Fiberglass hood work/prep

[avc8130]

I just picked up a fiberglass hood for my 65 project. The underside is raw fiberglass (I can see the weaving). I was wondering what I can do to prep/work it for installation. I would like to paint the whole hood body color and maybe smooth the weaving area down. Will Bondo work? Maybe some Fiberglass Resin or something?
ac

 

[chromedog]

bondo, or better yet, polyester glazing putty will work just fine. just scuff the area with 80 grit sandpaper so your filler has something to adhere to. but before you go nuts on the underside, test fit the hood, and check:
a) hood fit all the way around. most 65-66 hoods are short where they meet the headlight bezel
b) does the hood lay flat, following the same shape as the fender?
im just throwing this out, as i thought about smoothing out the underside of the one on my 65, until i spent about 20 hours fixing the topside... by them i didnt have the energy to do anymore!
p.s. if it is bowed up, let me know, there is a pretty simple fix im working on for that problem...

 

[mrmustangman357]

What's that? some sandbags and a day in the sun?

 

[chromedog]

partially right... drill one hole (ziebart plug size) in the front of each reinforcement rib. get yourself two sand bags (i told you you were partially right) pump each rib full of your favorite urethane foam (great stuff, etc...) slap a piece of duct tape over the holes, close the hood and place the sand bags wherever the bow is the greatest. this might, or might not work, im actually getting ready to try it right now! stay tuned, sports fans!

 

[avc8130]

What fiberglass hood do you have? I can't really line mine up right now as I am still doing work on the fenders, core support and such. I was just figuring it was something I could work concurrently.
ac

 

[chromedog]

mine come from cj's...it looked really nice, until i tried to fit it up the front corners i built out with 1/8"rod, and duraglass. i just pumped it full of foam (theres a battery sitting on one side of the hood, and a fabricators shot bag on the other...) ill let you know in 8 hours how it works out!

 

[avc8130]

Do you have any pictures of the areas of concerns?
Anthony

 

[chromedog]

not really... there was a thread a month or so ago... guy had the same problem i had. he added to the entire front edge. i just added to the curved areas... i can take a few pictures, if you like.

 

[avc8130]

I was just curious. My hood is made by Fiber Parts Concepts. They guarantee fit...but I dont really have much to test it on!
ac

 

[zookeeper]

partially right... drill one hole (ziebart plug size) in the front of each reinforcement rib. get yourself two sand bags (i told you you were partially right) pump each rib full of your favorite urethane foam (great stuff, etc...) slap a piece of duct tape over the holes, close the hood and place the sand bags wherever the bow is the greatest. this might, or might not work, im actually getting ready to try it right now! stay tuned, sports fans!

I wouldn't bet the farm on that method. Fiberglass is extremely strong and really holds it's shape well. That's dandy if the shape is nice to start with, but no so good if the hood in question doesn't fit. I tried the "heat and add weight" method for a full week with absolutely no difference whatsoever. I then resorted to PLAN B and cut the skin loose from the bracing, acroos the front and halfway back on the sides. This made the skin very loose and flexy, so I used long cabinet clamps to put the correct (eyeballed it) crown in the hood, then 'glassed the whole thing back together. I think it took and hour, then let it dry overnite. I know it sounds scary to cut up a new hood, but it's a breeze and it works.

 

[chromedog]

this hood is really flimsy... you can actually shove it down where it belongs without much effort, and it will stay there. if it were a bit more rigid, i wouldnt be so eager to pump it full of goo..

 

[Tubo(2-bo)]

I just picked up a fiberglass hood for my 65 project. The underside is raw fiberglass (I can see the weaving). I was wondering what I can do to prep/work it for installation. I would like to paint the whole hood body color and maybe smooth the weaving area down. Will Bondo work? Maybe some Fiberglass Resin or something?
ac

I used SEM spray sound deadener (black), on the raw glass area under my hood. Its texture is a smaller version of a truck bed liner, it doesnt compleatly cover the glass cloth texture, but is rather like an underhood mat liner, hard to the touch. It seems to be very resistent to staining & weathering.
The blacked out "liner", highlights the engine compartment, & draws a lot of compliments.

 

[valley firearms]

fiberglass

partially right... drill one hole (ziebart plug size) in the front of each reinforcement rib. get yourself two sand bags (i told you you were partially right) pump each rib full of your favorite urethane foam (great stuff, etc...) slap a piece of duct tape over the holes, close the hood and place the sand bags wherever the bow is the greatest. this might, or might not work, im actually getting ready to try it right now! stay tuned, sports fans!

The reinforcing ribs are most likely epoxied or resined to the skin. I hope you don't blow the ribs off the skin when the high expansion foam expands.

When I got my hood it was bowed. I took some angle iron, a piece of 2X steel with a curve(bow) and reverse clamped it with C clamps. I had to head it with a torch until it stated popping. I let it sit for a week and that seemed to work. I tried weights and heat lamps with no luck before the clamps. Good luck.​

 

[chromedog]

well sportsfans, there was only one hitch in my plan to correct the bow in my hood... the ribs are sealed up so tight to the hood skin that it cant get enough air to cure the foam properly... im going to remove the latch bolt, and safety catch so it can breathe a bit.

 

[valley firearms]

You may want to drill some more holes to allow the foam to expand and escape. If it don't have anywhere to go it'll find it's easiest route. Hopefully the ribs will stay in tact. Good luck.​

 

[avc8130]

Tubo,
I LOVE your hood! I just want to see more pics of it! I want to prep mine just like it. I think it looks amazing. I love how the black underside contrasts the hood frame.
ac

 

[Tubo(2-bo)]

Thanks,
One of the beauties of doing this way, it turns the negative of the fiberglass cloth texture into a positive.
It also makes taking pitures of it kinda hard as its justa neutral black area.

 

[chromedog]

o.k... as promised, i have an update on the hood buldge saga. good news is the foam took about 90% of the bulge out. bad news is the hood has a new high spot running along each side. i have some touch up work to do this winter, anyway...