Hood - what should it look like?

[Duke]

Is my hood bent or is this they way they look? It is a 1929 coupe.
Thanks

[jm29henry]

Bent

[Mike V. Florida]

me too, bent

[Duke]

Does anyone have pictures of a 1929 hood close up on a restored car? What is the best way to straighten it?
Thanks

[160B]

Out of curiosity for the experts on this site, what causes this type of damage to a hood???

[J Franklin]

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Originally Posted by 160B

Out of curiosity for the experts on this site, what causes this type of damage to a hood???

The rod gets rusted, then the hood is forced open and something is gonna give!

[rotorwrench]

80+ years of use and abuse is what does that. It's a lot of work to take a hood apart and straighten the metal parts plus shrinking out stretch where applicable but it can be done.

[Dan Partain]

It looks like the majority of the problem is with the drivers side of the hood. The hinge loops on that side of the hood are bent downward toward the engine. They should be bent upward, like the passenger side of the hood loops. Look at the very front hinge loop on the passenger side of the hood, it looks pretty close to how all of the hinge loops should be.

[Tinbasher]

Yes the hood hinge has opened up from years of use. A common problem with this style of hood. The roll of the hood is usually 90 Degs. to the flat surface. It can be repaired. I just finished one it took me about 12 hours to sort it all out without the need for filler.

JP

[Duke]

I was not sure which side had the right shape. I have been searching the web for a hood picture with no luck. So hammer and dolly the drivers side down?

[duke36]

We replaced the rods with the new solid ones which improved alignment.The reshaping wants the sides and edges to be flat (and gaps uniform about 3/16" +/-) against the cowl and radiator shell, mostly done by eye.

[Duke]

Did you use normal round bar or is that and aftermarket piece?

[duke36]

Originally Posted by Duke

Did you use normal round bar or is that and aftermarket piece?

Solid s.s. rods from the vendors, about $20. Also, with the panels apart, very slight filing of the edges at and between the hinge barrels prevents binding when opening and closing. Any heavy Bondo or filler as stated may crack due to flexing if hinge action is impeded.

[Cool Hand Lurker]

Originally Posted by Duke

I was not sure which side had the right shape. I have been searching the web for a hood picture with no luck. So hammer and dolly the drivers side down?

Instead of hammer & dolly, I think I would first try a hydraulic press and just push the raised driver's side down so the bend is at 90º then take the heat gun and a wet rag to shrink any high spots. The hammer & dolly can compress and stretch the panel if too much hammer force is used.

[duke36]

Originally Posted by duke36

Solid s.s. rods from the vendors, about $20. Also, with the panels apart, very slight filing of the edges at and between the hinge barrels prevents binding when opening and closing. Any heavy Bondo or filler as stated may crack due to flexing if hinge action is impeded.

Inserting a rod in the (separated) panel barrels and working the barrels down with a wood block drilled to a barrel dia. and cut in half at the hole may work the metal flat.

[Cool Hand Lurker]

Originally Posted by duke36

Inserting a rod in the (separated) panel barrels and working the barrels down with a wood block drilled to a barrel dia. and cut in half at the hole may work the metal flat.

Sounds good. Use a hardwood.

[Duke]

I was wondering if using vice grips with a wide flange could be used to work the bend back in? Might have to add some metal to the vice grips to get the right shape.

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

You’d need smooth to prevent digging into the metal and leaving marks.

[duke36]

Originally Posted by Chuck Sea/Tac

You’d need smooth to prevent digging into the metal and leaving marks.

Concur, we use metal seam pliers with 3 or 4" jaws where space allows

[Duke]

Does anyone have a picture of a good 29 hood? I also found pictures of a tool guys have built to fix this problem. Two pieces of metal with the size of loop drilled through in a clamp.