So I bent some tubing for the grill surround...PICS ARE UP

[Roothawg]

Now I am stuck. I used 1/2 conduit to make the surround for my new 56 Plymouth grill in the 50. No turning back now. I tacked it in place.

Here's my dilemma, the front clip is still in one piece minus the hood. I sat it on for reference. I really am not ready to mount the hood and springs etc on the clip, since it is much easier to install motor, tranny etc. with the clip off. I hate to do much to the surround until I know it is fitted square with the world. Plus I wanna post pics and make sure the opening looks right.

Now, this is like a three fold problem.I want to radius the hood etc but that also means I hafta have the motor installed so I can permanently install the clip. Dang...

So what would you do? Mount the frt end do all the fitting and cutting, welding etc. then remove it all?

This sucks. Seems like I am going nowhere in a hurry.

[manyolcars]

if you need the weight of the engine/trans, drop a junk one in for weight. As far as assembly/disassembly, isnt it required that you do all that about 6 times ?? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[JimC]

Root, if it aint worth doing two or three times, it aint worth doing at all.

By the way the frame is back under the old 1947 Ford coopeydoo.
It comes back out for paint when I get all componets in place, and the body work is done.

Jim.

[Roothawg]

I don't need the weight, just have to make sure the sheetmetal all lines up. I am new to this customizing stuff ya know....

[Nads]

Any mods to the clip ought to be done with the clip in place on the car. Do it off the car and guaranteed nothing will line up.
Have fun with your hood springs, they're a joy to work with.

[porknbeaner]

Root,
I do all my body mods first, then blow it apart for the finish work. You don't have to have all the bolts in the clip, just enough to hold it in place. Yea it takes longer but its my ride I'm workin' on.

Hell I've had the clip on and off the F-Truck at least half a dozen times. It still has to come off one more time once I decide on a radiator and finish up the support. That's the game Bro. Play to win.

Its easier to visualize if its at the right ride height, but you don't really need an engine and tranny, I've used sand bags layed across the crossmember before and it works just fine.

[Plowboy]

I have lost track of how many times I have had the spacetruck apart and back together. I am working on final assembly right now, for the second time!

[Zodoff]

"Have fun with your hood springs, they're a joy to work with."

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

[Tim]

could just leave it until the next time you need the clip on then do it?

[Roothawg]

Nads, I think I am going to engineer some kind of contraption to remedy that.

[Roothawg]

Here is a pic of the opening. It looks a lot easier than it was. It had 2 compound curves.

[Roothawg]

Give me your opinion on the opening. Good, bad or indifferent.

[skipstitch]

Root...that is wicked looking!!! Although I'd do something about loosing the 2x4's http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Sailor]

Looks spot on from over here.

[hankcash]

do you have a pic from further back???
I need to see the whole front end before I make my decision...but I like it!

HC

[Roothawg]

Sorry guys that is as far back as I could get. My 36 is sitting right in front of it.

Skip, you don't know anything....those are 2x6's. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[stan55]

Hey are ya gonna chrome that 2 by if so let me know how it comes out. On the serious side if there is one, the opening looks great. I would line the top of the tubing with the hood lip though.

[Roothawg]

It will line up but it is just sitting up there.The hood isn't bolted on or anything. I can bend it to fit.

[JimC]

Roothawg, Maybe you ought to look at the hood and surround alighnment a while.
Where the hood meets near the corner of the surround looks good to me.
My opinion=I would not radius the hood. I think it looks better now, than the radius would.

Jim

[flyin'eye]

I like it. I agree, leave the hood as is. Raduising it would confuse the eye, in my opinion, for whatever that's worth....

[autocol]

i was about to throw in a comment about not radiusing the hood, but having got to the bottom of the post, i'm forced to simply add a vote to that team instead...


make sure the upper bar lines up spot on with the hood, and yer dun... IMO.

[chrisman]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry guys that is as far back as I could get. My 36 is sitting right in front of it.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's what I call a luxury problem! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Roothawg]

hmmmmm......that would be MUCH easier. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[Ron]

Root
I was thinking the same thing as JimC when I was replying on the other post, but did not say it. But I think it would look better to just cut the hood straight down like on my old one, and the Livingston car.

[Roothawg]

I am no customizer...just a wannabe. What all is involved in cutting a hood like you mentioned. I am no skilled metalworker....just a hack.

I am looking for ease and something that changes the look of the car. Subtle changes.

[Ron]

Just go ahead and finish getting it all line up the way you want. Then weld and grind it all leaving that tubing frame work all together( I do it that way so it does move all over the place). Then go in and cut between the fender and hood. Take a grinder or cut off wheel and trim back the new part just past the edge of the hood and fenders. Then cut some sheetmetal to make caps for the ends and weld and grind them to the ends. Then finish with a little bit of filler. You may have to do a little adjusting when you cut it apart. One side may end up slightly higher or lower. You can bend it around a little or just get side slide type door locks from a hardware store. and mount them out of sight under both corners of the hood. You use them to make sure hood lines up with both fenders, because you sure don't want one side being high or low when you look at it from the front.
Does that make any sense at all?
It would be easier and look better than rounding the corners.

[Roothawg]

Ron, thanks for all the help. One other thing to consider which I didn't mention is the comound curve that kinda comes out to a peak in the front of the hood. It is a slight V, if you will. If you look down from the top it has a slight taper from the center to the outer edge, does that make sense. I should post a pic. Just wondering if that is cool to have a different amount extending from the center to the outer edges. Crap....I think I just confused myself.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[Roothawg]

bttt for Ron

[Ron]

I don't think it will make a big difference. I think it will look fine, I don't think you will notice that much when it is said and done. It is not going to be that much anyway, as long as it flows or blends out ok. Mine had more peak or v at the bottom and got less as it went up.
Besides the grille you are using is pretty flat so I don't think you would want a big v in the front of the hood. I think just smooth the hood(take out the seam) like you have done and don't add anymore peak to it.

[Roothawg]

Thanks for being my custom MENTOR..... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif