Fiberglass Hood

[jikelly]

I should have asked you guys this a long time ago. Does anyone know an easy way for me to mount my fiberglass hood?

My original hood mounted on hinges which bolted to the fenders on either side at the rear of the engine bay. At the moment I am just using hood pins to hold it in place. I could remount my old hinges but they are pretty heavy duty and I'd have to figure out some way to mount them to the hood.

Sorry the picture is kinda hard to see.

 

[1320stang]

Dzus fasteners like race cars use. You'll need about 5 up each side and a couple across the back and a couple more on the front. You'll need some fabrication skills to make the front a rear mounts, if the car needs paint, I'd weld the side mounts to the fenders instead of screwing or riveting them on. Bolts with locking nuts might work, but look tacky, screws work loose and even rivets break and fall out. You can get kits from Jeg's or Summit, but I think you can even buy them off Ebay.

 

[bnickel]

take the springs off of the old hinges and build a prop rod setup. i can help if you need it

 

[88 Fox GT]

Some fiberglass hoods come with the original hood latch in the front and you can bolt them to the stock hinges, but will have to get very light springs for the hinges. Something just strong enough to hold up the hood so you don't have to use a prop rod.

 

[jikelly]

Thanks for the ideas. I had thought about using my old hinges. That might be the easiest thing to do. I'll have to move some other stuff around in the engine bay though.

 

[67GTA-FB429]

You can pull the old springs with a BIG pair of channelock pliers. I used a piece of conduit for a prop rod.

 

[1320stang]

The light springs and prop rod work, but you need to watch out for high winds when its open. Of course, you'll have to do the same if you have it removed now (same with Dzus's) It sounds like you may have a race hood with no mounts for the hinges or latch assembly?

 

[jikelly]

It sounds like you may have a race hood with no mounts for the hinges or latch assembly?

Thats absolutly right. I should have done a little more research before I ordered it I think, but it works.

 

[1320stang]

Maybe get 4 Mach I locks and put a pair at the back?

I'd go with the Dzus fasteners as they look cool myself.

 

[triostang]

Since you did buy a racing hood then you will have to put four hood pins on each corner, thats what it says at carhoods.com where i was looking for a fiberglass hood for my 72. I would go for the 4 hood pins

 

[jikelly]

Yep the 4 pins is what I am currently using. I just want to be able to prop it open instead of having to take the thing all the way off everytime.

 

[meanroy]

Springs

I found that using ANY springs on the glass hood on the '65 caused the hood to warp over time.
I removed the springs, used the stock hinges, fabbed a couple of brackets, and installed air springs.
When the hood is down all the force is forward instead of up and caused no problems.
Believe it or not, you can find a wide selection of air springs at Kragen auto. You don't need one thats too strong, but it has to be long enough.

Yeah hood pins are definitely required.