WTB: Carbon Fiber Hood Insert w/ Scoop

[vt_maverick]

So here's the deal - I've got some blemishes on my hood (few rock chips, couple small dings from acorns or something) and a pretty significant rust spot on the trailing edge of the hood. I REALLY REALLY REALLY want a CF insert w/ hood scoop, but it seems silly to have someone remove the insert to respray the hood, only to put it back where I have to remove it again once a CF insert is available.

So I guess I'm really asking a couple of questions here:


Is anyone willing to sell their CF insert with hood scoop (preferrably the WRX style)?
How difficult is the insert to remove, and how difficult would it be to install a new one?
Is anybody close to actually producing CF or CF wrapped inserts with scoops?


Just thought I'd throw this out there for discussion - seems like there are constantly people interested in this mod, and although VX'ers have a reputation for showing interest but not following up with dollars, I have to think somebody could make money by producing these inserts.

Ron, BOARZHEAD, anyone?

[vt_maverick]

Examples of what I'm after:

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/Car_pics_004.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/Car_pics_009.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/IMG_00082.JPG

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/000_0108.JPG

[pnwdawg]

Vt have you thought about getting the insert 3m CF wrapped ended up being the perfect solution for my sun faded insert over painting. Check my thread I just posted for pictures cost me only $70 wrapped professionally locally after watching the process look like something I could do on my own with some time and patient.

[Hiredgoon]

Removing the insert is super easy to do. I take mine off periodically to clean under it. Takes about ten minutes and it'll give you a chance to re-attach the few fasteners that have inevitably come off. A little PL Premium construction adhesive and those babies aren't going anywhere.

You just pop out the plastic tabs that hold the insulation to the underside of the hood, remove the little hoses from the bottom of the wiper nozzles, and undo all the bolts.

[tom4bren]

Removing the insert is super easy to do. I take mine off periodically to clean under it. ... You just pop out the plastic tabs that hold the insulation to the underside of the hood,...

Sounds like you should just leave the hood blanket off. It really doesn't serve any function & is just an extra step in your regular process.

Ash, I still have a spare insert. It's cracked but repairable. If you can find a scoop, we can play around with what you're after.

[vt_maverick]

I did see the other thread a few minutes ago pnwdawg, that is some awesome work! And only $70?!? That's definitely worth considering.

So Tom you think we could just buy a scoop, attach (or glue?) it down to your insert, then have it wrapped? That's it?

[samneil2000]

I did see the other thread a few minutes ago pnwdawg, that is some awesome work! And only $70?!? That's definitely worth considering.

So Tom you think we could just buy a scoop, attach (or glue?) it down to your insert, then have it wrapped? That's it?

Or have it dipped by Boarzhead.

[vt_maverick]

Wondering what the difference is between dipping and wrapping? (I already posted the question in the other thread as well.) I didn't see the TV show a bunch of people said they saw that explained the process.

Production method aside, I'm thinking I could get wrapping done locally and avoid shipping charges.

[WormGod]

Mine has been off my VX for over a year now. Back to the OEM. Weather here simply destroyed it. I am of the opinion that the finish was just cheap since I care for my VX beyond measure and it's garage kept. Mid Atlantic seasons are not known to be generous on vehicles either way.

I have been debating just painting it and putting it back on but if I do not, I will consider selling it. My mind is not made up. Just know though, it looks pretty miserable and chances are, only paint can fix the blemishes. :(

[vt_maverick]

Definitely let me know, maybe I could have it wrapped or dipped to fix the blemishes? Btw, I don't see any pics in your gallery where you had it installed?

[samneil2000]

That's where dipping is a better long-term solution. I'll give you the quick and dirty:
You have a tank of water, clean and at the proper temp. Roll out the film that has the pattern you want (camo, carbon fiber etc) and spray a chemical activator on it. It then liquifies but stays together in a tight pattern. Feed the item being dipped through that liquified film and it adheres to the item. Then you dry it, clear coat it and polish it. The clear coat is the same as what a vehicle has, so it is just as durable (if properly done).
The wrap is just a sheet of plastic with a print on it and glue on the back. It will weather like a bumper sticker...
My .02

[vt_maverick]

Did some research on the wrap product and posted it in the other thread, thought I'd put it here as well for ease of research later:

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?p=235550#post235550


Good reading material directly from 3M's product literature:

Graphic Performance Life
This product is covered by the 3M Basic Product Warranty, which warrants that if this product has any physical product or manufacturing defects that 3M’s sole liability under the terms of the Warranty is replacement or credit for the returned, unused material. There is no finished or applied graphic warranty nor warranted durability. However, thorough testing and use of this product throughout the world for many years indicates that it is highly durable when used in vertical installations as described in the applicable 3M Product and Instruction Bulletins.

