NeverdoneUSA Hood aka The Bubble Hood

[kwhauck]

Store/Site purchased: NeverDoneUSA.com
(http://www.neverdoneusa.com/)Cost/Shipping: For me to know, however the cost should be comparable to the Boatek Hood when finished.
Store service, contact, deliver: Customer service is outstanding so far, with questions quickly answered by the Owner. Shipping was a little messed up, but he took care of it on his end and the hood shipped fine and was undamaged upon arrival.

Initial product impressions, quality: Out of the box the product looked great!
Instructions, good, bad, none, etc: None really, Take old hood off, put new one on. Don't buy a hood if you can't figure this out.
Installation notes: Drink a beer, install hood, finish 6 pack.
If not self installed, cost of installation: Bdyman can chime in here, but I would guess that paint and prep for a final factory finish would be between $300-$800

Appearance opinions: I absolutely love the looks of this hood, and have gotten compliments from everybody who has seen it. I have even had people tell me they like it better than the Boetek CF cowl I had before.

Any other thoughts about the product: Ok, so most people remember how the Boatek had shipping problems. My product came unscathed and fine. However, he is still working on shipping options on his end. Let start with the Boatek hood and say it is a 10/10. Which really it is. The CF hood can really be bolted on and go, the finish is great on the Boatek hood top and bottom. This being a fiberglass hood obviously paint work will need to be done. I love the looks of this hood. The overall quality seems to be good. The fit seems to be great. There are just a few issues

My concerns are as follows: The material is the middle is fine, but the edges seem to be a little thin and could use some extra material. The black stuff they use in the middle and on the edge while paintable, I would like to see it more of a gelcoat type finish so it could be mirror painted to a finish. Me personally, I will just have the bottom of the hood sprayed black so I don't care. There are also a few areas on the edges of the hood that could use a little touchup in the finish, but that is all easy prep work for the bodyshop that would paint the hood.

Overall, I give the Bubble hood a 7/10. Clint is working with me as a beta tester and has assured me that the issues will be fixed before release. On the phone he seems like a stand-up guy and wants to do the right thing. He has proven that to me already with some confusions in shipping. With these things fixed it can be a 10/10 hood that we could be proud to have an option for our aleros.

ON TO THE PICS!!!

[kwhauck]

More pics

[kwhauck]

More pics...

[Ttop191]

anyways...fitment looks great

however, i still say to make this hood better they need to cut off that back panel for some venting opportunities

[alero_bmxer]

fuckin sexy. x2 on the venting tho

[robalero]

i can't wait to see it painted

[kwhauck]

Just so everybody knows, Scott aka Oldsman, doesn't like this hood!

[cherrington17]

Venting would be interesting, but would present a TOTALLY different method of production.

I can't say I really love it, but its different, in a good way. Flows well, and I wonder how it contrasts aerodynamically... Just as curiosity goes.

overall... nice, but I prefer stock. I'll give it one :thumb:

[Redog]

I don't like it either.

Fitment looks good, very good actually, but it reminds me of my pants when I used to get unexplained boners in 8th grade English class

[kwhauck]

I don't like it either.

Fitment looks good, very good actually, but it reminds me of my pants when I used to get unexplained boners in 8th grade English class

except this is full size and not a hot wheels car...lol

[Redog]

HEY NOW!!!

Matchbox FTW :lol:

[cavaliers60]

Ehh, I'm sure it looks 10x better in person... I'm on the fence.

[Oldsnut]

Just so everybody knows, Scott aka Oldsman, doesn't like this hood!
Neither does this old fart, but it does look like good fitment.

[sleepyalero]

i like it, vented i would most likely buy it.

also, i love those rims. :p

[Shiwnath]

I think the factory hood's bump was good enough. If it was vented I think it would be more appealing.

[hok666]

<------------needs to see painted!

[hok666]

might look better with a peak?

[bdyman]

it kinda reminds me of the tear drop hood on the dodge race car, i forgot the model of dodge

[wrestlingandrunning]

Hood is ok, may look better painted but I love your wheels!

