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Questions about installing fiberglass hood #2733769
01/16/20 10:27 PM
01/16/20 10:27 PM
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West Plains, MO
DrCharles Offline OP
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I just got a nice 6-pack hood (from AAR) for my '72 Dart Swinger. It's pretty straight, but seems to be just a red hair smaller than the original steel hood, so the gaps are more visible.
(The paint isn't even close to matching, even though it was done by the same guy who did the fenders with the same gun... but a different can of Calypso Red 252 made at the same supplier. Sigh. But that's another story).

My car was missing the seal between the cowl and the hood. There's apparently supposed to be one: https://www.steelerubber.com/hood-to-cowl-weatherstrip-70-1640-43
Does this mount on the car or on the hood? Screws or trim adhesive?

Also, on the steel hood, the chrome trim that runs across the front edge was secured to the underside with small sheet metal screws. The glass hood does not have a row of holes there. Should I carefully drill small holes for the screws, or use trim adhesive? I'm worried about splintering the fiberglass.

It does save quite a bit of weight, obviously much better carb/air cleaner clearance, and lets in cold air so that's good even if the color's not perfect work

Which reminds me of another issue... I ordered lightweight hood springs and did specify it was a bolt-on hood, not a super-light race weight piece.
But they still aren't nearly strong enough to hold up the glass hood (28 lb). Did I get the wrong springs? There was only one way to put them together on the hinges. shruggy

Re: Questions about installing fiberglass hood [Re: DrCharles] #2734033
01/17/20 11:04 PM
01/17/20 11:04 PM
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Bend,OR USA
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All the original AAR Cuda and T/A Challenger I've open the hoods on would not stay up either, you had to hold them up yourself whiney
I have seen guys change those springs to get the hoods to stay up and the hoods will start to bend at the end of the hinge, my original hood was like that when I bought it used from another T/A owner so I would use a saw off broom stick to hold the hood up when I wanted to check or work on something under the hood shruggy
Same thing on my old Duster with a race weight lift off Duster hood with a 1968 SS/AA scoop made on it, I molded in some aluminum T on the rear to use the stock hinges with the springs removed instead of having to worry about it using it as a lift off hood up


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Re: Questions about installing fiberglass hood [Re: Cab_Burge] #2734040
01/17/20 11:21 PM
01/17/20 11:21 PM
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West Plains, MO
DrCharles Offline OP
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The race-weight hood would definitely bend under any kind of spring pressure - they are designed as lift-offs.
But this one is intended to be used with the stock hinges, although with lighter springs shruggy
It's relatively heavy-duty (28 lbs weight) and I'd be surprised if it would bend with appropriate springs.

Anyway I'll probably make a prop rod rather than go to the trouble of attempting to remove the hinges and change springs again with the fenders on.

Re: Questions about installing fiberglass hood [Re: DrCharles] #2734064
01/18/20 03:07 AM
01/18/20 03:07 AM
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Toss the springs and do the prop rod BUT BE SURE to have that rod hooked into the hood so wind can’t catch the hood while up

Re: Questions about installing fiberglass hood [Re: dIc dOc Deity !] #2734067
01/18/20 03:27 AM
01/18/20 03:27 AM
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Auburn WA
Dave_J Offline
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Originally Posted by Doc Fiberglass
Toss the springs and do the prop rod BUT BE SURE to have that rod hooked into the hood so wind can’t catch the hood while up


Lots of prop rods for Subaru Outbacks are long and have a hook on the end.


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Re: Questions about installing fiberglass hood [Re: Dave_J] #2734068
01/18/20 03:34 AM
01/18/20 03:34 AM
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Originally Posted by Dave_J
Originally Posted by Doc Fiberglass
Toss the springs and do the prop rod BUT BE SURE to have that rod hooked into the hood so wind can’t catch the hood while up


Lots of prop rods for Subaru Outbacks are long and have a hook on the end.


Good call ... how long is that rod? The CarrotVan and the Chrysler 200 have nice hooks on them

Re: Questions about installing fiberglass hood [Re: dIc dOc Deity !] #2734089
01/18/20 09:56 AM
01/18/20 09:56 AM
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Richmond Twp. Mi.
Mr340 Offline
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not familar with dart hood hinge but if your hinge has these holes you can make up a bracket like this to hold the hood up,, make two, one for each side. no spring or prop rod needed.

