| We have all heard about carbon fiber car parts by | | | | issue is what grade resin is being used and is it UV |
| now. Carbon fiber or graphite fiber is a lightweight | | | | stable? For a hood its all about weight savings not |
| graphite cloth that when coated in resin becomes a | | | | strength so a fiberglass/graphite one cannot be all bad |
| very light composite material. Carbon fiber because of | | | | can it? Actually most fiberglass laying methods |
| its strength and weigh is used extensively in the | | | | produce a composite twice as heavy as its carbon |
| aerospace and racing industry. These parts have | | | | fiber counter part. For an example of a purely carbon |
| started to trickle down to the consumer. But are these | | | | fiber build look at: |
| parts the same material NASA or Indy are using? | | | | So can you even get all carbon fiber racing parts? |
| If you see "carbon fiber" hood advertised on ebay for | | | | Yes, but they are expensive. For a hood expect to |
| 500 dollars, chances are it is a single ply of graphite | | | | pay 2-3 thousand dollars. What you will get will be a |
| over a fiberglass hood. If you want graphite for a | | | | very light racing component. Though it varies vehicle to |
| cosmetic reason, this may be a great way for you to | | | | vehicle, graphite hoods are often in the 7-10 pound |
| save money. What you need to know though is this | | | | range. If you are looking for the real thing and not a |
| hood has little in common with a true racing part. | | | | cheap copy, you now know what to expect and what |
| Graphite over glass fiber has no where near the | | | | questions to ask. |
| strength of a true carbon fiber laminate. The other | | | | |