Toyota Celica Supra Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Don's Carbon Fiber Hood Ordering Info

45K views 213 replies 36 participants last post by  Funkycheeze 
#1 · (Edited)



These are the directions for purchasing a Carbon Fiber Hood, manufactured here in USA by ADVAN CARBON, working collectively with myself to get the design and molds created. This limited group buy will only be for 10 units. I have no current plans to coordinate the purchases of in excess of the 10.
If however, there is a significant number of buyers after the initial 10 units are sold, I will consider discussing pricing with ADVAN and try to assist. NOTE** GROUP BUY LIMIT EXTENDED TO 20 UNITS.

Pricing is $490 for the basic CF hood. Buyer can discuss optional accessories and such with ADVAN after placing initial deposit with me. Such added items such as vents are added to the basic hood after the hood is made, a retrofit thing.

This is the info I will need when I accept a deposit payment:

Buyer Name:

Address:

ph# and email

Whether you want the windshield sprayer holes drilled. The sprayer bump will be there regardless.


Shipping will be direct from ADVAN CARBON in S.Calif, cost of shipping will be quoted by ADVAN. I believe shipping in the 48 states is in the neighborhood of $150 but that is just an estimate by me, and not a binding offer. Shipping international will require more info provided to ADVAN, and of course costs will be higher to ship. I understand that they may be able to fit 2 hoods into a box, so for example if you are in Canada, and there are several buyers in an area, it could save a ton on shipping to ship together. I heard it is also cheaper to ship to a business, vs an individual residence. Sounds like something maybe George at Raptor could get involved in (Hi George!).

Reminder that for this group buy, all purchases will be coordinated by me. So calling ADVAN directly to order a hood will not get you a CF hood for this price, maybe for $699, and probably later too.

So if you have ever wanted a Carbon Fiber Hood, at a great price, don't miss out on this. Just because a mold currently exists, doesn't mean they will keep it available for unlimited years. Much may depend on demand/sales.

The CF Hood is carbon fiber on the top skin (really nice quality), and a fiberglass skeleton on the underside for support. It has a integrated tapped set of mounting holes (metal) for he factory hood hinges using factory bolts (very nice fit). Has a metal hood latch rod in front of hood to work with the factory latch mechanism. There are no options in color presently. Approx weight is 22 lbs. (my bathroom scale measured it closer to 20 lbs). Factory hood I have measured at approx 47 lbs.

It is recommended to utilize hood pins with this hood. Although the hood is very rigid, quite strong, I personally would run 2 Aerolatch or similar type hood pin/latch devices in the front area, in addition to using the factory latch. To each his own, but that's my suggestion. See the Advan Carbon website for
more info:

http://www.advancarbon.com/#/item/advan_carbon_oem_1982-1985_supra_carbon_hood/

For those of you that haven't seen the many pictures from our testing fitting meet at ADVAN on 12-15-12, check out the thread:

http://www.celicasupra.com/forums/s...F-Hood-Test-Fitting-and-Supra-Meet-in-S-Calif

Ok, money stuff:

I will keep a list of official buyers on this posting. To get on the list, PM me or email me all the info I requested above, I will provide you my Paypal info, and once I have the deposit payment, your name is on the list, in order of arriving deposits. Please let me know if you want more than 1 hood in the order.
With Xmas rapidly approaching, it may slow production a bit, but my estimate is that ADVAN may be able to make 2-3 per week, approx. They actually are already making the next few hoods now.

Deposit payment to me: $265 paypal preferred, cash is ok too :) PM OR EMAIL ME FOR MY PAYPAL ADDRESS ***

Final payment will be to ADVAN : $225 plus any taxes, shipping costs.

You or I can cancel the order if after 45 days from the time deposit is submitted, no CF Hood is available. I will try to reseaonable, but some things aren't in my control. Deposit will be fully refunded. I don't intend to keep buyers hanging. My contact info:

Don L.

email: toy4speed@yahoo.com
or PM me, either method is fine. This email is for info/questions, NOT for Paypal .

I probably forgot to mention something, so just ask if any questions!

