Problem officially fixed...

 

I think id try and get it replaced

 

always always ALWAYS test fit body parts BEFORE making any modifications to them, painting, prep, ANYTHING...

it is very likely if they have good customer service they will take the hood back...but they have every right not to since you modified it...as soon as you realized the part wasnt perfect, i would have called them up...instead of trying to fix it yourself and finding out you cant...and then posting a thread about it...communication with the manufacturer/distributor is the key

try to give them a call...if that doesnt work, THEN post here and let everyone know the hood was wack and they arent willing to help...theres no sense in scaring off potential customers if the manufacturer just had one defective hood that they would happily replace for you

just my 2c

 

will they exchange the hood?

 

EVOtagger, good points and well taken. Like I said they are a great bunch of guys and I was really looking, through my post, for another avenue of help to somehow take care of it. But see the fact is that they do not disclose anywhere to test fit the hood before final install which makes me think at least the overall fitment should be ok without a diagonal hood-wide warp. Otherwise they would not be allowed to sell it legally meaning the hood has to fit before they can sell it.

It is not up to me to test it for them without a notice to do so. Instead they say our stuff is awesome right out of the box which it is visually no doubt . The mods (holes, pre-indented) were no problem but the warp was/is.

I called them a couple of times during the install and explained, step-by-step, the issue(s) arising and they were way cool about it as well. I still like them very much. So all in all, one hood (mine) is not going to change my mind about seibon. I have seen alot of them and love them on other cars. All I want is a resolution of some kind we can all live with.

And I am sure we will get there...I am still looking for some ideas regarding a possible fix.

 

Ok, totally different route...how about hood-pins, they will push and hold down the warped part and may over time re-set the sunheated hood to fit correctly. Any ideas?

 

actually depending on the resin used in the CF prepreg it will likely never relax. Once the polymers in the resin cross link (part of the curing process) the shape is what the shape will be. It will flex, but will always return to the cross linked shape. Cheap resins and plasics will bow and relax over time, because the polymers don't cross-link. I think you're always going to have a bow in that hood.
sorry man,

Greg

 

anytime you mass produce something from a mold, you are going to have some pieces come out with imperfections...it is just part of it...unless they test fit EVERY hood before they send it out, there is no way for them to tell if a hood has warped unless it is significant...it may look perfect when they pull the piece and before they ship it, but until you stick it on the car, there is not really a way to eyeball the hood to see if its going to be off by an inch or whatever

i ALWAYS test fit body pieces...especially fiberglass kits, lips, and hoods...there is bound to be at least one out of so many that comes out with an imperfection...better to take the time before hand to test to see if the hood is ok before modifying it in any way...

of course i know i stated that before so i will shut up about it...

did they offer any rectification to the problem?? some type of refund or replacement hood??

 

true that EVOtagger, still there is no disclaimer stating that fact, therefore...etc etc. Anyway, I am talking to them still and am walking thru some solutions which is awesome on their part. Great guys like I said, issue = let's fix it. We havent gotten to the exchange part of things yet. We will wait and see, but I cannot try to much now and totally FUBAR the hood and then have no claim whatsoever, hehehehe.

 

sounds good to me...i hope you get it resolved!

 

EVOtagger, i love sugar mtn btw, hehehe. Actually, freakin love it up there...

 

hoodpins is the only solution i see, you could also fab a metal brace to stengthen the hood but would take time, expertice or money. not worth it unless you own your own machine shop and have nothing better to do. just get the pins. also seibon hoods are fiberglass backed and i think only one layer of cf, so you might be able to bend/heat/warp it to spec,

 

Seibon IS awesome...

That is true with the fiberglass/1ply cf but I just got off the phone with Derek at Seibon and these guys are awesome man. They totally understand the hood latch height (length) issue being a lot longer than oem and will take it back for a replacement. The diagonal warp is another issue that might not even have to be taken ino account although that is a major issue as well.

Again test fitting is good but is not a written policy. Only "minor mods necessary" is policy which I am cool with.

So here is to Seibon taking care of their customers.

 

lucky you, it would cost me a fortune to ship a hood from the mainland to hawaii, then ship it back for a return, and then have a new one shipped to me. shipping cost more than the hood!

 

ok, it's official, Seibon is sending another one, ..., whereas I will pay for the transport...which is perfect. Considering that I touched it already. Everybody happy, I will post pics when installed. ...within the month, hehehe.