carbon bonnets

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bmxmitch

bmxmitch

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bmxmitch1
I don´t know whats your opinion to them (because, a lot of people use them here > Photo-mode threads)!
But I think they ruin the most of the cars! Most of the time it looks crappy and the best thing is, you cannot remove them.
I just sold my Murciélago, just to buy it again, without a carbon hood! lol

Whats you opnion to them? I don´t use them anymore, too scared to ruin a nice lookin car.....
 
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Can't you just buy a painted carbon hood? I haven't tried myself, but that could be a fix.
 
To each his own. I think they look good on certain cars but your right I wouldn't put one on my Murciélago.
 
Fyshokid
Can't you just buy a painted carbon hood? I haven't tried myself, but that could be a fix.
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Indeed, it's right next to the carbon hood.

Also, hud? really? I thought the thread was going to be about carbon heads up displays.
 
Fyshokid
Can't you just buy a painted carbon hood? I haven't tried myself, but that could be a fix.
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Yeah, thats true! lol, why the hell didn´t I do that!? anyways, these few hundred thousands hadn't hurt me that much :)

But still, without a carbon hud (even a colored one) the cars mostly look nicer.....to me!

SimonK
Indeed, it's right next to the carbon hood.

Also, hud? really? I thought the thread was going to be about carbon heads up displays.
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Isn´t hud the right word for it? I could have called it "Motorhaube" but I don´t think the most of you would have known whats that! :)
 
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No, it's hood (or bonnet if you're European). But I didn't notice you were German so I'll let you off.
 
bmxmitch
Isn´t hud the right word for it? I could have called it "Motorhaube" but I don´t think the most of you would have known whats that! :)
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Lol, I woulden't want a carbon hud... I woulden't beable to see the road ahead of me, lol.

Anyway:

Hood = American
Bonnet = United Kingdom English

As you can see, only the british talk proper English. :sly: But both mean the same. :)
 
SimonK
No, it's hood (or bonnet if you're European). But I didn't notice you were German so I'll let you off.
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ah, damn, your right! Thanks for not blaming me, haha....

(will edit the thread!)
 
CF hoods are only for certain cars i find. japanese tuner cars mostly, CF hoods on ferraris, lambos and exotic cars is just weird. but i cant imagine my nissan silvia without it.
 
Most of the nicer exotics have carbon hoods ... they are just painted. =) Not sure why it's an upgrade on many of those, but I don't really know which it's available on.
 
No, I'm not. Most supercars these days will be aluminum or carbon fiber construction. For example, the Veyron, Koenegsegg CC(X/R) and the Zonda have carbon fiber constructed bodies. The F50, Enzo do as well. I'm not certain which Lamborghini models do, but I'd assume the SL models incorporate a bit of carbon.

Fiberglass is a dated construction method as it's heavier than modern composites and aluminum construction due to the resin.
 
TouringBubble
No, I'm not. Most supercars these days will be aluminum or carbon fiber construction. For example, the Veyron, Koenegsegg CC(X/R) and the Zonda have carbon fiber constructed bodies. The F50, Enzo do as well. I'm not certain which Lamborghini models do, but I'd assume the SL models incorporate a bit of carbon.

Fiberglass is a dated construction method as it's heavier than modern composites and aluminum construction due to the resin.
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I was wondering about that too, because the Zonda's entire body is carbon fiber to begin with, how can you put different CF on and still lose weight? Maybe a thinner cross hatching pattern?


But honestly, I put CF hoods on all my cars, but about 90%+ of the time, it must be body painted too. I think I only have my miata eunos roadster with a CF hood not painted.
 
TouringBubble
No, I'm not. Most supercars these days will be aluminum or carbon fiber construction. For example, the Veyron, Koenegsegg CC(X/R) and the Zonda have carbon fiber constructed bodies. The F50, Enzo do as well. I'm not certain which Lamborghini models do, but I'd assume the SL models incorporate a bit of carbon.

Fiberglass is a dated construction method as it's heavier than modern composites and aluminum construction due to the resin.
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Fiber glass bodywork can be made just as light as carbon fibre(actually I am pretty sure if they are the same thickness and size, fiber glass is actually lighter than CF), just won't be as strong. For non-structural part its fine. The benefit of using carbon over fiber glass is that you can make it even thinner while still retaining its structural shape and rigidity.

Doesn't even have to be that exotic of a car. Current C6 Z06 Corvette has carbon hood and front fenders....where as regular C6 Corvette uses fiber glass...

I think its entirely car dependent for look, and how the base color mixes with carbon color parts....I tend to stay away from bare carbon color from most "exotics", but I think some cars can pull it off...I use bare one for the MP4-12C for instance...going with the McLaren orange it looks pretty good..
 
RacingManiac
Fiber glass bodywork can be made just as light as carbon fibre(actually I am pretty sure if they are the same thickness and size, fiber glass is actually lighter than CF), just won't be as strong. For non-structural part its fine. The benefit of using carbon over fiber glass is that you can make it even thinner while still retaining its structural shape and rigidity.

Doesn't even have to be that exotic of a car. Current C6 Z06 Corvette has carbon hood and front fenders....where as regular C6 Corvette uses fiber glass...
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That's what I thought too. No need to make parts out of CF if they don't contribute to the strengh...
 
