I found a Ram Air Hood. Feb18
I have been looking for a Ram Air hood. Well, I found two. One is in good shape 2000 the other is 500 but has damage. Ok, a lot of damage. I talk to the guy and he take 300 for the bad one 1800 for the good, and 2000 for both.
Looking at Craig's list I found a Ram Air hood. I really wanted one but could not justify the cost. These in so-so shape go for 2K to 3 k. This one was listed for 5oo. Being that it was in pieces had me worried. So I call the guy and it turns out the guy really didn't want to trash it but did not want to repair it. Paying a body guy can get costly. Fixing it myself is cheap, it just takes time. So I bought it.
The work begins-
Last night I grab the frame and the body hammers and dollies. The front left was pushed back about an inch and a half. In 1970 GM added cuts in the frame to allow the hood to fold in place of the hood going though the windshield. The problem is the hood bends there and gets weak over time. The damage crack the sides of the cuts weakening the frame even more. I want to keep these cuts and I want to strengthen them but not too strong. The first 12 inches took the most damage.
Working the bends I started at the cuts and worked to the front. I used the right side of the hood and match it. There are a lot of little bends that turned to sharp bends when it got hit. In some cases I added some heat to open the creases. I found that the more I worked on the frame I found many angles you would never know about.
There are four spots that I will have to TIG. Both fold cuts have cracks on both sides. This I have been told is normal from opening and closing the hood. Working some of the damage made these cracks longer. There is another crack in the forward area in the impact zone. I found this as I opened one of the folds.
I used the fiberglass hood by laying it on top to check my work. I think I am within a 1/4 of inch but the frame flexes too. Across the front is really close. I am not sure about the width. I have to flip the whole thing over and look at the old glue lines.
The glue is going to be a problem. I tried heat, it didn't work well. I think it is going to take a grinder to remove the old glue.
The work begins-
Last night I grab the frame and the body hammers and dollies. The front left was pushed back about an inch and a half. In 1970 GM added cuts in the frame to allow the hood to fold in place of the hood going though the windshield. The problem is the hood bends there and gets weak over time. The damage crack the sides of the cuts weakening the frame even more. I want to keep these cuts and I want to strengthen them but not too strong. The first 12 inches took the most damage.
Working the bends I started at the cuts and worked to the front. I used the right side of the hood and match it. There are a lot of little bends that turned to sharp bends when it got hit. In some cases I added some heat to open the creases. I found that the more I worked on the frame I found many angles you would never know about.
There are four spots that I will have to TIG. Both fold cuts have cracks on both sides. This I have been told is normal from opening and closing the hood. Working some of the damage made these cracks longer. There is another crack in the forward area in the impact zone. I found this as I opened one of the folds.
I used the fiberglass hood by laying it on top to check my work. I think I am within a 1/4 of inch but the frame flexes too. Across the front is really close. I am not sure about the width. I have to flip the whole thing over and look at the old glue lines.
The glue is going to be a problem. I tried heat, it didn't work well. I think it is going to take a grinder to remove the old glue.
The photo above are the stage of reshaping the metal frame for the hood. This was all done with hammer and dolly. By opening and re bending the angles. I still have more to do. I now have four hoods.
The first one is trashed and can bee seen on the car to the right. This was a 442 hood (non scoop). This hood is a double hump hood. I the 442 hood (non scoop) I got with the ebay buy. It had old body work on the front but I have most of that fixed. I have a flat hood from the four door. Amazedly, there is no damage on this hood. It has been repainted and will have to be stripped to be used. I now have a Ram Air hood. I am told it is a real one but is has a lot of damage. |
What is next? I have to use the flat hood to make a pattern to fix the ram air hood. I hoping to only have to build it for the front and the lip across the windshield. The windshield will be painful. I have the glass, the rosin, harder, I just need the time.
Olds, 442, Restore