Paint Bubbles on Hood

[TORQJNKY]

I've developed the hood bubbling issue again. :facepalm: No wet sanding and buffing is going to fix my issue. Some of the bubbles on my hood have even cracked through the paint. The previous owner had this hood repainted for this issue as well, the most recent using a PPG process. So what can one do, aside from continuing to have the hood repainted/repaired when it happens yet again? Is there a better paint application process I should seek out that others have had luck with? There has to be a better way. There are millions of fiberglass cars on the road without fiberglass off gassing causing bubbles under the paint. Thanks for any help you smart guys can provide.

Dan Schoneck, do you make a carbon fiber replacement hood?

It's one thing to be privileged enough to own one of the coolest cars on the planet. It's another thing when a recognizable flaw like this detracts from it's overall beauty.

 

[B.M.F.]

I do and just buy a new hood and hang that hood on the wall!

The only way to get rid of all the air pockets as that's what that is, would be to take a heat lamp and bake the hood let them all rise and then mark them all. Then dig into every single one with a die grinder, fill and re prime the hood for paint.

 

[Ed Sims]

http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/showthread.php/15485-Paint-is-blistering?highlight=paint+bubbles

Here is another thread about the same subject. There has to be an answer.

Ed

PS Stormcat - do you have anymore CF hoods?

 

[roketman]

All the hoods are Carbon

 

[B.M.F.]

All the hoods are Carbon

The first round of hoods made in Detroit for the 05 cars were chopper gunned fiberglass. They looked real rough from the bottom sides and the company could not keep up to Ford’s demands for hoods so the contract was sold to a company in Canada. When they moved the production of the hoods to Canada they were a fiberglass resin transfer process. The hoods on all the cars are Fiberglass. The clambshell is carbon/aluminum.

 

[AJB]

true … none of the hoods are carbon fiber... all fiberglass.
….because of the radical contours and deep-deep draws, the hood could not be made of superformed aluminum as the rest of the body..
andy (ajb)

 

[Mpinelli24]

How long did it take for it to come back after you repainted it? I painted mine last year, no bubbles back yet.

 

[Specracer]

There was a round of carbon hoods, Bony had one and cleared only. As others stated, all OEM were fiberglass.

On the bubbles, its a very common issue on 2000 Cobra R hoods, especially earlier cars. I have a friend with one, took it to a renowned Corvette guy (fiberglass), fixed it, bubbles came back. Took it back, he did it again. Bubbles came back yet again, went back, guy punted, said he would not touch it again. His solution was to buy an aftermarket hood that is nearly identical, and "mothball" the original. Luckily I have a very late R, with out this issue (knock on wood).

 

[B.M.F.]

There was a round of carbon hoods, Bony had one and cleared only. As others stated, all OEM were fiberglass.

On the bubbles, its a very common issue on 2000 Cobra R hoods, especially earlier cars. I have a friend with one, took it to a renowned Corvette guy (fiberglass), fixed it, bubbles came back. Took it back, he did it again. Bubbles came back yet again, went back, guy punted, said he would not touch it again. His solution was to buy an aftermarket hood that is nearly identical, and "mothball" the original. Luckily I have a very late R, with out this issue (knock on wood).

stormcat had the molds made i believe. Last year i made the tooling to produce hoods as well. Cosmetic bottom in resin infused carbon fiber and the tops are hand laid fiberglass to be painted.. they turned out pretty awesome.

 

[B.M.F.]

Our hoods have all the factory style plates with press zerts just like oem ones do.

 

[FerrariSlayer]

I had a similar problem with my 2000 Viper. The problem seemed to spread and get worse over time even though the car was stored in a climate controlled environment and under cover. I decided to sell it knowing it would be a never ending issue. However, this is different. I agree with the others - get a replacement hood and hang on to the original - make it "wall art".

 

[Ed Sims]

Our hoods have all the factory style plates with press zerts just like oem ones do.

Wow BMF! Very cool.

Ed

 

[Sinovac]

Our hoods have all the factory style plates with press zerts just like oem ones do.

That’s good to know. How much? My hood is bubbling too.

 

[Cobrar]

Luckily I have a very late R, with out this issue (knock on wood).

Yeah, but is your fuel tank (badder) leaking yet?? :facepalm:

 

[fjpikul]

Stormcat made a very few hoods of Dr, Bony had one of the first ones. He painted it director match the car but the ducts down t the fans he left unpainted. Also note, no notch for wiper mechanism. Sound waves here on the forum owns it now for many years.

 

[Specracer]

95, yes, and done, 00, not yet.

Stay on topic.. ha

Yeah, but is your fuel tank (badder) leaking yet??

 

[Cobrar]

95, yes, and done, 00, not yet.

Stay on topic.. ha

OK, I have a couple of paint bubbles, but my local expert (GT Guy) advised me not to fix it.

Says the car is completely original and should keep it that way. Good advice!

When you going to address the '00 bladder? ;-))

 

[eg1985]

Correct. I installed the hood on Bony's car. Initially we were going to put it on completely natural but the guys in the brown van dropped it on it's head and damaged one of the corners so I had a friend of mine that builds race boats in CF repair it and we elected to paint it due to the CF weave area that was repaired not cosmetically matching the rest of the hood. We left the recessed areas natural CF which had a really nice contrast. It was a very well crafted piece.

 

[daytrayd]

95, yes, and done, 00, not yet.

Stay on topic.. ha

I am doing my 95 right now as well, and my 00 has no bubbles either, which is rare!

To clarify for the OP, your issues are relatively common on fiberglass parts, which arise from an improper curing process. There is no fix other than a new hood, as others have alluded. Any repaint to fix would be temporary.

 

[B.M.F.]

That’s good to know. How much? My hood is bubbling too.

They are $6000.00 for the cosmetic carbon bottomed hood.