I may be interested, depending on price. It looks nice! A UV coating is good. My brother has a cheap c/f hood on his Prelude and it looks like garbage because the sun ate it up! Keep me posted....
A couple of months ago Jaker asked me to make him a carbon fiber hood. He brought a oem stock hood down from Canada and told me to get to work. Since there is no aftermarket hoods available for the only AWD Civic, I thought this would be an awesome project. We set out to make a hood that is superior in all ways to what is currently available for aftermarket hoods. It's lighter, stronger, and more durable than anything ever made by Seibon/VIS.
I have an eg hatch with a VIS hood on it, and I might as well throw it in the garbage because it looks so horrible. It's micro-cracking all over, it's a yellow/green color, and the cheap gel coat clear it is degrading into white dust that is always shedding. I can't believe they can say it has any UV protection.
I'll tell you a little about my background in composites so you know how I came up with the Wagovan hood design. I live in Washington, U.S. where the entire economy in this state revolves around Boeing. I'm about to graduate from college with a degree in Material Science.
I've worked for some of the aerospace companies in this area, doing all kinds of advanced projects geared towards the 787 and JSF (Joint Strike Fighter). I've even been doing an internship at Boeing for the past two years. Although I don't think it's where I would like to work. Cars are my true passion, I love my civic. I want to help move advanced aerospace technology into our vehicles.
The hoods I'm making for the Wagovan incorporate everything that you would expect in a JGTC race car. They are made with EPOXY resin and are Vacuum Infused to produce a void free surface finish. Infusion leaves the perfect ratio of resin to fiber for optimum strength-to-weight. The formulation of epoxy resin I use is UV stable and it's expensive. The UV protection in the epoxy formulation protects the molecules from breaking down into white dust. UV and plastics are worst enemies. Then it is sprayed with a 2-part polyurethane clear coat which has even more UV protection. In fact it is known as one of the best clears in the industry, it's used on airplanes. The Poly clear leaves a very durable scratch resistant shell on the surface. Overall hood weight will be in the range of 11-12 pounds which is less than half the weight of the stock hood (25 lb).
If anyone is interested in a hood I can do them for $600 which is only slightly more than a Seibon hood but way better in quality and lighter weight. There are options you can add also, like Jaker wanted a foam core so I laminated it in there for my cost which is $40.
nice work! I'm thinking of a carbon hood for my '79 wagon.. tinted in red.. where are you located? I would like to bring u a spare hood to see what you think
That sounds great. I'm glad you guys are interested in more carbon hoods. Make sure to thank Jaker for making it happen. The only thing is I'm going on a vacation for two weeks on July 7, so I won't be able to make any more until I get back. I'll definitely ramp up production as soon as I return.
I like your ride I've never seen a civic like that before. It looks like the vent areas might be hard to mold from, are the vents detachable? If you'd like you can send me some more detailed pictures of the hood and hood frame and I'll be able to tell you more.
What about things like the hatch, front fenders, mid wing! You couldbe rich with this. OPEN A SHOP! I would definately buy somehigh quality carbon for my wagon. Oh, do you think you could reproduce those seat with bolt hole for wagon rails? Nice to see that your love for cars has drawn you into the world of civics and away from boeing, we need more people like you in the industry these days. Brilliant work.
Ill take a hood to, Also like reddragon042391 said if you can make fenders, spoiler, hatch out of carbonfiber Ill purchase those also. Ill even drive to Canada to come get it.
lol oh alright seen him post you got the hood in canada so I figured that, but still Ill drive and come get all those if you can make them up...The wagon could use a nice long road trip
Oh man you guys are carbon crazy for this car. That's sweet. I'll be pretty busy with hoods for you guys for awhile but I'll keep the carbon hatch and fenders in mind.
Here's the latest pictures of Jaker's hood-
It has a Jaker racing spec frame that is trimmed down to save an extra pound, no latch, and carbon reinforcements for aerocatch latches. The coolest part for me was bonding in the metal inserts for the hinge bolts; I made up my own carbon fiber reinforced glue that is mixed with other strengthening compounds and sandwiched the inserts and the compound in between layers of carbon. The hexagon on the frame side is a window so you can see the white foam core within. I use a crystal clear epoxy resin so it makes the underside fiberglass completely transparent. The window canopies of the new Joint Strike Fighter jet are a similar deal where it's actually a glass fiber and resin that is transparent to make a window, but I didn't tell you that.
... And yes Jaker it will be done by this weekend I wouldn't let you promise your wife a trip to Freemont with out a hood to pick up!
Very nice! Wondering if you can easily change to the SiR style hood or the ZC hood with the valve cover bump on the drivers side. I'm gonna try to find some pics. I'm guessing it would mean making a new mold or maybe just an insert to mold the bump.
Well guys, I brought the hood home last Sunday, and have mounted it up and installed the hood latches (Aerocatch) over the last couple days. I am quite happy with the outcome. My hood ended up at 9 lbs, 15 ozs. That's a full 15 lbs lighter than the OEM steel hood. That's right up my alley for the build I'm doing.
Needless to say, I was a bit nervous when the Dremel came out with the cutting wheels and carbide tip cutter to start hacking away for the latches. I think it turned out great. I still have to clean up the inside of the hood where I had to open up the frame to make room for the latches. The holes I made are not real pretty just yet. I also still have to let the clearcoat dry a bit longer before I can do some more buffing and polishing.
These latches are the bee's knees. I love them. They're low profile, lockable and they just plain look cool. SO far they work really well, but that's with the car sitting on jack stands. We'll see how they do in the real world.