Exposure Definition
Vertical Exposure
The face of the graphic is +- 10° from vertical

Expected Durability for Vertically Applied Film with Sun Symbol
U.S. - 4 years
U.S. Desert Southwest - 3 years

Exceptions and Limitations

Horizontal indoor wall decoration with no direct UV light exposure is a satisfactory application but no expected durability has been determined.
Horizontal indoor counters and ledges that are exposed to abrasion results in premature wear or damage. Applying 3M DI-NOC Protection Film DPF 100 provides reasonable resistance to abrasion and soil, but also changes the gloss and may change the appearance of the DI-NOC film over which it is applied.
Horizontal outdoor decoration is not recommended. Exposure to maximum sunlight and environmental conditions can cause color change, loss of gloss, chalking and premature failure.

http://solutions.3mindia.co.in/3MContentRetrievalAPI/BlobServlet?locale=en_IN&lmd=1208505530000&assetId=1180598331779&assetType=MMM_Image&blobAttribute=ImageFile

Cool website: http://www.carbonfiberfilm.com/faq/

So it seems like durability will be a question on the horizontal hood insert. :( Too bad because those pieces look AMAZING.

[WormGod]

All my pics were on an old website that I let fall into oblivion, so I have no access to them/are gone. :( Sorry. Looks just like everyone else's since they all came from CF One though.

I have still been considering buying the aftermarket F/G Dodge style scoops and resin-mating them into the OEM insert. I think it;s way more aggressive looking and just like the more "boxy" look of them.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/515/thumbs/vx_ram_air00.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/21250)

[Paul_A]

Hi! I'm in the U.K!
Going to fit some carbon fibre wrap to my hood insert today.
I'll post a few pics when done!

[VXorado]

I wrapped my hood in satin (semi-matte) black earlier this year and I love it. It was a DIY project that took about 2 hrs to install. It can be done faster but I made a lot of mistakes placing the vinyl evening. The 3M carbon fiber looks great if you decide to use it.

Also I installed a reverse WRX hood scoop into the fiberglass center. With some fiberglass and elbow grease you can install your own hood scoop if you cant find one for sale. I don't have any close up pics but can take some this weekend if you want.

[vt_maverick]

Pics would be great VXorado, appreciate it! I like the WRX scoop, would be interested to see what it looks like backwards!

[VXorado]

Here are the pics, sorry it took a while to post them.

I still need to finish up the hood insert- I want to drive the VX during the summer rather than have it in the garage so I just painted the hood insert before I was finished and will probably work on it again in the fall. You can see the paint in the last pic is a little rough and needs some work. The "reverse hood scoop" extracts air from the engine bay which I wanted for hot trail days when my engine heats up more than I like. Overall the project wasn't hard but time consuming with all the fiberglass sanding. You could do the same project with a WRX hood scoop and then wrap it in CF

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/515/IMAG0107.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=21280)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/515/IMAG0104.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=21279)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/515/IMAG0092.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=21278)

[vt_maverick]

Is the insert upside down rather than backwards?

[VXorado]

Its called a "reverse hood scoop" and is made to fit in the WRX hood when a front intercooler is installed to allow hot air to escape rather than pull air into the engine bay.

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTa3w_wdmzqY7CHgmEUswpWGOntnCh99 juhKdRO9pODgXNekqdzbQ

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/7610/022cch.jpg

[Raque Thomas]

maverick - that's my black VX with the CF insert you have pictured. The CF insert was made for a short time by a body shop I think in the North East area. Although the pictures look really good - there were issues. The thickness of the CF varied, and was obvious when you looked at the insert, there were cracks that developed around the scoop area, and the fit was uneven around the edges. I ended up going back to the factory insert because I couldn't accept the poor fit and finish of the Cf insert. So, from 20', the insert was cool, from 2', it had issues.

[vt_maverick]

Thanks for the feedback Raque, for those of us that came along well after these mods were completed and posted, it's often hard to track down how they actually worked out over time. Appreciate the candid review, I'm leaning heavily towards the hydrographics option now.