Help with Hood
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Southern Illinois
Help with Hood
I have a 1979 corvette.
The owner before me had the hood open, and before the hood prop was released to close, they yanked down on the top of the hood. Now when my hood is closed the hood sticks up an inch or so higher than the fender (seemingly warped).
The hood is fiberglass and I don't really suspect the fiberglass is warped - fiberglass doesn't really do that, does it? So how can I test the hood to see if it's the hood that is messed up, or if it's the mounting brackets that got bent in the process. Or is it possible that the the pressure caused a misalignment with the fender?
If anyone has any information for me or knows how I can test to see what the real problem is, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!
Blake
The owner before me had the hood open, and before the hood prop was released to close, they yanked down on the top of the hood. Now when my hood is closed the hood sticks up an inch or so higher than the fender (seemingly warped).
The hood is fiberglass and I don't really suspect the fiberglass is warped - fiberglass doesn't really do that, does it? So how can I test the hood to see if it's the hood that is messed up, or if it's the mounting brackets that got bent in the process. Or is it possible that the the pressure caused a misalignment with the fender?
If anyone has any information for me or knows how I can test to see what the real problem is, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!
Blake
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
I have a 1979 corvette.
The owner before me had the hood open, and before the hood prop was released to close, they yanked down on the top of the hood. Now when my hood is closed the hood sticks up an inch or so higher than the fender (seemingly warped).
The hood is fiberglass and I don't really suspect the fiberglass is warped - fiberglass doesn't really do that, does it? So how can I test the hood to see if it's the hood that is messed up, or if it's the mounting brackets that got bent in the process. Or is it possible that the the pressure caused a misalignment with the fender?
If anyone has any information for me or knows how I can test to see what the real problem is, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!
Blake
The owner before me had the hood open, and before the hood prop was released to close, they yanked down on the top of the hood. Now when my hood is closed the hood sticks up an inch or so higher than the fender (seemingly warped).
The hood is fiberglass and I don't really suspect the fiberglass is warped - fiberglass doesn't really do that, does it? So how can I test the hood to see if it's the hood that is messed up, or if it's the mounting brackets that got bent in the process. Or is it possible that the the pressure caused a misalignment with the fender?
If anyone has any information for me or knows how I can test to see what the real problem is, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!
Blake
When it's open and you look at it eye level, does it look straight or twisted? The hoods have a metal frame, it's not just fiberglass.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Southern Illinois
Pictures
I don't know how much these photos help, but the first 5 are from the drivers side, the last one is from the passenger side.
In the first picture, you can see that it is slightly elevated in the front, and you can also see that there is a fairly large gap in the front of the hood!
I wasn't aware that there was a metal frame in the hood, that's pretty valuable information. Is it possible that the frame got bent and is holding the rest of the fiberglass warped?
It's hard to tell whether it's twisted or not!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,487
Likes: 10
From: Palm Beach Florida
St. Jude Donor '12
I see stress marks in the paint on the hood where the braket is bolted to.(photo #2) Looks like its been cracked. Don't see nothing on the fender area to make it lift.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
The whole lift strut and mounting plate needs to be replaced. The strut should be completely straight when the hood is up; yours is crooked. Also, the mounting plate [forward of the lift attach point] is pulling away from the hood...or trying to. Get a used one from eBay (or a buddy) if you want to check that theory out. I'm sure when you remove yours the problem will become clear.