THE OFFICIAL BUYERS LIST:

1. Dave S. (daves2jzgte)

2. David H. (4SFED)

3. Rusty (kmfdmk)

4. Karl S. (kdsii)

5. David H. (discoelk)

6. George (Raptor)

7. G

8. G

9. Dustin F. (8055m4n)

10. Victor S. (broken wheels)

THE SECOND GROUP:

11. Tim M. (mcdade7)

12. Mike R.

13. Chad L.

14. Chad L

15. Ryan S. (funky cheese)

16. Mike A.

17. Mike A.

18. Jason O. (virus) requested position.

19. Cam W. (canadian psyko) (requested position)

20. Tanya (requested position)
 
See less See more
2
#40 ·
*** The 20 hoods are sold *** Thank you all for participating! I am collecting everyone's info (as requested on the ordering form), to be placed onto the ADVAN purchase orders. Your positions on the list will be your approximate delivery positions. The purchase orders will be sent to ADVAN. Each of you will be notified by me to contact ADVAN so you can provide final payment and discuss shipping details. Obviously there will a gap of time for those at the top of list vs. the lower part of the list, but we should be able to wrap this up by end of January, early February. Holidays always slow things a bit, but things probably move faster than I estimate. My estimates lately have been very conservative.

As for those who might still want a hood, and didn't get into the 20 units, feel free to send me your info (as requested in the order info) and I'll keep your info on a back up list in case anyone drops out. This list will also be used to evaluate a later group purchase.

Don L.
 
#41 ·
To gauge interest on different parts to be made we should get a quote by Advan and have anyone who is interested put money down to get the molds made. Then we could take orders with half down. I still think it would be a hot seller, especially with few hatches out there that are rust free. Lets come up with a list of people who are willing to invest in the mold. Thank you Don for all your time and investment in the hood. I look forward to getting mine.
Tim
 
#43 ·
Its kind of funny all the wannabe carbon people that came and went on this forum could have sold a ton of hoods if they weren't flakes. Don if you talk with them could you ask if they could do a ZR1 type hood where the underside is the nice carbon weave and the outside is meant to be painted? Like this;



Or maybe just plain old FRP. I'm not a big fan of the exposed carbon look especially after they yellow.
 
#47 ·
That looks like a fairly simple project, but do you have a donor hood that a mold can be made from? Keep in mind that after the donor piece is used, the finish may likely be "seasoned". I bought what I thought to be a pretty dang nice white OEM hood to use for the mold process. Afterward, the hood looked more like a sanded, spot primed hood ready for painting. ADVAN will repair/touch up/prime any irregular spots of the donor part, all so the mold comes out smooth. Essential for a nice product. This, besides the financials, is one hurdle. Finding a pristine part (that won't be pristine after molding) to use. In the case of hatches, if you had a great hatch, likely you wouldn't want to ruin it. Not to say I am not looking into more potential projects.

Don L.
 
#49 ·
The header panel would be nice - I have a couple extras here in nice shape that I won't even ask to have shipped back.
 
#50 ·
Amazing work! I'm definitely impressed and interested in a hood, if there are any spots left. Money is tight but a deal like this comes only once in a long while!
 
#53 ·
Thanks Don for making this carbon fiber hood possible! Can't weight till I have money to buy one! By the way, the carbon fiber header panel's a great idea, but, as others have mentioned, I believe a carbon fiber hatch would have more buyers. One main reason people pay for carbon fiber parts is weight reduction. A carbon fiber hatch would shed A LOT more weight than a carbon fiber header panel. A carbon fiber hatch would also make a great replacement for anyone with a rusted or dented hatch. It would also be nice if they made them with glass that was thinner and lighter than stock, as the glass itself weighs 25lbs. :twocents:
 
#55 ·
Good whiskers are getting hard to find. Anytime there's a pair for sale they get scooped up before a second person even gets a chance at them. I think that integrating them into the header panel in cf would get a lot of interest around here. And if Advan sees us jumping into another group buy on something like this after how fast 20 hoods went then they would get an idea how serious CS owners could be on a bigger project like the hatch. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to reduce some more weight and a hatch would probably the best single item to go cf but I also see a need around here for the whiskers/header panel and think we'd get a large group buy for them.
Then again, maybe it's only because my whiskers are all cracked and broken but my hatches are all in good shape. LOL
 
#59 ·
Good points on both the header panel and the hatch. Obviously there is more demand and a bigger buyer market out there than I initially anticipated. The CF hood is a nice accessory, sure its lighter in weight, but most people buy accessories for distinctiveness, appearances. I personally am not into the look so much as the go. I spend an awful lot of money to lose a few pounds in car weight, but that's just me.

