JIMS1999CONVZ28

I did the search and found two post on this that did not help.

Has anyone ever done any calculations on the weight reduction on a fiberglass or aluminum hood over the factory steel for a 1993 Z28? Is there a significant difference? What about without the springs and hinges, just pin it down? I am going back up in weight on my project car with the Turbo 400, steel DS, Spohn TA so I need to drop some more weight again.
I still don't have the PS air bag out yet, what a PITA. I think I am going to have to cut the dash in the creases where the air bag is located below.

Any help is appreciated on both subjects,
Jim

ibanez6rg

I don't have any calculations, but I can tell you my aftermarket fiberglass hood is a ton lighter than the stocker. Mine isn't pinned down. I also too out 3 of the hood struts for it to fit right.

trax

VFN Fiberglass is the only place I know of that makes hoods specifically with weight reduction in mind. Harwood is another good shop but they don't list weights.

My plan is to get a stock looking VFN bolt-on hood (18 lbs, according to them) and use a hood pin kit in place of the front latching mechanism. That plus an LGM K-member oughtta lighten things up a bit

CANTONRACER

I bought a Harwood earlier this year and took it right back...maybe a few pounds lighter and non functional.

I personally think the 4" cowl look awesome and will be getting one this year...

95TA8280

My 3" cowl hood weighed a boatload less than the stock hood...like people above, I have no calculations......

Camaro37

There used to be a post with a lot of weight reduction mods and I believe it said you would lose 30lbs by going to a fiberglass hood over the stocker. I don't know how accurate that is, just throwing it out there.

JIMS1999CONVZ28

Thanks guys, good information.
I think that a 15 # hood is the ticket, a front clip would be better but not in the budget.
Anyone care to elaborate on why the Harwood hood is not as good as other manufactures? Personal opinions are good and welcome on any.
Thanks for the heads up on the Weight Reduction post, I have visited that many times before. I forgot about that resouce, but things have changed since that was posted two or three years ago.
Any opinons on Bolt down vs Pin?? I have helped a buddy "bolt" down his hood and if I remember correctly it is just a twist and push the turn pin "D" ring down flush, RIGHT?

Thanks
Jim

notstock4long

I too don't know the exact weight different, but I would say my new fiberglass hood is at most 1/3 as heavy as the stock hood. I don't see why you would spend more money on a hood just to loose another 5 lbs though. Just **** before you race

aram

To remove the pass airbag the whole dash needs to come out if you were wondering.. don't cut up your dash trying to pull it. It isn't that hard to pull the whole dash out.

formula383

I have the Harwood cowl on my 94 Z and it weighed quite a bit less than the stock hood. I personally like the style of the Harwood better as well.

As far as quality I don't have any complaints, didn't have to do a lot of prep work and some other hoods I have seen and the fit is very good.

I have pics in the link in my sig.

CANTONRACER

The Harwood weighed maybe 5 lbs less than stock...if that...and looks nothing like the older cowl look...and is not functional whatsoever.

Big waste of $400 bucks...in my opinion.

Zack

my hood feels way lighter than my stock one. It doesnt close on its own weigth, and whenever a fellow fbody owner lifts the hood, first thing they say is "WHOA!"

94bird

I just picked up my VFN lift-off hood for my '94 Formula about a week ago. I drove to VFN to pick it up and took the opportunity to look them over and see what else they had. I like to touch things and see them up close instead of just shopping on their internet site.

Anyway, this lift-off hood is about 13 lbs. as their site says. With hinges, struts, and my steel hood my understanding is my factory hood weighs about 50 lbs. I think the 30 lbs. savings you normally hear is for the normal 20-25 lbs. for a hinged fiberglass hood. I'll find out over my Christmas vacation though as my stock one is coming off. Woohoo!

Also I'm putting on a Percy's lexan windshield. That is supposed to be a 35 lbs. savings by itself.

My car is a road racer though so I'm not concerned about some things many of you might still be.

formula383

I still think that my Harwood cowl weighs quite a bit more than 5lbs less than the stock hood.

As far as it being a waste I disagree I wouldn't think of a different style hood on my Camaro, I like it and don't think it is a waste at all regardless of the price.