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Projects update-added a hood to my roadster

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by MIKE-3137, May 17, 2014.

  1. MIKE-3137
    Joined: Feb 19, 2003
    Posts: 1,578

    MIKE-3137
    Member

    Its been in the back of my mind to fit a stock hood to my A for some time, Probably not to run full time, but just to change it up every now and then. I picked up a couple of hoods and sides along the way, I knew it would be a chore to fit because my grill shell is forward about 1", and the car is on a 32 frame. Basically a stock hood is 1" or so too short. No big deal I thought, I'll just move the shell back, but after tearing the nose and radiator off the car, the grill shell is already as far back as the radiator will allow, and the radiator just clears the belt driven fan on the 327, which has a short pump with the thinnest fan spacer on the pulley. Even without those problems, the lower edge of the shell is almost touching the front crossmember anyway. It's a gennie 32 grill shell that was really nice, so I'd rather not cut it back...so the only option I see is lengthening the hood. I know you can order custom length hoods but I like the center hinge and side panels of a 30-31 stock hood. My question is where to add the metal. The obvious place seems to be the front, but then there is the body line to contend with in the hood,...I know it will be tough to hide a seam on the inside of the hood too..
    My rough idea is to...cut maybe 2" off the front off the good hood, and the needed 3" off my spare junk hood and sides and weld it to the good hood. That way I'd be able to extend the body line or reveal that runs along the hood. Is there a better way? What about adding metal to the back instead?
    [​IMG]
     
    texkbc and fine29 like this.
  2. brady1929
    Joined: Sep 30, 2006
    Posts: 9,253

    brady1929
    Member

    i don't have any answers for you but love your roadster and the wheels
     
  3. Have Rootleib make you a stock 30/31 hood 1" longer. Done!
     
  4. I did a deuce (for someone else) that needed 3/4" and the metal guy added it at the front. That way the extension can be made to perfectly fit the gap. He added a strip on the backside as well so it looked like a folded edge. No one has ever noticed or asked about the 'longer' hood.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2014

  5. jdownunder
    Joined: Aug 21, 2007
    Posts: 334

    jdownunder
    Member

    id go with a whole new one.nice car
    j
     
  6. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,627

    The37Kid
    Member

    A full hood on a Roadster is a must in my book, looks like a Dry Lakes race car instantly. Like that commercial cowl and V'd windsheild too! Bob
     
  7. clem
    Joined: Dec 20, 2006
    Posts: 4,188

    clem
    Member

    Have not done this myself, but proportionally, I think it would look better to add it at the rear. Here's a thought, if proportions don't look right, could you punch an extra louvre to make it look right?
     
  8. 1971BB427
    Joined: Mar 6, 2010
    Posts: 8,717

    1971BB427
    Member
    from Oregon

    I would think that adding 1/2" at each end would be the best solution. Not as easy as one weld on piece, but much better proportionally, and a small 1/2" strip with a rolled edge would be easier to blend into the whole hood.
     
  9. calonego
    Joined: Mar 27, 2014
    Posts: 10

    calonego
    Member

    That's a sweet looking roadster - gonna look even sweeter once you figure out the hood...

    It would look the most "normal" if you did a half inch on both sides. If you wanted to save some work and only do one end, adding material to the back would look more natural than adding it to the front I think... Just due to how the louvers look (the closed edge of the first one vs the open edge of the last one). Just off my eye the front flat part of the side of the hood (between the first louver and the front of the hood) looks longer than the flat section of the hood at the back... Which I think is an optical allusion due to the louvers.

    Other question though - how's the A hood fit against the deuce shell? Maybe that's a reason to work around the front section?


    Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
     
  10. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,627

    The37Kid
    Member

    If I can find the photo I'll post it here, a '32 Ford hood on a 30-31 looks very nice IMO. Bob
     
    afgjr likes this.
  11. How long is a Model A hood? front to back. HRP
     
  12. MIKE-3137
    Joined: Feb 19, 2003
    Posts: 1,578

    MIKE-3137
    Member

    Thanks for all the input so far, HRP, Stock hood is 30 1/2. Adding to both ends makes sense, but man, that will be a ton of work. and slow, careful welding to keep from warping. I like the idea of adding the strip on the underside too. I've decided its got to have a hood at this point, the more I look at it just sitting in place, the more I like it. I did wonder about how a 32 hood would fit, but seems the bodyline would be in the wrong place? My ultimate hood would have the stock A top with 32 Chevy hood sides...good luck finding those though!
     
