Posted By: DrCharles
Questions about installing fiberglass hood - 01/17/20 02:27 AM
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
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.
(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:/
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
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.