I'm looking to swap my fading hatch with a CF replacement. My questions are:

- Can I do the glass transfer myself? What will I need?
- Is it necessary to buy new weather stripping if mine isn't in bad shape?

I read rrmedicx's DIY install (https://my350z.com/forum/body-interi...-cf-hatch.html) which is helpful but didn't address the glass transfer. I am fairly mechanically inclined but dealing with body work isn't my forte. Also, any recommendations between the Seibon or the Carbon Creations (Extreme Dimensions) hatches?

 

Yes. Don't know the tools, but I'd personally have a glass shop come out and replace it for me. Sorry, man.

If it doesn't leak and is in good shape, no. I probably would, though, just to have that little piece of mind that the weather stripping is new.

 

based on the lesser of two evils, i'd go with Seibon over CC

 

Bump, any Carbon Creations owners?

 

sorry no CC but i used to have asuka now i have seibon hatch.

i would leave the glass transfer to a professional if you have no experience in handling something delicate like that. if the weatherstripping is still in decent condition and not exposing any potential leaks or holes then keep it, but if it were me i would change it just to be safe.

 

Seibon does guarantee fitment...I like that.

 

^- How much for your faded hatch?

edit: nvm I thought you were replacing a faded CF hatch!

 

If you're serious, I should be able to reuse the box the CF one comes in. It won't include anything but the hatch itself and it's chrome silver.

 

I was able to re-use my weather stripping on my CF hatch

 

Did you do the glass transfer?

 

Nah I had "The Glass Man" come to my house and did it for $75. He was a cool guy and ended up staying and helping with the rest of the hatch installation. Lol

 

it doesn't leak and is in good shape

 

Used weather stripping from stock hatch and had the glassman do the transfer.

 

^^^ Looks like that's the route I'm going. Too bad I don't have the glass man in my area but I do have a local company that will come to my place; just need to get a quote. Thanks for the help!

 

One more thing; did you guys reuse your stock struts or buy JasonZ-YA's lighter duty struts? I just bought new hatch struts about a year ago and I don't want to risk damaging the cf hatch.

 

i ended up with a ~ 3/4 strength hatch shock i got from Z1 ages ago to work with my hatch (OE glass) but with voltex GT wing.

most likely you'll only have to worry about the mounting area for the hatch shock, if you're scared you're going to punch through with a too strong of a shock, i'd say, get a shop to fab a mounting plate, then rivet the plate to the underside of the hatch to distribute the force more evenly, rather than just going through the single nutsert like how OEM is.


OH YEA. 1 more thing, if you ever want to use the DEFROST on the rear window, you'll have to run a grounding wire to the hinge area from the lead on the rear window else it wont work anymore with the CF hatch....

 

^^^ Thanks for the heads up. I remember reading that in the DIY on here.

 

Thanks for all the advice. I ended up ordering Seibon (only ones who guarantee fitment) and these hatch shocks:
http://www.350zhatchshocksandmore.com/CARBONFIBER.htm