Hoods by far in my opinion are one of the worst mods I have done. Fitment has been by far my biggest issue with aftermarket hoods.

First Hood: VIS CF Fusion, right driver side fender lineup sux and has a gap.

Second Hood: Fiberglass replica, decided not to go CF because I could not find a hood that I liked in CF cept the fusion above. Then quickly learned first hand that fiberglass mods require to much customizing.


I would have love to buy a real MG hood but they are gone. So I got a FG replica. Spent all day with the dremmel and it still bumps up and is not line with the hight of the fenders.

So In the end I have one hood that lines up in hight but not width and one that lines up in width not hight and I just got a huge freaking headache.

So to say the least if I can not fix my new FB project here I will be in the market for a new hood. Sooo...


Please share your experiance of either hood headaches or recommendations.
As I am currently out 750$ in trying to get this mod right.

 

My own experience

Seibon: had the first, or one of the first TS hoods for my 04. Fitment was flawed from day 1 because I refused to use hood pins (don't like how they look). Passenger side sat up from driver side, no amount of shimmin fixed it, it was in the mold. Every single one I've seen since was the same way. It's at best a 50/50 shot with all their stuff, for any car. That's why we stopped carrying it. It also weighed more than my stock hood

C West - currently on my car. Lined up well, didn't have to do anything, double metal latch, no hood pins (4 years now). This is a motorspor level hood, sold for a street car. If you want it to be show quality (at least in FRP form), you'll need to do some work. The upside is it's insanely light, even in FRP form. Even with the customization I've done (shaved 2 side vents), with the extra fiberglass and filler, it's still lighter than stock

Top Secret (Kwame's car) - haven't driven with it on yet, but again, lines up very nicely as we did a quick test fit when it came in. Everything bolted up fine, no shimming needed, latched perfectly, also uses a nice latch system. He has the FRP one, very light, not quite as light as the C West though. Their carbon has one a very nice weave to it, I've seen it up close. Only 'downside' is the side vents aren't cut from the factory, but easy to do with a dremel.

ASM - best fitting aftermarket hood I've seen on a Z to date. OEM gaps, very nice gel coat that needs very little prep work. Probably the best fiberglass part I've ever come across in the aftermarket, regardless of the car

MCR - also FRP, very very nice gel coat, lined up great, no real drama except some very minor shimming of the supports by the windshield to get it to line up perfectly. Vents are fully functional

Varis - great fit and finish as well (in carbon form, haven't seen their FRP one)

Downside to the above - cost, and with some of them, waiting period. Upside - worth the cost. Low price is forgotten way faster than low quality.

 

i've really waited on the hood bit... always wanted the c-west.

good write-up as i assumed these were all nightmares.

 

[QUOTE=Z1 Performance;9209231]
C West - currently on my car. QUOTE]

Any chance we can get a pic of your hood? I have checked and only find the race car at an odd angle.

 

 

Wow.. that's sweet. I picked up an ASM but it's not carbon.

 

I've had the chance to buy aftermarket hood but I think they are ghetto and a waste of money. Keeping stock.

 

I agree to a point but down in Miami where it's about 95degrees with about 80-85% humidity... you need all the cooling you can get.

 

Not the c-west I was thinking of. Is there another?

 

I remember the long nosed hood having louvers on both sides.

 

Nice and cool outside, i wish i was in a cool climate like that. No need to vents unless your FI or seriously track your car. Mine has been managing pretty dam well in 120 degree heat without a vented hood.

 

The humidity is killer though... I've been in 140 degree heat while in Iraq in 2009 and I felt more comfortable in that heat w/ no humidity. I'm also going supercharged so heat dissipation will be important.

 

I wuvz my carbon fiber!!!!

 

he filled in the vents bro.

 

i bought a stillen and the fitment is slighty off. You can't tell from couple feet away but, up close it's noticable. I didn't even bother calling stillen, i figured they just tell me that no aftermarket product would be able to fit like oem. To their defense, ive seen worse lol.

 

Yea, I think you just saved yourself alot of money and issues. Sux I sold my stocker.

 

Here are some pics of my current headache.

Some shots from a couple feet back and one of the back laft passenger side that is a little gap.

 

At the headlights there is this massive under lip that does not line up. and on the driver side uper right bumper/light corner is gaped.

 

This is the masive lip I refer to, there is no room for that with my head light.


I am starting to shave that lip so it lines up better, but if you look at the bumper lineup I am on the bumper now. This means I will have to shave the entire front bumper line on the front underside of the hood.

 

I would just sell that car and buy a new 370 and call it a day.