Carbon Fiber parts...

[SparrowHawk60]

Does anyone have a source for Carbon Fiber hoods and fenders? How about an after market body kit? No fiberglass stuff, please.

I'm looking to lighten a Prius a much as possible. Taking out the rear seats, passenger seat..

Car will be a project car, a donated '06, (in need of body work and front end repairs.) it must remain road worthy and pass NYS inspection.

[hyo silver]

Have you calculated how much weight you'd lose with a carbon fibre hood? The aluminium one is already pretty light.

[SparrowHawk60]

Originally Posted by hyo silver

Have you calculated how much weight you'd lose with a carbon fibre hood? The aluminium one is already pretty light.

Nope, I have not. So how much does the stock hood weigh? Do you know? What is the difference as compared to a carbon fiber hood?
The Prius has an Aluminum hood, yeah, my MGB had an aluminum hood as well. Sure they were light, but they were a nightmare to do any type of body work on. Aluminum requires special welding and lead filler does not apply it 'self to it very well. Forget about "Bond dough", it simple does not work. Aluminum is very un-forgiving, it's malleable only to limited amounts as it stretches (expands) more than steel.
As for the corrosion resistance, it's not as bad as steel, but aluminum tends to pit and develop a whitish haze if left unpainted.
Any more than minimal damage to a Prius hood and I would bet a body shop would tell you that a replacement is in order. (Hope they know how to properly treat and then paint aluminum. I'd check with a Marine repair shop in case of having to do any painting.)

[Doc Willie]

As a matter of curiosity, what use are you intending with the lightened Prius?

[prius729]

I don't know man, the prius hood looks like it's been engineered to crumple in a frontal collision. Depending on your use of the vehicle this may not matter but I sure wouldn't want that carbon fiber hood coming thru the windshield in an accident.

[SparrowHawk60]

Originally Posted by Doc Willie

As a matter of curiosity, what use are you intending with the lightened Prius?

Around the Northern America continent tour.

[SparrowHawk60]

Originally Posted by prius729

I don't know man, the prius hood looks like it's been engineered to crumple in a frontal collision. Depending on your use of the vehicle this may not matter but I sure wouldn't want that carbon fiber hood coming thru the windshield in an accident.

Crumple zones, folding hoods, engines that fold under the passenger compartment in front end collisions...
Yeah, all neat stuff, but I have yet to see a fiber carbon hood that has gone through a windshield, no, I don't want to be the first either.
Check out funny cars, pro stock racers, hoods just don't make it through windshields...

[seasalsa]

Your aluminum hood is not likely to go through your windshield.

[V8Cobrakid]

i know the prius you have needs body work.. which makes this perfect..

but.. how about starting at the wheels? get some lighter wheels. after that, make sure the 12v is charged. hook up a solar charger is possible. i've seen a lot of cases where a dead 12v fights the car to stay charged and a charged 12v works wonders.

the rear seat doesn't weigh much.. i'm sure if you strip out everything, seat, rear plastics, passenger seat, door panels, spare tire, hatch plastic, etc.. you might see some difference in mpg.


if you strip it all down and do some test.. please post. i'm curious.

[hyo silver]

Originally Posted by SparrowHawk60

...So how much does the stock hood weigh? Do you know? What is the difference as compared to a carbon fiber hood?...

Sorry, I can't answer these questions. I thought you would know, because you're considering the swap, and I was curious. The stock hood is already pretty light, and doesn't appear substantial enough to make it through the windshield, if that's your concern. For what you'd spend to replace it, you could buy a fair amount of gas on your continental circumnavigation. But that's just me. Still, I'd be interested in hearing what you discover. And in pictures, both of the car and the tour.