Hood flew off at 80 mph!!!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 506
Likes: 24
From: Atlanta GA
Hood flew off at 80 mph!!!
After I autocrossed today, while driving home, my hood flew up at about 80! I almost lost her into a gaurdrail (I couldn't see)! The only thing that held it on was the prop rod and the locks by the widshield! 
Anyway, the front bolts on both sides pulled throught the fiberglass with the reinfocement plates still attached! On closer investigation, it looks like bubba had tried to "fix" it before. So, I need someone who can do good bodywork in the Atlanta area. Do you guys know of someone who is good and fair about the price? Thanks.
Anyway, the front bolts on both sides pulled throught the fiberglass with the reinfocement plates still attached! On closer investigation, it looks like bubba had tried to "fix" it before. So, I need someone who can do good bodywork in the Atlanta area. Do you guys know of someone who is good and fair about the price? Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
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Originally Posted by norvalwilhelm
The nice thing about fiberglas is you can grind it out and refill it to as strong or stronger then before. With heavy enough cloth the area can be greatly reinforced.
Last edited by Twin_Turbo; Aug 24, 2004 at 12:02 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
That's strange, because the hood shouldn't catch air on a Vette. I've driven with my hood not locked down so I could see under hood oil and fuel pressure gauges while I was driving.
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Originally Posted by gkull
That's strange, because the hood shouldn't catch air on a Vette. I've driven with my hood not locked down so I could see under hood oil and fuel pressure gauges while I was driving.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
I failed to read exactly what went on. I'd be tempted to just buy an aftermarket hood. My TT hood only needed to be painted. My hood got stolen when I had it at a shop for a paint job.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
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From: Orange Park Florida
Did it break at the hood or the hinges come off the car fender linders....there is a metal bracket on mid years that goes from either hood mounting point, and then down either side of the radiator support, catching all the bolts in the sides....
GENE
GENE
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Lancaster PA
A few years ago I had my 71 painted, did most of the work myself after hours, a a local body shop, I had the car almost reassembled ,exept for the hood and doors, I wanted to see how it would look with the hood on so we laid the hood on the car, It looked good , It was late so we decided to leave the hood on the car since it was a safe place to store it. The next day the body shop owners son decided to move it. He drove it to a small warehouse about 3 miles down the road . So I guess I was lucky the hood never came off . It went 3 miles at highway speeds with no hardware to hold it down.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
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Originally Posted by GaryS
I am confused. How does a hood, that mounts at the forward part of the car, fly up?
Just a couple of guesses...
1. Hitting the brakes hard and letting momentum do the work.
2. Rounding a corner the hood slides off to one side and the wind picks it up from there.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
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From: Moon Township PA
Originally Posted by lowvette
Just a couple of guesses...
1. Hitting the brakes hard and letting momentum do the work.
2. Rounding a corner the hood slides off to one side and the wind picks it up from there.
1. Hitting the brakes hard and letting momentum do the work.
2. Rounding a corner the hood slides off to one side and the wind picks it up from there.
Gary
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Europe , Luxembourg
Hi
Aerodynamics are strange. Think about a wing from an aircraft. It's curved on top and flat on the bottom.
The aircraft flies not because the underside of the wing pushes it up, but because the curved upper side of the wing pulls ( sucks ) it up.
This is caused by the air requiring to travel a longer distance over the curved top surface than over the flat lower surface, hence raising speed therefore reducing the pressure and sucking the wing up.
The hood of the Vette might react similar. Remember that road contact of cars reduces with higher speeds.
Rgds. Gunther
Aerodynamics are strange. Think about a wing from an aircraft. It's curved on top and flat on the bottom.
The aircraft flies not because the underside of the wing pushes it up, but because the curved upper side of the wing pulls ( sucks ) it up.
This is caused by the air requiring to travel a longer distance over the curved top surface than over the flat lower surface, hence raising speed therefore reducing the pressure and sucking the wing up.
The hood of the Vette might react similar. Remember that road contact of cars reduces with higher speeds.
Rgds. Gunther