The header panel to me loses a fairly trivial amount of weight. The benefit of a CF header panel is lack of rust, and getting rid of the whisker need. In discussion with ADVAN, the vented style of the header panel complicates the manuf process a bit. Some of the vertical sections of the vented areas may have to be regular black, not CF. I'm not into the manuf processing, but needless to say, I anticipated that part of the design of the JDM header panel to be more difficult. Keep in mind that the panel that Karl has is probably fiberglass, molded. I guess more simple in manuf.

Remove the vents and it gets significantly easier. Any mold that ADVAN can create, direct off of a OEM piece, will be straightforward. If the donor part is rusted, not straight, or in the case of the whiskers....needing some custom fabricating, will add to time and cost.

Would they have a mold for a stock style header panel, and another for vented? Prob not.

Hatches likely would require the buyer to have glass installed. Lexan or plexiglass can prob also be installed. Not sure on legality of non-glass on the roads.
Other issue to look at is if the glass rubber gaskets are still available from Toyota, or whatever is needed to attach glass to the hatch.

You see, a CF hood is a piece of cake compared to this other stuff, eh?

Don L.
 
#61 ·
Every gram counts haha, but yeah quite like the L-Type look and dont wanna lose it, so wouldn't be keen on anything with flares is all.

And if the hatch goes ahead would prefer if there were no holes for rear wiper or spoilers, if anybody needs them they can drill them out I guess, but if the hole is there to begin with not much you can do about it.
 
#62 · (Edited)
I agree with rsdeo that a hatch minus glass and sunshade is relatively light. I understand the want for the cf hatch because of the rust factor. But I think a lexan window is a better alternative for reducing weight. For cost effectiveness and simplicity a carbon fiber 83' sunshade could be a better choice, since the 83' sunshade is hefty. It could be engineered with stronger internal bracing that is attached to the outer mounting bolts so we could get rid of the center bracket as well. A lexan window and a cf sunshade would be much cheaper and reduce more weight than a cf hatch. Of course a carbon fiber hatch and sunshade would also be a nice combo!
 
#63 ·
ORDER UPDATE***

I am fowarding buyer information for the first EIGHT (8) spots on the list to ADVAN. That would be from Dave S. to the 3 hoods for Raptor Racing. Please contact Don at ADVAN CARBON to confirm shipping information and provide final payment information. The first of the hoods should be ready by monday, with the 2nd hood probably end of next week. Approx. build time is about 2 hoods per week. It is important for each buyer to call/email/ contact ADVAN within the next 10 days or so. Hope to keep the hoods processing as smooth as possible. Thanks for all your cooperation !

ADVAN CARBON contact info:

Don
ADVAN CARBON
Versus Trading Co. Inc.
2321 East Del Amo Blvd.
Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220
310-885-5788
email: store@advancarbon.com

Thanks Guys!

Don L.
 
#70 ·
Probably my fault. In one of the early posts, I recall mentioning that we wouldn't be using the factory pneumatic hood supports, as some had mentioned that CF hoods are lightweight and flexible enough that the supports may tend to cause the hoods to "bow up" in the area of the support. At the test fit we didn't attach any hood supports to my or Dave's car, so honestly I didn't look for the mounting point for the support on the CF hood. If Dave says its there, then wow, people have the option to use supports. I hadn't planned to use mine, and if Dave says the supports work fine on the CF hood, then thats gospel. The CF hood is even better than I thought! Shoulda charged more :)

Don L.

gotta go check out my wrapped up hood in the garage, after the holiday. Just too much going on at the moment.
 
#71 ·
awesome then i was under the impression that they werent gonna have them good to know that they do come with them , glad that it was cleared up hope to get one in the next batch if they decide to have another 10 to 20 group buy runs dave your car is drop dead awesome and the hood made it even more that ........
 
#72 ·
On the cfx hoods, the factory hood lift supports are also there, but the stock supports won't work as they are too strong and make it impossible to get the hood back down. I'm assuming it will be the same way with these. I did find a much weaker strut to use, but am going to have to search through my boxes to find them.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top