I bought a used Seibon VSII carbon fiber hood and it needs to be re-cleared. I am going to try to get a shine to it first, and then will decide if I want to attempt to clear it myself or have a shop do it. On to the pics!

1st Day - Install

I installed the hood myself and it was a pain! Fitment is ok, left side fits perfect and the right is slightly off. Maybe with two people and a little tweaking it can be improved:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/DSCF4548.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/DSCF4554.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/DSCF4556.jpg

The worse part of the hood is the middle from the heat. Previous owner had a turbo. I started by wetsanding with 1000 and got this:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/P6290033.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/P6290037.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/P6290029.jpg

Took out the silver mesh grille and replaced it with an RS2.0 upper grille painted black. The RS2 grille is actually 3 pieces and after unscrewing the trim and metal frame, I had just the mesh and it fits perfect! :clap:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/P6290022.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/P6290024.jpg

Day 2

Today, I started off by using some rubbing compound. I worked on the left side for about an hour.

1st round of buffing:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/1stround.jpg

2nd

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/2nd.jpg

3rd

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/3rd.jpg

You can see the significant difference between the right and left.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/P6290035.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/P6290040.jpg

Comparison. I dunno what that stuff is on the hood, if it's the clear faded or a film of wax/dirt mix but it's a pain to get off. Some parts of the hood only takes a few minutes but might have to wetsand the really bad stuff.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/P6290037-1.jpg

Day 2, Part 2

OK, now after 3 hours of buffing the right side, NOTHING! So I went to wetsanding with 2000 then some buffing and now it looks pretty good.

Now I just have to do some touch up sanding in certain areas, and find a better scratch remover. I'm only using Scratch-X cuz I can't find my rubbing compound :tap:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/leftside.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/sidel.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/middle.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/front.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/sider.jpg

So here's the before and after pics, just from today:

Before:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/1stround.jpg

After:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/siderr.jpg

Day 3: Rubbing Compound

Yay for Turtle Wax compound! Scratches, GONE! There are some spots I missed wetsanding, so I will have to go back and do those again. This is just the left side for today. Very happy with the outcome :clap:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/P6300002.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/P6300012.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/P6300010.jpg

It could be the gelcoat/resin used on the exterior is fogging...

I'd use some megiuars medium cut and see if you can rub some of it off... It'll probaby be best to get it spray again... Once everything has been sanded, as far as imperfections and all...

^thanx! Definitely, I would really like to do it myself but I've never used a paint gun. It's gonna be a while tho before I can get this thing cleared

why are there a set of hood pins on top of a set of hood pins?

I dunno, that's how the hood came. I'll take off the top ones lol

i think it just looked retarded.
i hated my hood pins, so now i have an oem hood. go figure

damn i always loved ur car always look sick good luck wit the hood and i really like those fogs i was considering them but now that i see them on another car im definatly gonna buy them

I've had 3 cf hoods (1 on the tC, 2 from previous cars) that started to oxidize. unfortunately clear coating is the only permanent solution. I once read a thread on honda-tech about using 3M marine wax + separate polish. People were raving about how well it works, so I bought some off Amazon.com (but others got it from marine supply and Walmart). It works well, but its only a wax so its not permanent. I'm too lazy to wax my car so I said "effit!". Here's my original thread, which includes the Honda-Tech link: http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=206880

Choose the appropriate wax:
http://www3.3m.com/catalog/us/en001/auto_marine_aero/marine/node_1GLJHPB3Q0gs/root_GST1T4S9TCgv/vroot_GS4JK4Y166ge/bgel_61DX49BF0Hbl/gvel_H8PTZGX97Rgl/theme_us_marine_3_0/command_AbcPageHandler/output_HTML
http://www3.3m.com/catalog/us/en001/auto_marine_aero/marine/node_GSQPSZNL4Hgs/root_GST1T4S9TCgv/vroot_GS4JK4Y166ge/bgel_GSJS11T0NCbl/gvel_H8PTZGX97Rgl/theme_us_marine_3_0/command_AbcPageHandler/output_HTML
+
Restorer compound:
http://www3.3m.com/catalog/us/en001/auto_marine_aero/marine/node_MQL0W4QXFTgs/root_GST1T4S9TCgv/vroot_GS4JK4Y166ge/bgel_JNTBB9P03Lbl/gvel_H8PTZGX97Rgl/theme_us_marine_3_0/command_AbcPageHandler/output_html

great start/// yes marine wax does work miracles.. but clear coat is eminent

using a spray gun is fairly easy... just make sure you have the right tip for clear, and practice on something prior to just jumping in...

Just be patient... Try not to do a flood coat right off the bat... The first should more or less be like a tack coat, for the others... Just mist the spray.... Then build on that... Follow your paints flash time, and just be patient...

found these online a couple days ago.
maybe theyll help you out.

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17579

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7113

Looks real good dude, I don't know what you are talking about but the fit looks mint to me. I would never have noticed anything if you didn't say it. Great work.

found these online a couple days ago.
maybe theyll help you out.

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17579

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7113

thanx! I'll read up I like that forum.

