort of different codes/part numbers for it? Could anyone with a 99 Formula (or equivalent) try to stick your fridge magnets to your hood really quick? I really wanna stick it to my mechanic at this point, as my car been sitting in his shop for few days now. Thanks for all the info so far, it's good to have all this 'ammunition'! |
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May 20 2004, 05:39 AM
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#15
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Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 1,015 Joined: 28-December 03 From: Texas Member No.: 55 |
Would you settle for a photo of my car with a magnet on the hood? I promise I would not put a sticker on my hood.
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May 20 2004, 01:55 PM
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#16
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Insert catch phrase here Group: Advanced Members Posts: 2,098 Joined: 23-December 03 From: Michigan Member No.: 20 |
Interesting. For a '93-'97 Firebird the bolt-on hood is 23 lbs. vs. 11 lbs. for the pin-on hood. For a LS1 Firebird they show the same weight for both bolt-on and pin-on in their online catalog. Can't figure that one out. I'm suspecting a typo. You might want to weigh your glass hood Marcin.
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May 20 2004, 02:07 PM
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#17
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Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 322 Joined: 22-January 04 From: Arizona Member No.: 144 |
QUOTE Would you settle for a photo of my car with a magnet on the hood? I promise I would not put a sticker on my hood. Good Pic! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) |
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May 20 2004, 02:37 PM
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#18
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Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 123 Joined: 25-December 03 From: KS Member No.: 38 |
QUOTE (RedHardSupra @ May 19 2004, 04:24 PM) I looked it up too on ls1tech someone compiled a big list of weight savings, and it says 30lbs for going stock->fiberglass, which sounds about right. Can anyone actually weight it? Stock metal to stock composite delta is very close to 30 pounds. I have read several times over the last 7 years they weighed the two parts, and the difference they quote is consistent. As others have said, if it is stock 4th gen hood and the car is not a SS or WS6 it is steel. Sigh, you can tap on it and tell by the sound if the hood is steel or composite. The guy is a mech-what? |
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May 20 2004, 03:45 PM
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#19
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CMCer Group: Moderators Posts: 2,932 Joined: 12-February 04 From: the sticks near VIR Member No.: 194 |
I would sure like to have a fiberglass hood on my 3rd gen CMC car. Does anyone know of a manufacturer who makes one that looks stock and not like something out of Knight Rider? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)
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May 20 2004, 03:58 PM
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#20
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FRRAX Owner/Admin Group: Admin Posts: 15,394 Joined: 13-February 04 From: Ohio Member No.: 196 |
I was sure that Harwood did one, but it looks like "did" is the word. They only show a couple cowl style hoods (I had a lift off on my '89 formula and it was not too bad looking, not that I'm a cowl hood fan, but there was a super victor under it and I needed the room).
http://shop.eharwood.com/cgi-bin/harwood/s...ANS+AM&x=27&y=8 |
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