1119111431.jpg
Last edited by Mr340; 01/18/20 09:57 AM.
Re: Questions about installing fiberglass hood [Re: Mr340] #2734109
01/18/20 10:54 AM
01/18/20 10:54 AM
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That’s a great idea.


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as long as you look good doing it!

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Re: Questions about installing fiberglass hood [Re: Mr340] #2734118
01/18/20 11:22 AM
01/18/20 11:22 AM
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Posts: 4,220
West Plains, MO
DrCharles Offline OP
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Looks nice. Unfortunately the A-body hinges are all down inside the fender so it'd be hard to make this method work.
Right now I'm using a length of two-by-four so anything will be an improvement grin
I can probably just make my own prop rod... heat and bend the end for a hook weld

Re: Questions about installing fiberglass hood [Re: DrCharles] #2734164
01/18/20 12:46 PM
01/18/20 12:46 PM
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So Near, Yet So Far
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You might try a prop rod from an '80s Toyota pickup or similar; you can mount one end to the inner fender/rad support gusset and with a clip, it can rest along the inner fender flange.
I like 340's hinge trick, but that won't work on A bodies.
As for the molding, depends on the area you're drilling into, may be fine.
Would've been better to mock that up before paint, but the 'glass is likely pretty strong at the leading edge, especially if it's double-panel.
You could try cheating the hood/fender match by painting the fender tops (backtape the top ridges), but it may also mismatched at the cowl, which might mean going up the A-pillars.

Re: Questions about installing fiberglass hood [Re: Mr340] #2736107
01/24/20 01:13 PM
01/24/20 01:13 PM
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Shopping @ HoBo Fright
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Originally Posted by Mr340
not familar with dart hood hinge but if your hinge has these holes you can make up a bracket like this to hold the hood up,, make two, one for each side. no spring or prop rod needed.

That is what I did but made 6 {2 part open, 2 half open and 2 all the way open} and had my guy plate them.


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Re: Questions about installing fiberglass hood [Re: 340SIX] #2736137
01/24/20 01:55 PM
01/24/20 01:55 PM
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Posts: 20,355
Eagle, Idaho
Neil Offline
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Weatherstrip is held in by snap in clips. They might crack the glass pushing them in. Not sure you really need to install it.

I would install hood pins while you at it.

Hood hinge springs can be pried out if your careful. They might be under tension so maybe stuff some rags back in there to keep them from going someplace you don't want them to go.

I'd have the hood repainted so it matches. Shame on the painter for not doing his _____ job. If he can't match it then he should refund your money.

Last edited by Neil; 01/24/20 02:05 PM.
Re: Questions about installing fiberglass hood [Re: Neil] #2736150
01/24/20 02:18 PM
01/24/20 02:18 PM
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Calgary, Alberta Canada
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How about using a set of "Dart Light" or "Feather Duster" hood springs ??? They were designed for the lighter aluminum skinned hood . . . not sure if it is same weight as your fiberglass one . . . but something to think about . . .

Re: Questions about installing fiberglass hood [Re: Neil] #2736237
01/24/20 06:07 PM
01/24/20 06:07 PM
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Florida
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Probably a little ghetto for you, I made a 2-piece PVC pole that screws together for a prop.
1” schedule 40 with rubber caps on ends, 2 pieces so it fits easily in trunk.

I also have those hinge rods for my Challenger when hood will be open longer.

It’s a little cumbersome to put those rods in solo, so the prop works nice for quick stuff.

Re: Questions about installing fiberglass hood [Re: a12rag] #2736465
01/25/20 12:12 PM
01/25/20 12:12 PM
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north of coder
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Originally Posted by a12rag
How about using a set of "Dart Light" or "Feather Duster" hood springs ??? They were designed for the lighter aluminum skinned hood . . . not sure if it is same weight as your fiberglass one . . . but something to think about . . .


at one time, i "thought" a K car derivative, maybe something like a daytona, was the spring to use on a glass A-body hood. shruggy
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