NA hood with headlight covers - Who makes them?
 

Does anyone make an NA hood (fiberglass, carbon, or aluminum) with integrated headlight covers other than ISC Racing and rharris (not sure he even makes them anyone)?

I'm specifically looking for something lighter than the ISC Racing one if at all possible.

In for answer as my light mounts have been removed. It's either this, or rivet the covers to hood and do body work so it doesn't look like ass...

Suprised the ISC is only 2lbs lighter than oem...

Is it possible to just weld the headlight covers to the hood and get rid of all the headlight junk? I bought some extra headlights and hood, but wasn't sure if the covers were aluminum or steel.

Covers are steel

if you talk to the guys over at carbonmiata i'm sure they could offer something.

Could always lay some plastic (maybe styrene?) with a low melting temp over the stock covers and use a heat gun to form it. Then use whatever the lightest hood is you can find.

AKA a gutted oem hood.

If anyone is interested, I can run a batch of aluminum headlight covers with flanges that are pop riveted to the hood. That's what I have on my car now. With or without louvers, your choice. Hammer forms are all set up.

Interested. I have some aluminum for exactly that, but with about 100 other changes going on over the winter, one less thing to fab from scratch would be awesome if they are decently priced. What thickness do you make them out of?

-Ryan

double post

I could be interested also

Thats a great idea. I might be down for that. Your forum name rhymes with dildo :giggle:

The lids are made of 5051 aluminum, 0.050" thick (1.25mm), which is sturdy enough to support itself and not deform at speed, yet not unnecessarily heavy. They weigh 288 grams each before fitting.

These are a bit DIY. The headlight covers are formed, but they'll need to be fitted. To fit them, you'll want to trim the excess flange and then install. My headlamp covers are installed with blind rivets. Once installed, you might have t tweak the curve a bit to match your tweaked hood and tweaked fenders. :giggle:

I spoke to the shop today. Mine was the first set he made (he's done other work for me), and he's made another set since (in the pics). Price is $120 for a set (both sides) and louvers would be $2 each. Louvers on mine inset/reversed for intake purposes (my air intake is right there), and 5 louvers on that headlamp lid is $2 x 5 = $10.

Having the lids attached to the hood was on my to-do list for a long time, and is one of these changes that once was done, my only regret was not getting to it a lot sooner. So nice to have those things out of the way when the hood is up.

Here are some crappy pics of my dirty car:

Ooh ooh ooh. You could weld them to the hood, a little body work on the top side and wala, factory baby! :drool:

interested

Do they still flip up when the headlights go on?




I like the rivet look and the price is good so I am pretty keen.

Not sure if serious :brain:

These look pretty great, would you be doing them in a group run only or will this be something that you will take orders for whenever?

I'm interested in a passenger side one at least. The cheap CF covers I picked up just would not fit on that side well. The driver side fit well enough though.

Oh disregard at 120 + postage I may as well get pressform company in Oz to punch two out for me.

I may even go with the sleepy eyed look and mount them to the fender instead of the bonnet.

We can do a bunch or just a few. Single sets here and there aren't as worth the time so those requests may take longer to fill. If it weren't for the louver option, then the lids wouldn't have to be made to order. The louvers are done before the lids are formed. Either way, the turn-around time is measured in days, not months.

A friend of mine wants a set, so this is likely a good time to run a batch for a 'group buy'. Not sure how those fit with forum rules. OK to do that here? Have people send me a PM? Post a classified?

If you run a GB, I'm in. Not sure the louvers do much in that area. Isn't that an area that sees a bit of vacuum?

Group buy threads go here: Group Buys and Member Discounts - Miata Turbo Forum - The Miataturbo of miata turbo sites

You can link to it in your sig if you're worried about it getting lost in the clutter.

I can get a fiberglass NA miata hood with headlight covers molded in. We made them for SCCA FP/EP cars. cant remember off hand the weight, but I think they were about 11 pounds. You have to use Pins, no provisions for hinge mounts (but you save all that weight - hinges, headlights, covers, latches, etc)

Looks like: https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1357167383

Kendall

Price and availability.

Wildo, still thinking group buy? I'm in.

Yes, I've heard from a couple of people and will place an order soon. I'll setup a group buy thread as Joe suggested. In the mean time, PM me if you are interested.

Thanks,

Will

Just checked on my fiberglass guy. He's got the mold & can make them. I'm getting one for my STL miata, but figure around $325 + shipping from redford MI (detroit area). Lead time is a couple weeks.

Its a cored hood with a break (lip) all the way around. I'll see if I can dig up a pic of the underside. He can do carbon fibre & kevlar as well, but that's going to be a lot more money for maybe half the weight.

And again this is really a race / track only piece - He can probably build one up beefier for street use for extra $$

Kendall

Really interested in a set of these without the vents. A little welding and body work will make it sweet.

