Tech question....I want to see pics of a hood radius

[Roothawg]

Thinking of doing the hood radius on the front corners on the 50. I need to lenghten the upper grill/hood area anyway to match my new grill.

Is this a pretty extensive mod?

[Roothawg]

Anyone?

[manyolcars]

not sure what you are asking. the rounded corners of my 50 hood are simple and easy to do

[Gr8ballsofir]

From what I understand, you cut the radius that you want from the hood and then weld the cut off piece into the corner. Supposed to be pretty easy.

[Roothawg]

Hang on....I'll post a pic.

[mikes51]

[ QUOTE ]
I need to lenghten the upper grill/hood area anyway to match my new grill.


[/ QUOTE ]

Generally you construct, from 1/4" or 3/16" dia steel rod, a frame work that represents the outer perimeter of the part being extended. Then you fill in the open areas with metal.

Real metal craftsmen don't use rod. They hand form everything from sheet. I'm just a bondo slinger so the rod approach is a practical way for me.

[Roothawg]

Mike, on the hood itself, what did you do after you cut the pieces you wanted to radius?

If I cut the corners out of the hood, won't that weaken the structure?

[mikes51]

You just cut out a piece of metal the width of the lip on your hood. Bend it and weld it into that corner.

If this looks like some Escher pic, it's a view looking at the hood when it is pointed up, looking at the hood a little from the bottom.

[Tim]

then just weld the cut off half to the car?

[mikes51]

Tim,
That's what the books say but I found it just easier to cut a new piece. In my case it was a very small corner piece. For the real big radius corners probably worth reusing. Even if you have to cut off the adjoining flanges.

[DrJ]

In the how-to articles George Barris usta take a 6"± grinding disc and use it to trace the arc on the corner and cut with a CUTTING TORCH (now we have plasma cutters that make almost surgical incisions) and then weld in a piece of steel like pictured above, then the cut off or a more likely a formed piece the same shap is welded in the body. Similar deal for door and trunk corners.
I've seen probably more that look bad than look good because the transitions from the straight hood cut line to the curve wasn't done in a gradual flow or the radius ignored the compound curves of the hood as it was traced, so just using an arc isn't always the best solution.
Maybe an elipse or a section of a "traditional" drafting french curve would look best visually, depending on the car.
(Am I making any sense?)
Personally, I only like them curved when the hood is "trapped" by the grill shell like the Merc pictured.
If part of the grill shell opens with the hood, I don't see much purpose in curving the corners and just leaving a point sticking out on the fender part.
They are too fragile that way too.
When you get all that stuff welded together the hood closing straight is critical or you'll be losing paint around it.
Those electric screw down to close latches Cadillac uses on trunks make it so you don't have to slam anything to close it.
Always use a backup secondary manual safety latch on any clam shell hood. It's hard to see around them on the highway if they fly up against the windshield...I know! (don't ask)

[Bob K]

Here's how I did mine, not done yet but looks like it might turn out ok.

http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL237/1412684/3164420/40154430.jpg

http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL237/1412684/3164420/40154437.jpg



http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL237/1412684/3164420/40154415.jpg


B http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif B

[mikes51]

[ QUOTE ]

Maybe an elipse or a section of a "traditional" drafting french curve would look best visually, depending on the car.


[/ QUOTE ]

Yep,

[Roothawg]

Looks sweet Mike.

[Tman]

Root, I have a hood that is roached above what you need. I could cut it long to aid in mating yours to the grill? Then you just need to radius the corners. On your type of hood, done with an extension this would be easy. Cut the radii, the cap the corners with 19G steel and finish.