Modifying Model A hood

Priced out having a local sheet metal shop bend up a hood for my coupe and got a big shock on the cost. Without a roller it is tough to make `em look right. I`ve heard of guys using an acetylene tank for shaping but I decided to go with a stock folding hood top and add to it. I needed 2 inches of additional length so I cut two pieces of steel, formed a bead in it over a dowel rod and welded them to the front of the hood and cut it to fit the grille shell. Two coats of red base then black base with hardner then hand rubbed through it to match the original finish. Got it too shiny but it`ll weather in this summer. Total cost under $100.

 

Man, That hood turned out great. Matches the car perfect ! Good way to save some coin !

Dave

 

Looks awesome. Nice job!

 

Like everything about that car, especially your work on the hood!

 

that came out great- nice work

 

Thanks guys. I still need to make a hood for the roadster project but it`ll have to be a little nicer than this one and one piece.

To lengthen the hinge I used the steel bushing inserts that come with a tube shock hardware kit. I just split them, cut some material out then rewelded to each hood side. I used a long bolt to extend the center rod after cutting the head & threads off. It`s not perfect but looks worn like the rest of the coupe and a new Rootlieb hood wouldn`t have looked right.

 

I like what you did, looks great. I made my own one piece from a sheet of .060 aluminum. Rolled it over a piece of 5 inch PVC pipe, total cost was about $60.00.

 

Heres a trick i did oon my hood,cut off at the bottom of the bead and rolled under,using aircraft cockpit latches so they click right open on each side.Better visibility of the engine if your going to run a half hood and easy to open and close

 

them latches are good idea.

 

the ends snap right into the groove on the firewall and the grill shell{32}

they hold great no problems and work easy, pull back on each one and wala...open hood{they are spring loaded and high quality}

 

Hood turned out good.. Nice looking coupe......

 

I like that latch idea. Might try that on the `29.

Good idea using aluminum. It has to be easier to form than steel.

Thanks Milo. I had a great start..
This winter between doing the `50 3 window and the `29 roadster, the coupe got a new rear spring, new floors and exhaust. Rides much better now. I can now keep all my dental work in. How`s that other coupe project coming?

Bill