Hood modifications

[Rattler]

Hey guys,
I got a fiberglass cowl induction scoop for Christmas and will be starting the installation process very soon. I've had a fiberglass hood for a long time, but it's an old school hood with the square style snorkel on it and I just don't like the look.

I plan on cutting my existing fiberglass hood and glassing in my new cowl scoop to it. Has anyone done this or have experience with this type of project?

From what I've been reading when installing a glass scoop onto a glass hood I need to cut the edge off the scoop, place the scoop into position and trace the scoop onto the hood and then cut the hood and glass the scoop on from the underside.

I just had to set the scoop on the hood today to get an idea of what it's going to look like. :D

http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/cowl%20hood.jpg

[Hank70SS]

No fiber glass expert but sounds good. Just thinking, do you need to cut the edge off the scoop? If you leave the edge, cut the hood then you have two flat sections to glass together from the bottom side. Don't know, just thinking that might be easier and stronger.

[Rattler]

That was my original plan, but all the instructions I've found online recommend to cut the lip off for a fiberglass hood and to leave the edge on for a steel hood.

I'm using a set of Jegs instructions I found on their website to do the install. They seem to be the most specific.

Today I cut the edge off of the cowl and spent about half an hour getting it set just right onto the hood so I could trace it out.

Edge cut off of cowl.
http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/P1010168.JPG

Traced the cowl pattern onto the hood so it could be cut out.
http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/P1010169.JPG

My hood has a support across the middle to keep the large section from sagging I guess. I'm leaving that support in place for now. I may remove it once the cowl is glassed into place and everything is nice and strong.
http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/P1010172.JPG

And one ENORMOUS hole cut into my hood. LOL
http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/P1010174.JPG

[Rattler]

I worked on the yard and removing the Christmas lights today so I didn't get too far, but I got a little more done.

I notched the support on either side so the cowl would fit down flush with the backside of the hood.
http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/P10169.JPG

The cowl fits awesome onto my hood with the exception of the very front body line.
http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/P101701.JPG

This is going to take a lot of work to feather the two together. LOL
http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/P10172.JPG

I then used duct tape and taped the the cowl into place. I will start fiberglassing tomorrow morning hopefully.
http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/P101731.JPG

http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/P10174.JPG

[Rank]

Looks like you got it under control but if it was me I would use a few clecos or panel clips and make sure it is perfectly lined up on the outside and then flip it over and go with the roven-woven everywhere there isnt a cleco, let that dry, then remove the clecos and then glass the whole innerside in .... and then play with the outside.

The outside sould turn out really nice if you use fine cloth and patience.

[flash]

Wow ,I cant believe you butchered that hood . Just kidding ,I like it .I think its going to look great .I used to do fiberglass repairs on hard to find Trans Am noses on my 76 T/A and never had a problem making it look good and you wont have any trouble either .Looking forward to seeing more as you go.

[grandsport]

If only we could modificate our bodies..........:p

[Rattler]

I got 2 layers of fiberglass down on the backside today. Now I just need to let it set for a day or two.

http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/P1010181.JPG

http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/P1010180.JPG

[Ms Grumpy]

If only we could modificate our bodies..........:p

they call that plastic surgery, pretty much the same as what's going on here. Except I don't think that we could do it in the garage.

[Ms Grumpy]

Rattler, awesome progression of pics. Great reference for anyone doing this kind of mod.

[Rattler]

Thanks Ms. Grumpy! I'm hoping it will be of use for others to get ideas from. :D

[Rattler]

The hardest part is going to be joining the nose of the cowl with the nose of the hood. The cowl center line has a narrow edge and the hood had a very wide edge.

http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/hood%20nose%20001.jpg

I formed a piece of balsa wood to fill the gap between the too edges and fade the wide edge into the narrow one.

http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/hood%20nose%20002.jpg

I glassed the wood down to the hood and then used a thin cloth and shaped the the cowl nose to the hood. It may take more layers, but this is how it looks now.

http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/hood%20nose%20006.jpg

[Rattler]

Got a little bit sanded down. I need a couple more coats, but it's turning out great.
http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/hood%20nose%20008.jpg

[Rattler]

UPDATE:
The nose of the car has really been stubborn. I've been applying layers of resin and sanding it down for a week now. I'm getting very close to a shape that I like now. I sprayed the nose with primer to show off the imperfections and can tell I will still need to do a bit more work, but it's getting there.

http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/hood%20nose%20close.jpg

[flash]

Its looking great ,keep up the progress reports.

[shadowgray396]

Nice poroject, it's going to look good when you get it done.

Ray

[Berg]

Good choice on leaving the supports intact. If you cut them out the hood goes to crap real quick. Someone gave me the same style cowl hood for my chevelle. I thought it looked cool but when i put it on the car it was sagging in the center and it had a wobble at about 70 mph. It ended up with cracks in the paint that looked bad if you got up close. I did attempt to rebuild it and added aluminum plate as a reinforcement and bonded it in. It worked pretty good but it added a signifigant amount of weight and I just didn't like the outcome so I sold it and put my SS hood back on.

[Rattler]

More progress today! :banana:

One more go around with some 800 and 1000 grit and it should be good to go.

http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/black%20primed%20001.jpg

http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/black%20primed%20002.jpg

[flash]

That turned out great ,good job.

[Rattler]

Well it was good for 10 minutes. :(

I bolted the hood onto the car and couldn't find my front pins so I cut a couple pieces of coat hanger and was going to stop at autozone and pick up some hood pins on my way to a little car show. I made it about 1/4 mile and the $%#%# coat hangers bent and my hood flew open. It ripped up the hinge locations pretty good so I guess it's back to the drawing board.

I feel so damn stupid. I hate it when I have a duh moment. I'm totally disgusted with myself for thinking a coat hanger could hold that pressure even though it was for only a mile down the street. :(

I'll be glassing this thing again. Crossing fingers that it turns out. I was impressed that the cowl that I glassed into place is very solid and not damaged.

[flash]

With your talent it will be back good as new in no time.

[Rattler]

It's completed again! :) After weeks of working on it over the weekends I finally got the hood repaired and back on the car. It actually turned out great!

I also found some 8.5" 54 pound springs at home depot that work perfectly for my hinges! :)

http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/hood%20installed%20001.jpg

http://www.allenitllc.com/hotrods/chevelle/hood/hood%20installed%20002.jpg

[flash]

Looks good ,I like it .

[Rattler]

now to prep the rest of the car! lol