hey all,

i have a quick question. if you have a carbon fiber hood, what happens when you get into an accident? a friend of mine posed the question, "since the cf hood will not crumple, isn't there the possibility of it going through the glass and cutting your head off?" i'm not very familiar with the traits and characteristics of carbon fiber. what are the benefits? what are the downsides (other than it's $$$)? please fill me in.

 

I think carbon fiber can crack or break just like any other material. the plus side of carbon fiber is that it weights like nothing (weight reduction = faster) and is stronger (not unbreakable though). the only downside is the price, no other, unless you don't like the look, that could be a downside.

 

I would imagine that CF will crumple pretty easily actually. The problem is that instead of folding up on itself like aluminum (ie what happens when you crush a coke can), it will shatter more like a very brittle plastic. I think you would have to worry more about shards coming at you, esp. with the top down, than you would about losing your head.

 

I would expect that it would be similar to fiber glass.

 

Holman, in my opinion a CF hood's just for looks. If you're interested in weight savings so the car will go faster, eat less-- save money and weight. A CF hood will cost $900 ++ which saves maybe 3lbs, if that, I'd get myself a nicer exhaust where I know will save at least 20lbs, deliver sound and actually make your car go alittle faster... think about it...

 

Only reason I would go with a C/F hood is to vent the heat from the engine bay. I would paint the the hood stock colour!

Unless someone else knows how to vent the heat from the engine bay

P

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by wantone
[B]Holman, in my opinion a CF hood's just for looks.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by wantone
[B]Holman, in my opinion a CF hood's just for looks.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by wantone
[B]Holman, in my opinion a CF hood's just for looks.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Holman
[B]
this thread is going off topic from my question regarding the safety and not performance enhancements of carbon fiber hoods.