From what I've seen you will have a lot of us who WANT to do something like this. But when it comes time to put the plan in action not enough will come through to get the project off the ground.

Hopefully I'm wrong.

 

Opps! Forgot to comment on the hood.

Thanks for doing that! Looks FANTASTIC!
Wish I had skills like that!

 

Thanks for the kind words...and it was nice meeting you today.


As far as the fiberglass stock hood goes I believe that would be a great way as well. Glass is the EASIEST (and itchiest...if that's a word) material to modify and can be made lighter weight than our hefty stock steel hoods.

 

Does anyone know how difficult it would be to make a Carbon Fiber hood?

 

Skyshadow, it's my understanding (from previous posts here on this subject) that to have a carbon fiber hood that has any real structural integrity, it's usually a thin layer of CF laminated over a fiberglass sub-structure.
Most genuine all CF hoods that offer true weight savings, usually don't offer a quality fit and finish, or rigidity.
AAR has a reputation for building an excellent product, that is very hard to distinguish from its "steel" counterpart.
AAR offered to duplicate a Crossfire hood for $650, with a $250 shipping and handling charge. All that was needed was to get a minimum of 10 orders.
I have an idea for another new hood design, but it has to be done in fiberglass. Isn't there another 10 forum members who have their own unfulfilled hood designs that they would like to see completed?

 

I don't mean to say you are wrong but before this car i was neck deep into Imports (japan) and every single one of my cars had VIS Carbon fiber hoods. they had to be carbon through and through, because I wrecked my RX-7 bending my hood all to hell and it was Carbon all the way. It had supports underneath that were carbon as well, but i believe dry carbon. Unless I'm not understanding how your saying its made, you've got to be wrong about atleast VIS. Sure there are cheaper "shell" types out there, its all about how much you pay. Also I dont mind if I only have a "shell", if thats the only way, Because I really like the look of Carbon on a black car.

 

Skyshadow, I'm probably the last person on this forum who should ever comment on CF hoods. Because even though I've owned 34 Japanese cars over the years, not one was ever modified with carbon fiber. I was just going by what info I've read here on the forum about CF in the past. You obviously have experience with the product so I stand corrected.
The reason for using fiberglass, is because it is a product that is relatively easy to work with, and to form or mold into any shape so desired. Maybe CF is too, but I believe more people are comfortable using glass than CF. Then again, I could be wrong.
The point is, we actually had a well known "Fiberglass" hood manufacture "AAR" offer to build a glass hood for our Crossfires, and we simply couldn't get enough people to come up with the purchase price for their product, because not enough people wanted the custom design they were offering.
Since nobody else is even thinking about building an "after market" hood in any material for the Crossfire, I thought we may be able to get the required 10 orders it takes for them to start production if we simply asked for a "Stock" hood design. That way it would be much easier for anybody who wants to modify their cars hood design, could do so without damaging their "stock" steel hoods.

 

Fireamx- from a stand point of someone who works with glass everyday this can not be further from the truth. I would take metal any day of the week over fiberglass for such a projects. You can weld it, you can manipulate it, you can always bring it back to orginal if you work with it long enough it can be cut, it can be grinded, you can add to it (lead), and no real dry or prep time.

Fiberglass gives the impression that it is easier to work with because most people think they know what they are doing. 90% of people think they are doing fiberglass right because hey how hard can it be you have resin, a hardening agent, and you have cloth? Real fiberglass as in not the stuff you bought at home depot (which is great for some projects) is very difficult to work with because of all the variables how much hardener to add (temp), How much time do I have with which amount of hardener, which cloth to use, which way to lay the cloth, how many layers do i need to be structurally sound etc. These are variables before you even start. Once you start you have variables like which wet up method to use, layering layers in a very small window of tack time so that you are actually fusing not just layering, getting all the air out between layers, material heat shrink etc.

Without going into every single detail (just the basics above) if you have a fiberglass hood (done by a professional) make a wrong cut you might as well throw it out. Patching it is a possibility but on material alone to do it the right way will cost someone $300 who has never worked with fiberglass before. Once they even start trying to patch it again for the guy who thinks he knows what he is doing you might as well throw it out.

So as far as that goes stock fiberglass hood is useless and I know AAR is very credible but $650 for a stock hood in fiberglass is astronomical. We had wet carbon fiber hoods priced out at $600. CF is 4 times as much as much in cost as far as cloth, resin, vacuum materials, sanding, prepping, finishing materials, and man hours go.

On a project like this fiberglass would only be good for one only one of two ways. 1) the hood is completed and Mopar allows someone to make a mold of it so it can be made out of fiberglass or carbon fiber (ie. No one would have to touch it just pull it out of the box and paint).. 2) a fiberglass shop takes a mold of a stock hood modify it in the shop then takes a female gel coat mold of the hood then makes the modified hood out of fiberglass.