  13. walter
    Joined: Nov 4, 2007
    Posts: 635

    walter
    Member

    I was faced with the same promlem. After about a years worth of fussing I finaly fit the grill shell and radiator so it would work well and I could dervice everything as needed. I made some patterns and sent them to rootlib. They did a great job and I was able to keep the same center rin.
    Thanks
    Walter
     
  14. I was thinking a '32 hood top might be the answer but you would only gain 1/2" so it still would be too short. HRP
     
  15. A Boner
    Joined: Dec 25, 2004
    Posts: 7,419

    A Boner
    Member

    Add to the front.....shorter total weld length than at the rear.
     
  16. 1971BB427
    Joined: Mar 6, 2010
    Posts: 8,717

    1971BB427
    Member
    from Oregon

    I'd avoid doing what's easiest, unless it's also what looks best! Taking the route of least work often leads to something less desirable too. Your car is good looking and you don't want the hood to be a detraction from it's good looks.
     
  17. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,632

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

    @MIKE-3137 Good god I love that roadster... And I vote 'YES' on the hood...
     
  18. Rochie
    Joined: Nov 19, 2004
    Posts: 199

    Rochie
    Member

    [​IMG]
    I added an inch to my hood for mechanical fan clearance and nobody has ever asked about it or even noticed it.
     
  19. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,404

    alchemy
    Member

    I'd add it to the front since there is less to weld. You could probably do this with strips of fresh steel so you wouldn't need to ruin another hood, but your idea of cutting a little extra from a donor hood would actually be the easiest. It would have the hinge folds already built.
     
  20. MAD 034
    Joined: Aug 30, 2011
    Posts: 775

    MAD 034
    Member
    from Washington

    As others have said talk to Rootlieb. They made special tops for my '34 so I could cut them up to fit my application.
     
  21. MIKE-3137
    Joined: Feb 19, 2003
    Posts: 1,578

    MIKE-3137
    Member

    Thanks Ryan...and yea, the hood pretty much has to happen now...
    ..I think this is the route to go...the old "parts" hood looks like a washboard on the top, so it won't bother me to cut it up, the side panels will need trimming up too, it's going to be a bunch of work, but worth it...
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2014
  22. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,404

    alchemy
    Member

    Obviously as you add length to the front of the hood it will get narrower up there. But just an inch longer shouldn't make it more than an 1/8 to 1/4" narrower. Just unbend the arch in the top a little and check before you cut/weld the side panels.
     
  23. MIKE-3137
    Joined: Feb 19, 2003
    Posts: 1,578

    MIKE-3137
    Member

    Thanks, I'll have to extend the center hinge rod also, I see why lots of folks do go Rootleib, but a stock hood is $490, likely more for a custom length. Well worth it no doubt, but I think I can pull this off....Someone should invent a hood stretcher....
     
  24. Great car. Rootlieb also has the 32 Chev doors and will put them in any sides.
     
  25. bonesy
    Joined: Aug 14, 2005
    Posts: 2,999

    bonesy
    Member

    The full hood it a must. Your roadster looks awesome!
     
  26. If it was me, I would add the length through the louvers ..... by adding one extra

    Cut the original hood a couple of louvers back from the front.

    Cut the spare hood one extra louvre back.

    Weld the two long bits together and you should have a hood about an inch longer, with one extra louvre

    You will also only need to do one short weld above and below the louvres, not a full height weld in front or behind them.

    For slightly more welding, cut the hood in the middle and add just one louvre. Two welds top and bottome will mean a bit more distortion, but still easier than front or rear
     
  27. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,404

    alchemy
    Member

    If you do this your hinge loop spacing will be different from the top panels.
     
  28. No bodyman here (wish I was) & this is just a thought but would it be easier to add to the back edge grille shell with a 1" filler ?
     
    31 Thunderbird likes this.
  29. Malcolm
    Joined: Feb 9, 2006
    Posts: 8,032

    Malcolm
    Member
    from Nebraska

    Cool to see you're adding a hood --- it'll look great when you're done!


    Malcolm
     
  30. 1932tub
    Joined: May 31, 2005
    Posts: 416

    1932tub
    Member

    My hood is 2" longer than stock so I made a new one piece top

    h1.JPG
     

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