hey guys...

i am having some real bad issues with the fit of a very original 1970 Challenger trim ring in a "NOS" hood.

here is a pic of my trim ring. very heavy and 99.9% sure real deal.


here is how it fits in the hood...





basically - there is a gap on one side the width of a pencil and if you try to center it the stud holes/studs are way off.
The hood is supposedly a NOS hood.

It was sent to me with an aftermarket trim ring which fit perfectly with stud alignment but was a little snug in the formed hole.

I AM SOOOOO Confused.....


here are some pictures of the hood.
could you guy evaluate it for originality etc...






[img]http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad311/72ls5fla/For%20Eric/IMG_0370.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad311/72ls5fla/For%20Eric/IMG_0289.jpg[/img]



I am kinda at my wits end trying to figure out how a aftermarket trim ring fits better in a NOS hood than a known OEM trim ring does...... which fit absolutely perfect in the original hood before it got trashed.

Any ideas or insights greatly appreciated.


Bill

That looks like an Original late crumple zone Shaker hood or a good fake to me. Not sure on the trim ring. Any part numbers on the "original" trim ring?

I will be stripping it at the shop tomorrow and will check.
from what I can tell (based on the bottom unpainted part) I don't see any
but I know 1000% for sure it was the one it left the factory with.

Bill

Bill there is definately some kind of issue there, give me a call after 5pm pacific.

The trim ring is original in my opinion but I think you have an issue with that complete hood being original.
No one ever made a reproduction underside tub for the shaker conversion with these factory stamping 'wrinkles' at the front, and also found on the sides of a real tub.
Repros tubs are smoother all the way round.
On some original underhood tubs, the wrinkles are more prominent than others.
First picture here is an original Cuda hood, second picture is an original Challenger hood.

I dont see any evidence of any wrinkling on you hood underside tub.
Hoods themselves also had the same at the front as seen here on this original Cuda shaker hood, some again not so prominent.
Original Cuda shaker in the second photo shows the wrinkles on the side as well.
These factors are the easiest way to tell a real underside tub from a fake.

Thank you for the great information!

I am nearly 100% sure now that the hood is not OEM or NOS.

Now I have to get this resolved.. :-)

Have a great weekend.

Bill

This happened to a friend of mine -- thought he was buying a real hood when it wasn't -- and it was put together wrong. For him, he only knew it was a problem when he tried mounting it on the car, and the whole hood had a twist in it -- it was really screwed up. It was never going to fit in the front of the header panel on his Cuda, my friend had to eat that one financially as the vendor from the East coast would not stand behind his item at all................

Happens a lot these days on a lot of items, but some things you cannot duplicate 100% like original, no matter how much the seller claims theirs to be undetectable.
Thats why it is good to come on here and get some help and hopefully answers from people who have been there.
We've all learned the hard way once in a while on these kinds of deals...hopefully you can get your deal resolved.