Me and Cliff talked about doing a hood because his car is already at the shop there is just no money to fund such a project. A profit usually isnt made unless something like 10- 15 orders can be filled so the initial $6000 up front is a must. We had been working on something to look like the new SL style hood but waiting for the side skirts to be done, one project at a time.

All this aside Mopar if definitely looks like you know what you are doing, and I can not wait to see the finished product I know it will turn out well.

 

Since NOBODY is building after market "steel" hoods like you can get from ASIA for nearly any other car on the planet, I figure Glass is the next best media to work with.
Living in Akron Ohio my whole life, I've attended enough Soap Box Derby races to see first hand what can be created using fiberglass by the hands of teenagers, with the help of their parents. So I think starting with a well built Fiberglass hood would be the easiest method for most novices to take the plunge into custom hood modifications.
Metal fabrication may be a piece of cake for you, it's not for most people. As of right now, it's my understanding a new steel hood for the Crossfire goes for about $800, so the glass hood offered by AAR is just as competitive.
If anybody out there with the skill to work with steel wants to, fine. Go with a brand new hood from Chrysler, or wait until you come across a salvaged hood to use.
But in the mean time, those of you who would actually like to get a project started soon, and maybe even have it completed by next summer, I still insist AAR is our best bet.
This isn't only my unprofessional opinion, it's the opinion of the custom shop that actually did the work on my all steel hood. And if you had the opportunity to see some of the fantastic work that they have done over many years of being in business, you would have no problem trusting their judgement.
If we are able to convince AAR to build a stock hood, I plan on buying one, and then turn it over to the same shop that built my custom hood. I will then supply them with all the necessary additional parts it takes to complete the new project I have in mind.
I think there are probably more than a few "Corvette" body shops out there capable of handling most fiberglass related custom projects we could come up with.

 

I do agree that fiberglass would be the easiest to work with, but after having a glass body kit you cant blame for being a little scared to go back to it. Also, I am a Master degree welder (pipe and structural) and I don't want to mess with a metal hood. Probably because there is a big difference between a structural welder in a body shop welder. And lastly, Yes Carbon Fiber is VERY difficult to work with and make. I just thought it would be a nice piece to have. I contacted VIS to see if they would do a limited production for Crossfire, We will see what they say.

 

I like the statement one project at a time...I just want to see this hood finished...glass can be a b!tch to work with, and modifying steel hoods and keeping them structurally sound and true can be trying as well...been there done that on both sides of this coin...its hard to tie up ones shop for a long time to just do one project, unless you have your own place, rt tools and the time to do your own, which I know there are some guys on here can do that, but it isn't for everybody...I have my junk yard friends keeping an eye out for a wrecked XF so I can have some extra parts, a hood project is on my list as well...keep working on it...its always fun watching everyone do their thing...

 

Would a fiber hood be just pin on or would hinges and hood locking hardware be added somehow?
What would one do, mold metal supports into the fiber hood?
Just curious.

 

Tighed1, It's my understanding that AAR hoods come with the ability to accept all "stock" hood hardware, hinges, hood latch etc.
Forum member "Stryfox" works in an upscale restoration shop and he said, "Our shop uses AAR fiberglass parts, and they are the best Fiberglass parts I found for Mopars".

 

isn't hot-rodding fun? Imagine what the pioneers of the pushrod v-8 went through?! It must have been like the turbo N/A crossfire!

 

Well I finally broke down and bonded the center spine to the XKR skin tonight. I used wonderful structural adhesive(bonds any ferrous/non ferrous metals as strong as welding but without any heat) with some clamps and a few rivets to hold it tight until it's completely cured in 24 hours. If things go rite I will bond the XKR skin on the crossfire hood on Christmas since I'm off work and have no kids to take away from hood time.


DSC06234.jpg
DSC06233.jpg

 

yay! it looks beautiful! but you might want to get it painted cause i dont think it will look good on the car like that hehe joke!

 

Ah the beauty of cool products like Lord Fusor.
Hood is lookin good. Looking forward to seeing some completed pics. Good for you!

As for some of the other talk here, if I build a one off hood I prefer metal. If I need a glass hood for a restoration or something cool for a mopar on a budjet AAR fiberglass is the way to go. My experiance has been great, about one hour prep and shoot it. If you want it to look like steel just spend some time blocki g it. Sorry for the poor typing, useing a phone keypad

 

No Fusor products here..........we ditched those almost 2 years ago.

I failed at working on the hood yesterday as I was preoccupied with reinstalling my transmission. After a VERY long month of not driving the 6 she's finally back on the road. I will attempt to find time this weekend to play with the hood some more.

 

You are slacking it boy. Let's get going here. Get off your rump and start putting in some hours. We want to see the finished product.

 

Yeah, how am I gonna sneak over and swipe it if you dont get it finished??? Dont forget to paint it Aero Blue..... I guess I could stick it on the SSB if you get the wrong blue..


Good luck with your project. It looks very good so far.

MikeR