Whether you are restoring your vehicle or looking for the performance advantage, Ford Explorer fiberglass hoods are a fantastic way to go. Thanks to their extremely light weight and good strength they offer the same look as steel components but will give better acceleration and handling because of their reduced mass. They are also offered in an assortment of designs from OEM restoration panels, to performance models with built-in hood scoops and power bulges. Here at Andy's we have the full spectrum of Ford Explorer fiberglass hoods from all of the leading brand names. If you are tracking down an aftermarket Ford Explorer fiberglass hood be sure to browse through our extensive collection.

Weight savings in only one of the many advantages of fiberglass. This fantastic resin based material is inexpensive to produce in a vast array of shapes, meaning you can go crazy with style and design. Unlike steel, fiberglass will not rust or corrode so you can count on it to last, even on the salted roads of the east coast. Fiberglass can also be repaired if it is damaged or cracked in an accident, so you won't have to track down another hood if you get into a small fender bender. The light weight material has been used by many OEM manufacturers including Lotus and Chevrolet. In the right applications, this stuff is very hard to beat.

Q: How do you install a fiberglass hood?
A: Depending on the manufacturer, fiberglass hoods are often close to OEM fit, which means you simply unbolt your factory hood and replacing it with the custom hood.

Q: Why buy a fiberglass hood?
A: Fiberglass hoods are a fantastic way to customize the appearance of your car. There are several different styles available, and they all can change the look of your car instantly. These hoods should be painted to match the color of your car, and are normally lighter than your factory hood and therefore better for performance.

Q: Can fiberglass hoods help your vehicle's performance at all?
A: Most fiberglass hoods are substantially lighter than the factory hood, which would decrease weight and therefore increase performance and make acceleration and braking quicker. Some fiberglass hood manufacturer's also provide optional "functional" air induction kits as an option to be purchased with the hood. The kits, when installed, direct incoming cold air that travels through the hood vent directly to your air box, thereby increasing horsepower and making the hood functional. Only a few hood manufacturers offer a the kit that makes the hood functional.

Q: The hood I'm considering buying from Andy's is vented and has openings in it that appear to expose it to rain. Should I be concerned about that? Will it be harmful to my vehicle if rain goes through those vents into my engine bay? Is there a way to protect against that from happening?
A: Adding guards could potentially defeat the purpose of a vented hood, which is to help cool your engine bay. Some customers do get creative and add their own diverters under the hood for a custom solution to the perceived problem, but you would have to figure out how to attach them and whether there's room under the hood in the first place. That being said, we have never heard of any problems running a vented hood as-is, and we've done it ourselves for many years without any issues to speak of.

Q: Are hood pins required for a fiberglass or carbon fiber hood?
A: We strongly advise using hood pins on all fiberglass and carbon fiber hoods, as they provide an additional level of safety should the main latch fail or if a strong gust of wind should peel the hood skin away from its skeleton. In addition, lift-off “race weight” fiberglass hoods require hood pins on all four corners, as they do not have provisions for latches or hinges.

Q: Do fiberglass hoods come pre-drilled for hood pins?
A: No. Since there are many different styles of hood pins available, it is up to our customers to drill the holes themselves to ensure a perfect fit.