I'm referring to the methods of making "dry carbon," where the item is made using an autoclave under pressure and heat, which produces a much lighter product than a wet layup as most of the resin is removed in the process. Perhaps fiberglass can be treated in this same manner? I've never seen anything about it.

And it seems we are arguing the same point in different ways ... to make fiberglass as strong, it is heavier. So, why use it? If there was no benefit, why'd Chevy use carbon on the Z06 and not the base model?

I'm not too familiar with the different weights of carbon v. fiberglass, or the weight differences of different carbon weaves. I know it's measured by the thread count/inch, and the different counts weigh differently.
 
You can autoclave any composite...its a more controlled and consistent way of curing the resin.

The price difference is a huge incentive to use fibre glass, which is the reason why it is still used very much. Cost for carbon fibre is much higher...

As to why Chevy uses it, I'd guess since the tooling is different(different fender shape) between regular C6 and Z06, and maybe due to the higher price tag that its possible to use carbon....
 
Again, we're arguing the same point.

Carbon makes stronger pieces with less weight. That's why it's used. The price tag is raised to reflect the material cost and it's why cars with structural carbon are more expensive.

Has a car ever been made with a fiberglass monocoque? I'm honestly unsure, but would guess not.

I think part of the confusion on the topic is that most common aftermarket carbon parts for cars are actually made from a fiberglass and steel/aluminum structure with a carbon overlay. These hoods are typically lighter than common steel hoods, but heavier than OE aluminum or fiberglass hoods. This is why you will pretty much never see a Miata race car with a carbon hood in the amateur/semi pro ranks (aside from drift cars) ... they are all about P:W and the stock aluminum hood is super light.
 
I know, i traded my gallardo which had a painted carbon hood/bonnet because of the annoying pins that ruin the look of the car for one that didn't.

worse thing is it doesn't warn you that you can't remove it
 
Great examples. Makes sense though given the year. Again, I think we are still on the same page, as in my initial post I stated "modern" composites, such as carbon.

And yes, I wasn't considering boats and planes. Good call.

How about this. Let's just agree on some points ... if you don't agree, we can continue discussion. =)

1: Carbon fiber is used in lieu of fiberglass and metal due to it's superior structural rigidity v. weight properties.

2: It doesn't make much sense to replace an OE carbon hood with an aftermarket one aside from the look.

Feel free to add your own points, and I'll likely agree with them.
 
Yeah wasn't arguing, just sharing what I've seen....from working with some feeder series single seater cars too(Formula BMW, Formula Renault...etc), they still use lots of fibre glass parts in their non-structural parts, the tub is obviously carbon fibre sandwich in aluminum honey comb, the sidepods, engine cover, shock covers...etc are still fiber glass, pretty light too given their size(also easily broken, thus probably cheaper to replace/repair being fiber glass). The wings are actually aluminum skin wrapped in wood core, with either plastic(front) or aluminum sheet(rear) end-plates.

With cost being consideration fiber glass is still quite prevalent in its use, and when used in non-structural function they still serve the purpose of being light weight, and they require a lot less specialized tool to work with. Bare fiber glass doesn't look as nice as those clearcoat weave of carbon though...
 
We need to be able to fit carbon bonnets to standards, even if they force them to be painted and dont actually look any different, just help us make the cars weigh less..
 
RacingManiac
Yeah wasn't arguing, just sharing what I've seen....from working with some feeder series single seater cars too(Formula BMW, Formula Renault...etc), they still use lots of fibre glass parts in their non-structural parts, the tub is obviously carbon fibre sandwich in aluminum honey comb, the sidepods, engine cover, shock covers...etc are still fiber glass, pretty light too given their size(also easily broken, thus probably cheaper to replace/repair being fiber glass). The wings are actually aluminum skin wrapped in wood core, with either plastic(front) or aluminum sheet(rear) end-plates.

With cost being consideration fiber glass is still quite prevalent in its use, and when used in non-structural function they still serve the purpose of being light weight, and they require a lot less specialized tool to work with. Bare fiber glass doesn't look as nice as those clearcoat weave of carbon though...
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I agree, and you have some fine examples there. My line of thinking was more around an unlimited budget ... Ferrari, F1, WRC, etc. Super thin fiberglass would be lighter than carbon if basically no structure was needed.
 
I put the carbon bonnet on every car, I don't mind how it looks really, I never bought the painted one as I assume it's heavier. I think it's really stupid how you can't undo some mod's, if I put a carbon bonnet on my car, I still have the original in my garage and it's very easy to change over.
 
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eight6er
I put the carbon bonnet on every car, I don't mind how it looks really, I never bought the painted one as I assume it's heavier. I think it's really stupid how you can't undo some mod's, if I put a carbon bonnet on my car, I still have the original in my garage and it's very easy to change over.
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The Painted CF hood is not heavier, although it has hood pins, like the bare carbon hood.

And while I do understand why some mods in this game cant be undone, like the weight reductions, since its pretty much impossible IRL to put all the seats and interior garniture back in the car after you removed it all.

But its pretty simple to change a hood as far as I know.
 

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