Front lid options and opinions, to fiberglass or not to fiberglass that is the??? Options

[mgphoto]

Looking for a good front lid is becoming a challenge, most are rusted, dented, walked on, frames bent and more rust. After chasing steel front lids for a year or so I am seriously considering a fiberglass replacement.


I would like to hear from those who are using f/g front lids, their experiances, problems, solutions, fitment issues and such.

This a street car the lid will be mounted on, so if you have any photos to share, I would appreciate seeing those images.

Also recomendations for the manufacturer.

I've done some research and would like to know if I am going in the right direction.

Thanks in advance.

[jmitro]

my experience is pretty limited to one brand.
I bought the QRS f/r lids and bumpers. Saves a lot of weight, but requires a lot of work to look anywhere close to OEM in terms of finish.

Fitment was actually pretty good. I bonded the external skin to the frame to keep it from flapping around, and it's pretty rigid. but I would need a ton of work to get the underside of the hood to look as good as OEM. Right now it's raw fiberglass and resin

[mgphoto]

my experience is pretty limited to one brand.
I bought the QRS f/r lids and bumpers. Saves a lot of weight, but requires a lot of work to look anywhere close to OEM in terms of finish.

Fitment was actually pretty good. I bonded the external skin to the frame to keep it from flapping around, and it's pretty rigid. but I would need a ton of work to get the underside of the hood to look as good as OEM. Right now it's raw fiberglass and resin

Thanks for responding jmetro, I am very interested in what you have to say as QRS is a front runner.
Could you elaborate a bit on the fitment of the lid? Your opinion of fit within the body seams? Could you be specific as to what issues were involved in the "ton of work".

I would also like to know a bit more about the bonding of the external skin, is that to the internal frame, is there a gap?

Also any information about the attachment points, lid latch and hinges?
Thanks again.

[jmitro]

Could you elaborate a bit on the fitment of the lid? Your opinion of fit within the body seams? Could you be specific as to what issues were involved in the "ton of work".

I would also like to know a bit more about the bonding of the external skin, is that to the internal frame, is there a gap?

Also any information about the attachment points, lid latch and hinges?
Thanks again.

fitment in terms of body gap to the fenders seemed pretty good; even and straight. The thread inserts for attaching to the hood mounts were pretty well done, except with one being partially obstructed with gel coat. i almost cross threaded the bolt, but managed to ream it out.

In my case, the gel coat chipped off one of the corners, requiring some finish work. also, the edges of the hood required sanding to get them smooth and rounded, similar to the metal hood. Finally, the external skin was only bonded to the frame at the periphery, leaving it really floppy. I bonded the frame to skin with construction adhesive and then overlayed with two layers of fiberglass mat. After paint and clear coat, the hood looks like OEM unless it's opened where you see the ugly raw fiberglass underneath.