Carbon Fiber Woes, ... need some advice. Options

[KAOS]

I'm having a hard time completing the vision I have for my car because of the lack of parts readily available.

Here's my dilemma; I need a CF ST205 hood.

- RTP costs an arm and a leg to ship overseas (great quality materials, but definitely out of my price range)
- Seibon make a CF replica of the ST205 hood, but I've heard nightmarish stories about their fitment; enough to make me NOT want their product.
- not a fan of the look alikes (ie, Cyclone, etc)

Here is my thought; the ST205 oem hood is amazingly light. and the best part is, its OEM and fits great!

I'm thinking I will just use a CF wrap to achieve the look I need, as the performance of weight reduction probably wouldn't be worth the cost right now.

3M Di-NOC Carbon Fiber Vinyl wrap has come highly recommended. But the look of it is obviously fake. Is it feasible to wrap with the vinyl overlay, and then put resin / hardener on top?

I would attempt the REAL carbon fiber wrap, but I'm afraid I would screw up the weave on a big peice like the hood. Can't have that.

Thoughts or ideas guys? How big of a sheet would I need to properly cover the ST205 hood?

[Culpable04]

Look here !

[block]

i've been in the market for a CF st205 hood. seibon does not make one to fit a gt4 bumper. theirs was made to fit a usdm bumper. i've contacted many vendors and no one makes them

[satelite]

NEVER vinyl wrap, is the most ugly in the life, i have a Seibon hood without problem, and i know very much people with that and never had problem.
in short time the vinyl gets opaque and ugly.
All CF pieces need very much care.

[KAOS]

Look here !

Thanks Culp - but thats just rattle can clearcoat.

I've done the google thing trying to find an instance where someone actually resin'd the overlay for the authentic look.

NEVER vinyl wrap, is the most ugly in the life, i have a Seibon hood without problem, and i know very much people with that and never had problem.
in short time the vinyl gets opaque and ugly.
All CF pieces need very much care.

Seibon doesn't make CF hoods for the GT-Four. The fitment is different between the ST202 to 204 chassis's and the ST205.

[satelite]

Look here !

Thanks Culp - but thats just rattle can clearcoat.

I've done the google thing trying to find an instance where someone actually resin'd the overlay for the authentic look.

NEVER vinyl wrap, is the most ugly in the life, i have a Seibon hood without problem, and i know very much people with that and never had problem.
in short time the vinyl gets opaque and ugly.
All CF pieces need very much care.

Seibon doesn't make CF hoods for the GT-Four. The fitment is different between the ST202 to 204 chassis's and the ST205.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CELICA-94-9...=item335e50175b

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/94-95-96-97...=item230fbc53e7

[KAOS]

Look here !

Thanks Culp - but thats just rattle can clearcoat.

I've done the google thing trying to find an instance where someone actually resin'd the overlay for the authentic look.

NEVER vinyl wrap, is the most ugly in the life, i have a Seibon hood without problem, and i know very much people with that and never had problem.
in short time the vinyl gets opaque and ugly.
All CF pieces need very much care.

Seibon doesn't make CF hoods for the GT-Four. The fitment is different between the ST202 to 204 chassis's and the ST205.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CELICA-94-9...=item335e50175b

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/94-95-96-97...=item230fbc53e7

Thanks; I've contacted all the sellers of this item that I've found on eBay and elsewhere:

(a) These hoods are built to fit the ST202-204 body's not the ST205. (I've asked)
(b) Any place that would ship internationally usually want an additional $200-$300 to ship to a residential address. ( I can't afford that )

This post has been edited by KAOS: May 5, 2011 - 3:03 PM

[d3ath2009]

Look here !

Thanks Culp - but thats just rattle can clearcoat.

I've done the google thing trying to find an instance where someone actually resin'd the overlay for the authentic look.

NEVER vinyl wrap, is the most ugly in the life, i have a Seibon hood without problem, and i know very much people with that and never had problem.
in short time the vinyl gets opaque and ugly.
All CF pieces need very much care.

Seibon doesn't make CF hoods for the GT-Four. The fitment is different between the ST202 to 204 chassis's and the ST205.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CELICA-94-9...=item335e50175b

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/94-95-96-97...=item230fbc53e7

thats for the gt, not the gt-four... gt-four has different fitment (as mentioned above).. thats why a gt-four hood w/o gt-four bumper doesn't work

[satelite]

I will ask a friend becouse he has a cf bonnet Seibon GT4 and has worked very well. I'll tell you.

[team_omega]

i've been in the market for a CF st205 hood. seibon does not make one to fit a gt4 bumper. theirs was made to fit a usdm bumper. i've contacted many vendors and no one makes them

bulletproofautomotive.com makes them..that where i got mines from..oem fitment...John(runninlow) seen it before...but it will also cost an arm and a leg

[block]

how much did you get it total from them? i tried everywhere but that's one site i forgot about

[opie_7afe]

gtfour hoods are aluminum so that does help weight somewhat but yeah your going for looks so what i would do is get a stock hood, and buy a carbon fiber kit and lay a few layers over oem hood and will give it look of CF without the cost.. i seen a small kit (24x39" roll of cf i believe) for around 59usd, think it was carbonmods.com not 100% on that though....good luck man

[team_omega]

how much did you get it total from them? i tried everywhere but that's one site i forgot about

cant remember...its been 4 years. But it was close to $900 something dollars. It was cheaper back then also. I think the price right now is like $200 more. Had to wait 6 months for it also because they have to hand lay it when you order

Edit: $900 something, thats including shipping

This post has been edited by team_omega: May 9, 2011 - 10:05 PM

[yellowchinaman]

All carbon Vinyl wrap looks so fake it's stupid to even call it carbon. If you're going to have a vinyl wrap, never put on anything with real carbon cos they look totally different side by side.
I'd say if you're gonna wrap it the wrap it in real carbon. At least it won't make your car look cheap.

[chacha]

i feel your woes as that was intentionally my idea for the celi...i wanted a cf hatch and cf gt4 hood.