Hi guys, It turns out that my hood is a wavy wreck. I have done some shrinking of the metal with a torch/hammer and dolly work to cure some oil canning and I am going to need to use a bit of filler to get it leveled out. Does anyone have any tips to keep the trim holes for the hood scoops from getting filled in? I know I can drill them out again, but I am hoping there is an easier way. Thanks.
I faced the same issue on my hood. We straightened and shrunk the metal, then skim coat and block sanded it. I drilled and polished the holes prior to final paint which yielded a very nice finished hole. After that the scoops went on and none of it was visible, but I was pleased.
Given that the placement of the holes will shift with the metal work. I would weld them in and after all the work is accomplished, recreate them. Since you already started working the metal that may have changed the dimensions, making a "rubbing" of the placement of the holes now may be too late. Ask for someone who has the hood in a state that they can make rubbings for you, to do that and mail them to you. Have them measure front to back and side to side to determine placement. Then you need to index the position of the template to recreate the holes.
Poke an awl or something through the filler before it sets up. I can't imagine the metal moving that much that you would have to redrill. Test fit before paint.
I have an original '67 GS400 hood with the the scoops removed if you need a template made and sent to you.
Thank you for your advice. Stacey, I may take you up on your offer for a template. Let me see how it goes. I am going to have another look at it today.