Now I just have to get the damned car finished. Would someone please come and go to work for me, take care of my family and wipe for me so I can focus on the build? No comments on the thick layer of dust on the windshield. The rest of the car looks the same.
The hex is still there. It's only on the inside of the hood. cmerce did this to show some detail of the construction of the hood. It reveals the clarity of the resin he used, and the fact that there is a foam core in the construction.
Comments
A couple of months ago Jaker asked me to make him a carbon fiber hood. He brought a oem stock hood down from Canada and told me to get to work. Since there is no aftermarket hoods available for the only AWD Civic, I thought this would be an awesome project. We set out to make a hood that is superior in all ways to what is currently available for aftermarket hoods. It's lighter, stronger, and more durable than anything ever made by Seibon/VIS.
I have an eg hatch with a VIS hood on it, and I might as well throw it in the garbage because it looks so horrible. It's micro-cracking all over, it's a yellow/green color, and the cheap gel coat clear it is degrading into white dust that is always shedding. I can't believe they can say it has any UV protection.
I'll tell you a little about my background in composites so you know how I came up with the Wagovan hood design. I live in Washington, U.S. where the entire economy in this state revolves around Boeing. I'm about to graduate from college with a degree in Material Science.
I've worked for some of the aerospace companies in this area, doing all kinds of advanced projects geared towards the 787 and JSF (Joint Strike Fighter). I've even been doing an internship at Boeing for the past two years. Although I don't think it's where I would like to work. Cars are my true passion, I love my civic. I want to help move advanced aerospace technology into our vehicles.
Here's some pictures of my work-
My civic:
Jaker's Wagovan hood:
Carbon buckets: 100% EPOXY, foam core, natural hemp fiber upholstery.
The hoods I'm making for the Wagovan incorporate everything that you would expect in a JGTC race car. They are made with EPOXY resin and are Vacuum Infused to produce a void free surface finish. Infusion leaves the perfect ratio of resin to fiber for optimum strength-to-weight. The formulation of epoxy resin I use is UV stable and it's expensive. The UV protection in the epoxy formulation protects the molecules from breaking down into white dust. UV and plastics are worst enemies. Then it is sprayed with a 2-part polyurethane clear coat which has even more UV protection. In fact it is known as one of the best clears in the industry, it's used on airplanes. The Poly clear leaves a very durable scratch resistant shell on the surface. Overall hood weight will be in the range of 11-12 pounds which is less than half the weight of the stock hood (25 lb).
If anyone is interested in a hood I can do them for $600 which is only slightly more than a Seibon hood but way better in quality and lighter weight. There are options you can add also, like Jaker wanted a foam core so I laminated it in there for my cost which is $40.
Thanks,
CMerce
That sounds great. I'm glad you guys are interested in more carbon hoods. Make sure to thank Jaker for making it happen. The only thing is I'm going on a vacation for two weeks on July 7, so I won't be able to make any more until I get back. I'll definitely ramp up production as soon as I return.
I like your ride I've never seen a civic like that before. It looks like the vent areas might be hard to mold from, are the vents detachable? If you'd like you can send me some more detailed pictures of the hood and hood frame and I'll be able to tell you more.
Beautiful work cmerce, my hats' off to you and your engineering ability.
Cmerce is on the North side of Seattle but not quite as far north as Canada eh!
Here's the latest pictures of Jaker's hood-
It has a Jaker racing spec frame that is trimmed down to save an extra pound, no latch, and carbon reinforcements for aerocatch latches. The coolest part for me was bonding in the metal inserts for the hinge bolts; I made up my own carbon fiber reinforced glue that is mixed with other strengthening compounds and sandwiched the inserts and the compound in between layers of carbon. The hexagon on the frame side is a window so you can see the white foam core within. I use a crystal clear epoxy resin so it makes the underside fiberglass completely transparent. The window canopies of the new Joint Strike Fighter jet are a similar deal where it's actually a glass fiber and resin that is transparent to make a window, but I didn't tell you that.
... And yes Jaker it will be done by this weekend I wouldn't let you promise your wife a trip to Freemont with out a hood to pick up!
ZC:
A: You're looking at pictures of a dry carbon hood.
Q: Wondering if you can easily change to the SiR style hood or the ZC hood with the valve cover bump on the drivers side.
A: I can't do the zc style without a zc style oem hood to make a mold from, sorry bro.
I don't know how to do quotes in this forum, I'm new to all this.
Wasn't sure if you usually chose to clear them or not. 8)
You do realize that a Beagle Wing is no different than any other wing it is just glossy with a beagle sticker.
Needless to say, I was a bit nervous when the Dremel came out with the cutting wheels and carbide tip cutter to start hacking away for the latches. I think it turned out great. I still have to clean up the inside of the hood where I had to open up the frame to make room for the latches. The holes I made are not real pretty just yet. I also still have to let the clearcoat dry a bit longer before I can do some more buffing and polishing.
These latches are the bee's knees. I love them. They're low profile, lockable and they just plain look cool. SO far they work really well, but that's with the car sitting on jack stands. We'll see how they do in the real world.
Now I just have to get the damned car finished. Would someone please come and go to work for me, take care of my family and wipe for me so I can focus on the build? No comments on the thick layer of dust on the windshield. The rest of the car looks the same.
:shock:
Read the thread. :roll:
I'm a little lost. What is the hexagon shape for? because I'm not seeing it on the completed hood.