I kind of like the unmolded OEM look with the rivets - just like the pic. PM sent.

I'm a little late to the party but did this ever develop into anything?
PM sent as well.

I must have missed it, but someone must have mentioned re-using the headlight barn doors like this:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1368502321

Please carry on, I dont like how flimsy a gutted hood is, and look forward to shaving 10+ lbs there someday.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1368502321

The only issue with reusing the doors is they're heavy. 1lbs 5oz by my scale.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1368533101

I fabbed up some clones out of 0.025 aluminum and they ended up weighing 5oz each.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1368533101

Those group buy items look a whole lot nicer than what I made, though I think 0.050 would negate a lot of the weight advantage. If mine were 5oz, those should be in the 10oz range, or about half of a stock door.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1365126944

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1365126944

^^ I want a set! I have a silver NA as well.

What'd you run for headlights?

Marty my boy. Where we are going, we don't need headlights!

I just have Hella low beam projectors. There is a thread specific to NA lighting where I posted more details on my setup, which is very similar to what Will is running: https://www.miataturbo.net/race-prep...e2/#post997796

The fabricator made a run of 6-7 sets, and they have all sold via PM to me on these forums. I simply put the buyer in touch with the fabricator/shop owner.

I don't have any financial interest in these headlamp lids. They are just something that I wanted for myself, had him make, and thought other Miata guys might like them too. I think there have been about 10 cars with these by now (including local guys).

If there is interest, I'll open up a group-by. These are the types of things that are good for the fabricator to make in batches.

Eric - Thanks for posting pics. Great job on the install, and those headlamps look cool, too. *That* is what I should have done for the lights - one single HID on each side that could function as a low and high beam.

FWIW, the aluminum lids have been track tested many times over by now. I've seen 120-130+ MPH many times (NHMS, Summit Point, Mt Tremblant). Absolutely 0 problems. No moving flexing, lifting, etc.

If anyone wants a set, PM me. I may take a few days to get back to you as I don't check in as often as I used to.

I just installed mine. Did anyone use some kind of stopper underneath the unsupported corner? I'm sure it will be fine but it would probably be nicer if it was resting against something in that 4th corner.

My previous attempt at this with the stock covers ripped off some of the paint so I put some vinyl down and then riveted the covers on. I also primed and sprayed them with a little metallic silver paint fairly close to the body color.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...609_190049-jpg

I know what you mean. I thought I'd want that corner supported too, but it turns out that it isn't necessary at all. I am not using any extra supports on that '4th' (front, outer) corner. I've had no problems and it is nice not to have a brace or support taking up room under the hood. I have inadvertently put my hand on and leaned on that corner more than once, usually while the car is on the trailer. Still, no problems.

I fabbed up this. It's not too pretty, but works fine and is sturdy.
The cover is an IL Motorsport NA0-0052 with the tabs removed.

A little off topic but does a NACA duct in the headlight cover do anything for airflow into the intake? Just curious. Aero at the front of our cars seems to be a constant point of debate.

Doubt it. That's a low pressure zone.

That's what I was thinking.

Going to be installing my headlight covers in the same way as shown in this thread in the coming weeks. Tons of good info here.

My string tests says otherwise.

The NACA duct is lowering IATs in both N/A and turbo Miatas for me.

Does it change underhood pressures at all or have you ducted/enclosed the airflow from NACA duct to intake somehow?

I have one in my headlight cover, it did lower the IAT when moving. It defiantly drops the temp quicker with it. I do have a box that mostly seals the filter compartment.

Do you have any leftover? I need these in my life

Old thread, new question,
Anyone know of a source for hood mounted covers? Getting tired of fabricating everything.

Yes. I have not been back to MT in a while, but these are still available. Send me a PM and I can connect you with the shop.

Best,

Will

I had the aluminum covers I bought from wildo welded to the stock hood and it came out great.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1457914534

It's crazy how much room that clears up under the hood.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1457914534

CCP fabrication makes a lightweight glass hood with the headlight covers built in

Lightweight compared to what?

Sorry that may be a presumption on my part, though I'd be willing to bet(a small sum) that it is lighter than the stock hood and headlight covers. I'll find out for sure.

Everything he makes is pretty light. Hardtop 10.5lbs w/o window, doors were about 5lbs each, trunk lids, etc. His parts are for track cars, doors are essentially shells and I wouldn't run them without a cage and door bars.

Wildo hooked me up with his supplier, mine are on the way.
Thanks

Would you or Wildo be able to provide the supplier? I would like to get a set as well.

Mazda Miata Plain Headlamp Doors Rivet on Aluminum 1st Generation One Pair Race | eBay

I think I got the last set of this batch. Apparently, if someone orders more, he will fabricate another batch.

Is it possible to get thes either un louvered or louvered on both sides with the louvers 'coming up' instead of going 'down'?