[jhubbz]

I think its a perfect spot for a gauge or two. kinda like the old school GTO's

[sleepyalero]

I think its a perfect spot for a gauge or two. kinda like the old school GTO's

or like what people do with there 5.0 mustangs.

[kwhauck]

I have considered that, however, most likely I will just cut out a bunch of material back there to vent the heat out of the engine bay.....

[lonnie]

Why isn't there any bracing where the hump begins running to the front of the hood?

[BlackJack]

I think it will look ok with the OSV kit possibly, but without other body accents it's not to my taste.

Glad YOU like it though.

[Naich]

I like it. It kind of reminds me of like the 1996 mustang cobra hoods, but with no vents on the sides of the bubble. It looks better on the alero than a cowl hood, flows with the lines better.

[heineck]

meh....

[kwhauck]

I think it will look ok with the OSV kit possibly, but without other body accents it's not to my taste.

Glad YOU like it though.

funny......i think it looks better without the OSV to me...

[JLw7123]

is there enough room for the supercharger under there

[kwhauck]

No......which sucks, I only gained between 4-5" but I needed like 6-8" for the charger and intercooler, but there will be room for this....obviously turned the other way though....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v709/Black98zq8/c742183f.jpg

[AZFire316]

Great fitment, but not my style. Needs function!

[JLw7123]

No......which sucks, I only gained between 4-5" but I needed like 6-8" for the charger and intercooler, but there will be room for this....obviously turned the other way though....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v709/Black98zq8/c742183f.jpg
damn that sucks are u going to mod it so that it will fit.

[kwhauck]

Great fitment, but not my style. Needs function!

It will function when I cut some material out to vent the heat out of the back of the hood....

damn that sucks are u going to mod it so that it will fit.

Nope, I don't want a blower sticking out of the hood. I will just go back to a front mount charger and utilize the above UIM.......

[AZFire316]

Then it will be awesomeness!

[Oldsman]

No......which sucks, I only gained between 4-5" but I needed like 6-8" for the charger and intercooler, but there will be room for this....obviously turned the other way though....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v709/Black98zq8/c742183f.jpg

make another bubble on top of that one but smaller diameter to give you the additional inches and then you won't have a bubble hood instead a boob hood.

[kwhauck]

make another bubble on top of that one but smaller diameter to give you the additional inches and then you won't have a bubble hood instead a boob hood.

Considered that, also considered cutting the hole and covering the blower with a shaker scoop. However, both options will look funky since the blower and the supercharger shaft are way off to the side of the hood and not centered.....

[Oldsman]

well then it will look like a boob hood with a bad breast enlargement..............LOL

[BlackJack]

just get rid of the transmission and drive the charger off the other end of the engine :P

[CiscoPath]

I dub thee "The Oscar Meyer". Loox like it got real hot under the hood, making it bubble in the middle like a piece of bologna. What's throwing me off is not seeing any extra functionality that you couldn't get by cutting vent holes in the stock hood and you still can't run FI the way you want. I mean, is it lighter because I'm just not seeing the performance benefits which basically makes it more of an appearance mod which is the last thing I'd expect you to spend money on, kwhauck

[kwhauck]

I dub thee "The Oscar Meyer". Loox like it got real hot under the hood, making it bubble in the middle like a piece of bologna. What's throwing me off is not seeing any extra functionality that you couldn't get by cutting vent holes in the stock hood and you still can't run FI the way you want. I mean, is it lighter because I'm just not seeing the performance benefits which basically makes it more of an appearance mod which is the last thing I'd expect you to spend money on, kwhauck

Well it was a guess that I would have room for the charger....obviously now that the hood is in my posession I know I don't have clearence. I could push forward and spend the 3grand to finish a custom LIM to fit the charger, but at this point it is going to be easier and cheaper to just do a front mount like the E/M kit. However, as I stated before, I will be able to run the equinox UIM, which will be a performance benefit.

