I started putting this thing together in feb with the goal of having it done by the first of May for car show season. When your at the mercy of shops that promise the world and deliver nothing but excuses......... Well you know the rest. Finally got enough done to start this thread. <a href="http://s1320.photobucket.com/user/itsjustbriz/media/Riv%20Hood/IMG_20140218_164505_zpse0e7de20.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u540/itsjustbriz/Riv%20Hood/IMG_20140218_164505_zpse0e7de20.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20140218_164505_zpse0e7de20.jpg"/></a> Started with a solid rust free hood from a 68. harder to find than you might think. <a href="http://s1320.photobucket.com/user/itsjustbriz/media/Riv%20Hood/IMG_20140218_160742_zps87567f4d.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u540/itsjustbriz/Riv%20Hood/IMG_20140218_160742_zps87567f4d.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20140218_160742_zps87567f4d.jpg"/></a> First thing was to remove the under side bracing.
Then lay out the cowl section and mark where to cut. There's a engineered weak spot in the hood to make it crumple in a front end crash. Its supposed to keep the hood from going through the windshield. I reinforced this are on both sides with material from the hood skin I removed. completely sand blast the hood clean and etch prime.
<a href="http://s1320.photobucket.com/user/itsjustbriz/media/Riv%20Hood/IMG_20140430_102742_zps05085983.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u540/itsjustbriz/Riv%20Hood/IMG_20140430_102742_zps05085983.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20140430_102742_zps05085983.jpg"/></a> Using panel bond and pop rivets the glass section is bonded to the steel. <a href="http://s1320.photobucket.com/user/itsjustbriz/media/Riv%20Hood/IMG_20140507_113223_zps8b64a162.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u540/itsjustbriz/Riv%20Hood/IMG_20140507_113223_zps8b64a162.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20140507_113223_zps8b64a162.jpg"/></a> <a href="http://s1320.photobucket.com/user/itsjustbriz/media/Riv%20Hood/IMG_20140507_113237_zpse406cea9.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u540/itsjustbriz/Riv%20Hood/IMG_20140507_113237_zpse406cea9.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20140507_113237_zpse406cea9.jpg"/></a> Dura glass and then regular body filler to start making it look like one piece.
<a href="http://s1320.photobucket.com/user/itsjustbriz/media/Riv%20Hood/IMG_20140520_111236_zps1d2527a4.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u540/itsjustbriz/Riv%20Hood/IMG_20140520_111236_zps1d2527a4.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20140520_111236_zps1d2527a4.jpg"/></a> Slather it on and sand it off until it starts looking like it should. Still got a few low spots to fix but hopefully it will be ready for paint by the end of the week.
Thanks Craig. If I ever do this again I'm gonna start with a wider center section. To bad theres not a way to put the hood spear back on. I may paint a silver stripe down the center to mimic the spear.
Yeah, hindsight is always 20/20, I could have laid the hood up out to the edges where it turns down 90 degrees for you.
It'll be fine. Its really surprising how close the lines are between the 2 cars. It should look like it belongs on the car and having my functional GS air cleaner again will be the icing on the GS cake!
Did you find some weaker hood hinge springs? You must have cut at least 20 lbs out of that hood. Nice work , looks great! Loosing the shark fin down the middle is a bummer. If that fiber glass cowl didnt come to a point in the middle it probably would still fit.
havent investigated the hood spring pressure thing yet. Gonna wait until the hood is on and see ow it reacts. I did beef up the rear section of the remaining structure around the hinge mount area. Unfortunately that also caused a bit of warpage on the hood skin. now that area is becoming an issue for the finishing. Once I put the clear coat over it and I see waves I'll want to start all over again.
With warpage i think the only way is to shrink it back. might be hard with cowl in place. Can fil in a low spot but high spot I dont know. You have to be really handy with the body dollies and hammer. The ole wing ding dolly set.
Its nearly ready to be painted. a final sanding and scotch brite pad n its into the paint booth. Im overall happy with it but theres a few small areas that are going to bug me. Doubt anyone will notice but me. Should be on the car by friday afternoon. <a href="http://s1320.photobucket.com/user/itsjustbriz/media/Riv%20Hood/IMG_20140604_161409_zps97ec33ff.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u540/itsjustbriz/Riv%20Hood/IMG_20140604_161409_zps97ec33ff.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20140604_161409_zps97ec33ff.jpg"/></a>
Hood is on the car. Still undecided if I like it. The fit is not as good as I had hoped, the area on the right in front of the hings where the warpage was sits high compared to the fender when closed and the finish under the hood needs some attn. I'll be working on the fit and finish of the GS air cleaner this week. On Monday the shop will do the cut and buff. They laid up the clear pretty thick and theres a few sags. <a href="http://s1320.photobucket.com/user/itsjustbriz/media/Riv%20Hood/IMG_20140606_191257_zps4c903594.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u540/itsjustbriz/Riv%20Hood/IMG_20140606_191257_zps4c903594.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20140606_191257_zps4c903594.jpg"/></a>
very nice work there. I would have to get used to the look from the drivers seat though. Loosing the fin hurts too. Are u going to insulate the under side with anything? Were there any issues with the springs and closing the hood? Now what is your engine combo. SP1 or 2. ? I reallly like how it blends in , No jaged ness or sharp angles. Nice and smooth.
Hood feels a bit light opening. about the same closing. Once I get the seal plates and grills in place and the nose trim it should be about right. Gonna have to think about the underside. Bought a piece of stainless screen from Jegs to put over the rear of the cowl. Yep. it is weird looking into the back side of that thing when your driving. Got the mock up of the GS air cleaner done and sitting on the car. With 2 " foams on it it lightly compresses against the plates and the top of the lid is about 1" from the inside of the hood. So that part of the plan worked out perfect.
Great job! The hood looks fantastic, you did a really nice job blending it into the stock hood. I hope to get one of Craig's hoods for my skylark sometime.
