Crazy Idea?
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Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Rochester New York
Crazy Idea?
Hello. The top corners of my hood (1980) are about 1/2 higher than the quarter panels. I know the Corvette is notorious for poor fit/finish, especially the older ones, but this is a lot. While explaining this problem to a friend, he told me that it is possible to slightly "bend" the hood corners through a process that included applying heat to the underside of the hood at those spots. This seems highly suspicious to me, as I've never heard of this as a way to fix fiberglass. Is there any truth to it, or is he crazy (as usual!) Everybody is an expert! Thanks! JG700
Racer
Joined: May 2005
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From: Stavanger
when i got my new l-88 hood, it seemed like i had the same problem. But i played around with shims under the hinges, and the release mecanism for the hood. And got it even in the end. Trye everyting else.,before starting work on the fiberglass
Last edited by kayosnes; Sep 14, 2007 at 08:56 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
First thing to do is to buy a service manual and/or assembly instruction manual (AIM) on your car. Then you read the stuff about adjusting the hood. Then you try it. By the way...if your hood is a GM hood, and it's from the same year as your car, I'd bet a lot that it will adjust properly. If it's an aftermarket hood, all bet's are off.
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Melting Slicks
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From: Cut n Shoot TX
[QUOTE=jtg700;1561918215]While explaining this problem to a friend, he told me that it is possible to slightly "bend" the hood corners through a process that included applying heat to the underside of the hood at those spots.
Race Director
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
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From: Orange Park Florida
Hello. The top corners of my hood (1980) are about 1/2 higher than the quarter panels. I know the Corvette is notorious for poor fit/finish, especially the older ones, but this is a lot. While explaining this problem to a friend, he told me that it is possible to slightly "bend" the hood corners through a process that included applying heat to the underside of the hood at those spots. This seems highly suspicious to me, as I've never heard of this as a way to fix fiberglass. Is there any truth to it, or is he crazy (as usual!) Everybody is an expert! Thanks! JG700
Actually the guy is correct, just that it WILL take the paint off ....too high a temp.....
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: Orange Park Florida
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
The 'plastic' the C3 hood was made of is a curing, thermo-setting material. Once it takes a set (during production) you can't bend it much (without breaking it). If that were not true, all C3 hoods would be warped from 30 years of engine heat!