Roush Saleen Heat Extractor Hood

[spederman]

I just purchased a used Saleen H/E hood (01-04) for my 2002 S281. Correct me if i'm wrong, but is the middle carbon fiber and all the edges of the hood fiberglass? The hood feels pretty flimsy, like if i push on it in the middle, its really flexible. I didnt know if that was normal, i though carbon fiber was super tough.

I am having it re painted to match my car. My concern is that with the paint on it now, you can see all the fibers of the fiberglass/carbon fiber through the paint. It makes it look like a really bad paint job (orange peel). The body shop guy said its because the hood was never gel coated and you can see the texture of the fiber through the paint. He said when they repaint it, it should cover all that, but there is no guarantee, that the fiber/orange peel look might still come through. Do you guys with the H/E hood have the same problem?

 

[BlackSaleen]

The body shop that you had this painted at should have mentioned the hood was not gel coated. You could have returned the Hood back to Saleen.
One expensive mistake

 

[s351rspeedster]

I just purchased a used Saleen H/E hood (01-04) for my 2002 S281. Correct me if i'm wrong, but is the middle carbon fiber and all the edges of the hood fiberglass? The hood feels pretty flimsy, like if i push on it in the middle, its really flexible. I didnt know if that was normal, i though carbon fiber was super tough.

I am having it re painted to match my car. My concern is that with the paint on it now, you can see all the fibers of the fiberglass/carbon fiber through the paint. It makes it look like a really bad paint job (orange peel). The body shop guy said its because the hood was never gel coated and you can see the texture of the fiber through the paint. He said when they repaint it, it should cover all that, but there is no guarantee, that the fiber/orange peel look might still come through. Do you guys with the H/E hood have the same problem?

....to my knowledge, the entire hood is a fiberglass composite with carbon fiber no where to be found. However, I could be wrong, you might want to ask SVTSaleen as he is the Saleen historian in the group........

 

[SVT Saleen]

....to my knowledge, the entire hood is a fiberglass composite with carbon fiber no where to be found. However, I could be wrong, you might want to ask SVTSaleen as he is the Saleen historian in the group........

Looks like it's my turn in the proverbial barrel this week...

It's not so much that I am so knowledgable. It's because I'm so much older than guys like Marcus & Robert.

However, I believe this topic was brought up a few months ago & Marcus answered it pretty well. Some of the early heat extractor hoods were all carbon fiber (such as Marcus' dearly departed '95 S351R) while others were a composite of CF & fiberglass like my '98 Cobra Speedster (I believe) while still others were all fiberglass.

A competent body shop should be able to seal & smooth out the weave on the hood prior to prime & paint so it won't be visible.

 

[spederman]

Is there any way to tell which hood you end up with or what its made out of?

I know the edges of mine are fiberglass because i stuck my fingers in the whole where the hood would latch and pulled out some fiberglass fibers, but on the underside, the whole middle section is a black weave material, which looks to be carbon fiber to me.

 

[SVT Saleen]

Is there any way to tell which hood you end up with or what its made out of?

I know the edges of mine are fiberglass because i stuck my fingers in the whole where the hood would latch and pulled out some fiberglass fibers, but on the underside, the whole middle section is a black weave material, which looks to be carbon fiber to me.

You've described my '98 hood to a tee. The surrounding underside areas are fully finished & painted but the actual vented center section is rough, unfinished black woven material that may or may not be CF.
The entire underside of Marcus' hood was smoothly finished & sealed carbon fiber mat.

 

[marcus95]

post a picture and we will tell you what you have. You may not even have a Saleen hood.

 

[ExtremeSaleen]

I picked up my car from Santini's on Wednesday and Pete Santini and I were talking about the hood on my car. He's words "dog*****". He pointing out the differences in thinkness around the edges and how bad the paint job was on it when it came in. Hood looks a lot better now with new paint.

 

[Probablecause]

i have the VIS CF hood and recently had it painted and recleared. as you can tell in this pic, the guy did a good job and you would never know the painted portion of the hood is CF.

 

[marcus95]

i have the VIS CF hood and recently had it painted and recleared. as you can tell in this pic, the guy did a good job and you would never know the painted portion of the hood is CF.

WOw, She looks good. I have not seen that hood like that other than Rene's car from Chicane.

 

[digdoug]

You've described my '98 hood to a tee. The surrounding underside areas are fully finished & painted but the actual vented center section is rough, unfinished black woven material that may or may not be CF.
The entire underside of Marcus' hood was smoothly finished & sealed carbon fiber mat.

Mine is exactly that way as well. I was at a car show over the weekend where there was a S351 and it had the same hood, only it was obviously carbon fiber. You could see it on the udnerside and the hood was extremely flimsy...my hood, and I assume yours...is very solid feeling. He even made the comment that he could not leave it up because it would warp due to it being so flexible.

 

[SVT Saleen]

Mine is exactly that way as well. I was at a car show over the weekend where there was a S351 and it had the same hood, only it was obviously carbon fiber. You could see it on the udnerside and the hood was extremely flimsy...my hood, and I assume yours...is very solid feeling. He even made the comment that he could not leave it up because it would warp due to it being so flexible.

I'd assume we have the exact same type of hood since we both own '98 Saleen Cobras. The only issues I have with mine is the tell tale hairline crack in the paint where it latches & the fact that it vibrates so much @ freeway speeds I always have visions that someday it will take flight.

 

[spederman]

Just got the hood back from the painter yesterday. Decided to give it a little flare to match the blue fade on the doors. What do you think?

 

[footnfan]

Wow...............Wow.................that looks VERY cool

Dan

 

[digdoug]

That actually looks pretty good. I'm always afraid to try stuff like that, but I like it.

 

[marcus95]

I'm a super picky A**hole, but I really like that fade.

 

[Probablecause]

bad azz

 

[spederman]

Thanks guys. I wasnt sure how it would turn out and was really scared, but i really like it too.

 

[sstrayer]

That looks very nice

Shaun

 

[SVT Saleen]

Ditto on the compliments. Veddy nice, indeed.