[2fst4u]

i'm interested in seeing the hood with the osv. the hood is subtle enough that most people probably wouldn't notice, but with a subtle kit like the OSV it would really look nice. as for performance, he's already stated that he's going to cut some material out of the back for venting. and it does provide room for the alternative uim. so, it's more of a cosmetic upgrade that allows for performance upgrades.

[03Sleepr]

the more I look at it, the more I want one.. maybe someday along with an osv kit...

[kwhauck]

the more I look at it, the more I want one.. maybe someday along with an osv kit...

It does grow on you, but you are gonna need an OSV kit too......buy mine! I'll deliver!

[XanderWiFi]

it doesn't obstruct view with that rise?

[kwhauck]

not enough to worry about....

[BoarderTy]

IMO: The hood is pretty ugly..the Boatek on the other hand..looks good.
just my .02

[kwhauck]

pretty ugly..just my .02

like the wheel gap on your 4x4 alero?

[BoarderTy]

like the wheel gap on your 4x4 alero?

Yep! if you lived in my shitty area you would realize that lowering the car would cause damage to the car. Which in turn would cost more money. Yes lowering does look nice, but from my area its not practical. :coolio:

[Alerojester]

i live in iowa and im gonna drop mine

[BoarderTy]

i live in iowa and im gonna drop mine

Iowa. notice how iowa is about 75% flat. It may have dirt farm roads but its way different than northern wisconsin.

[Alerojester]

im not gonna try and argue with you but iowa isn't 75% flat we have just as many hills as you do trust me

[BoarderTy]

With my car also being a year-round daily driver i just dont think its practical for me. maybe for you but not for me. the way my car is "setup" it has a more aggressive look to it (ive been told) the front is about 6inches from the ground and it has a more "forward stance" once again those are the things ive been told.

[JLw7123]

i live in NH in the mountains and the roads here a much worse than the ones in northern Wisconsin. i am going to lower my car 1.5 inches. Wisconsin is very flat compared to NH.

[BoarderTy]

Cool, congrats man! hope it turns out nice.

[XanderWiFi]

:offtopic:

back to the hood...I would like to see it painted and fully incorporated into the car as a whole.

It doesn't matter how far you piss boys, as long as it isn't on your shoes.

[JLw7123]

i like the hood but it might be hard to get auburn mist metallic paint to paint the hood.

[kwhauck]

i like the hood but it might be hard to get auburn mist metallic paint to paint the hood.

a good bodyman could do it.....they sprayed 9 test cards before they got the bumper on the bravada just right.....

[JLw7123]

when u got the bumper painted did u get that only painted or the rest of the front of the bravada repainted so it matches.

[kwhauck]

There were other pieces painted but blending way into the fenders was not necessary....

[XanderWiFi]

Kyle, any chance we could get some pics from a distance? To see how it looks incorporated with the whole car?

[kwhauck]

Here ya go....I'll get some prof. rig shots in a couple months when the hood is painted....

[billytheman1188]

what lowering springs do you have!? That thing looks fuckin nice though.....sitting low on those nice wheels....the hood all bubbled up lol. Looks good.

[kwhauck]

custom one-off Koni coilovers with Eibach race springs (modeled after the OSV, with some track changes)

Matt Fuller had them built, John (APofC) acquired them and had them rebuilt, and I got them from John fresh after the rebuild.....

[AGT]

Wow the hood actually does have a nice flow with the rounded rear quarter windows

[Ttop191]

that looks damn good from that distance

[03Sleepr]

damn, nice I'm in love with your rims...and now I want a coupe

[Chris2000]

Kyle is that an oil leak ?

[kwhauck]

sure is.....junkyard motor, seems to be a small leak on the oil pan gasket from what i've found......

[Chris2000]

Dam. Hopefully it's just a gasket on its way out. Our oil pans (at least on the 2.4) are annoying as all hell.

[kwhauck]

I'm sure its just the pan gasket on the way out, and if it is the LIM, I really am not worried about it, or care that much since this motor will only be in there for a short time......