I've had 3 cf hoods (1 on the tC, 2 from previous cars) that started to oxidize. unfortunately clear coating is the only permanent solution. I once read a thread on honda-tech about using 3M marine wax + separate polish. People were raving about how well it works, so I bought some off Amazon.com (but others got it from marine supply and Walmart). It works well, but its only a wax so its not permanent. I'm too lazy to wax my car so I said "effit!". Here's my original thread, which includes the Honda-Tech link: http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=206880

Thank you for the info! I will look into that marine stuff. Another SL member sent me a great link from a civic forum. This guy used the marine stuff and his hood turned out great! I might try this later. Check it:

http://www.clubcivic.com/board/showthread.php?p=2100461

I thought Seibon hoods came pre-clear coated?

damn i always loved ur car always look sick good luck wit the hood and i really like those fogs i was considering them but now that i see them on another car im definatly gonna buy them

Thank u for the compliment! I like the fogs too, they fit great and were easy to install. There were no VRDs at teh time when I purchased these, and I had to because of a nasty crack in the lower right vent from dang raccoon. "Now you see it, now you don't!" hehehe

I thought Seibon hoods came pre-clear coated?

I bought a used Seibon VSII carbon fiber hood and it needs to be re-cleared.

Looks real good dude, I don't know what you are talking about but the fit looks mint to me. I would never have noticed anything if you didn't say it. Great work.

Thanx, the fitment is ok it's not off by much. Not anything noticeable like you said, unless you are REALLY looking.

*edit, put the pics on page 1

wait now the hood pins still look retarded. wtf did the guy before you do?

I dunno, how are they supposed to be?

oh you know what...the weave is different and also not lined up going the same way as the hood.

those are supposed to be NRG's

http://www.octanemotorsports.com/product_info.php?products_id=12128

the entire locking section is missing, but i dont understand why?

hmmm maybe he kept them, because I think he had 2 different types of hood pins, and still has to send me another package. Anyways, I like those and wonder if I can buy just the locks? I found some for $30 on ebay too, I'll get those.

id say just buy a new set. since the holes are already there

Man that hood looked it went through some hell and obviously didnt care for it enough. Good job on cleaning it up.

^thanx! The person who had it before used it for it's function. I'm grateful that he sold it to me for the price I got it for, he's a good guy. I blame the company for not making a better or improving their product...

ok,it's 130 in the morning and I found my rubbing compound! :doh:...yippy get to work on it again tomorrow. I'm off to bed :yawn:

good luck on that, hopefully you can get it all nice and purdy again :)

nice work...any updates??
lol

I updated page 1 with pics from yesterday's Part 2...I am off to buff out those scratches

are you using a bonnet when applying the scratchx?...

try using a "wool" pad... It looks like you have a hf buffer, so if that's the case, just use what you have, but if you have something you can change the pad to, change it to one w/ some texture to it... the meguiars have a real fine texture to it, but it's enough to get up some oxidation and whatnot... would probaby make like 1million times easier...

Looks good though...

Today, I used polishing compound on the left side and removed just about all the scratches! Update pics on page 1

Scooba, I do have them somewheres..

Don't wet sand the hood. If there is any clear coat still on the hood you're removing it by wet sanding.

^the clear has to be redone anyways, it's yellow. What do you suggest I do instead? I need all the help especially from you paint guys!

Don't wet sand the hood. If there is any clear coat still on the hood you're removing it by wet sanding.

this coming from the man who wetsands his entire car...
lol, im just givin ya isht flea. :P

it's probably the resin/gel coat that's yellow... A lot of the time c/f products aren't cleared... There made w/ a UV clearcoat/resin...

TBH, I wet sanded my car a few times already, but that was with 2500 grit. I think she is wet sanding the hood with 1000 grit. 1000 grit is going to take a lot of clear off. I've had a few people come by my garage in the last couple days with really bad scratched/faded away front bumpers (much like your hood). I just recently got a new rotary buffer and that works wonders.

I use the Meguiar's wool cut pad with the new M105. Two passes with that stuff and M80 on a polishing pad really brings the shine back to the surface and kills the dullness. But again, that is with a real rotary buffer, not a DA.

Rotery buffers FTW! If your gonna get a buffer and plan to use it allot make sure you go with a DeWalt, Makita, or Milwaukee because if you get the cheaper stuff from like auto zone you wont be happy. Your better off feeding it rice then electricity. I learned that the hard way :lalala:

did u use turtle was polishing compound?

or just the rubbing compound?

i used them both and rubbing compound cause fine scratches/swirls... using polishing compound from turtle wax i could get rid of every scratches... try that one.

^Ok, I am using Turtle Wax Polishing Compound, sorry didn't know there was a difference.

I am VERY happy with the outcome from today's work. The middle part is back to normal, no scratches or haze. The left side, I will have to wetsand a bit more cuz I missed some spots. Will finish the rest of the hood tomorrow. More updated pics on page 1 at the bottom of first post:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/P6300002.jpg

TBH, I wet sanded my car a few times already, but that was with 2500 grit. I think she is wet sanding the hood with 1000 grit. 1000 grit is going to take a lot of clear off. I've had a few people come by my garage in the last couple days with really bad scratched/faded away front bumpers (much like your hood). I just recently got a new rotary buffer and that works wonders.

I only wet sanded the middle with 1000 because it was really bad. The rest of the hood I sanded with 2000, and actually the middle is a lot shinier than the rest

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/P6300012.jpg

check out the porter cable 7424 Random Orbital polisher, that's what I use to polish items I overlay!... its a bit cheaper then the above listed, but works wonder!

I'll dry sand from 150 -> 320 or so, and then wet all the way up to 1500... I could go higher, but have been able to duplicate 1500+ grit finishes by throwing in the polisher...

Then I go w/ a meguiars medium cut cleaner and machine glaze... both are water soluble and I wash em off after each is applied... And then I finish it off w/ scratchx!...

I'll shoot a pic tonight of some 'c' pillars I was finishing up!...

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t259/slenhard/0bd16530.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t259/slenhard/be9c5942.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t259/slenhard/7e879cca.jpg