I rear ended a truck this morning and the insurance adjuster is coming out tomorrow to look at it. I'll need a new hood, new front bumper and at least 1 front fender.

I was wondering if I should go with something other than OEM. I rallycross race the car so I'm not looking for anything lower with a big lip. I was thinking of a carbon or fiberglass hood, "duraflex" fenders and an OEM bumper. I really just want lightweight parts that can take some abuse. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I posted here because I'd rather get the motorsports view on things not the tuner/garage queen perspective.

 

I would stay full OEM alum engine bonnet & front fender.

Carbon hoods & fenders have a shorter life span to them & must be clear coated to offset the UV. Plus, most carbon suppliers parts (Seibon / VIS) are not lighter than OEM.

Joe

 

Like the previous poster, the OEM stuff is about as light as you're ever going to get.

With aftermarket what you get is the opportunity to add in more downforce with a better designed bumper and/or wider fender options which we all usually need when running a 265 and/or 10" rim and larger.

The sucky part about ordering stuff is having to pay to paint it. Personally I'd also go with some sort of wrap and pick yourself a new colorscheme. It's an option.

Oh, and if there's damage down low in the front end, it'll be expensive. Intercooler, piping, oil cooler, radiator, acd... those add up. I'd go aftermarket with all of them to replace if needed.

 

Thanks for the responses. All the damage is high as I kinda went under his bumper. Only about 5mph by the time I hit him.

I'll probably go all OEM but I'm tempted by a dry carbon OEM look hood. I was really surprised to see that the aluminum hood is as light or lighter than nearly all the carbon replacements. The actual weight of these parts seems like a closely guarded secret which makes me think there is no weight savings just bling.

 

Oem.

 

I just called and the dry carbon OEM style hood is around 10lbs. I'm going with this hood and everything else OEM. I'll probably paint the hood too since the underside is carbon.

 

I have to laugh when people come to the Motorsports section for advice, then disregard it all!

 

I have to laugh when people get on forums and act aloof.

 

OEM for sure. Cant beat OEM quality and our stuff is super light as is.

 

I got suckered into this thread thinking that there was an accident while racing on the track. I expected big time damage. Seriously, this thread should be in its appropriate section.

 

I'd say go OEM with the bonnet, I think it would hold up better to the abuse of rallycross. Carbon can and does crack. You should be able to find used OEM bonnet's cheap, since your gona repaint anyway.

 

Do yourself a favor and go oem.

 

I had never given any thought to aftermarket body panels until I got in an accident and suddenly had to make some decisions quickly. I first thought that some sort of plastic fender might be more resistant to damage but after some research I'm with you guys that OEM would be stronger. I always thought an OEM bumber cover was the way to go but I threw it out there since, like I said, I'd never given it any thought before.

I'm am surprised however that everyone's so anti a carbon fiber hood. I know the cheep hoods are just carbon wrapped fiberglass that don't save much weight but the dry carbon hood I'm looking at is supposedly around 10 lbs and full carbon. If it's as advertised, I'll be saving 10 lbs from the heavy nose of the car. I know carbon hoods have finish problems but if I paint it, who cares.

For those of you who think this is in the wrong section, fair enough but like I said, I didn't want the car show guys opinion, I wanted the opinion of guys who use their car. I changed the title of the thread and if mods want to move that's fine with me.

 

the CF hood is light untill you put all the neccesry parts on to actually be usable. Like hinges etc. Then suddenly you start wondering how much it is really worth it lb/$
then oem parts are bend, CF cracks. Oem parts easier to fix, and everybody can do it.
Oem parts doesnt have a clear coat which can turn yellow, and cracks. Example the famous CT9A CF wing surface...
Oem hood can take heat, no problem. Oem hood doesnt shake and rattle like some CF and fits perfect... So on and so forth.

CF is a good thing , but a good racing CF parts are not my level. Those cf parts which is worth to buy, as a body panel and parts to replace oem , i would only considering the rear doors and the trunk.
Not even a roof. All the CF parts on my car is add ons or something which is not a body panel . Like the mirrors.
I would buy CF for interior though, which is i will this year SO no i am not anti CF, but there is a quality/replacement/handling/cost i have to balance . The CF hood - fender- bumper parts etc is not the one you would use it in rally - door to door or rallyx racing. Any none contact and "safe" enviroment racing CF are oke if they do save weights , not the show CF which is just as heavy or heavier then a OEM parts. Like some door cards.... lol

Rob

 

I went all OEM after all. The only upgrade was a JDM front bumper support. Thanks for all the advice.