This is the same Truck I chopped, put the Custom Tail lights in, etc... The Owner wanted something done to the Hood. It didnt fit very well, and we thought it would be cool to eliminate the Stainless strip that hides the seam where the two halfs are riveted together. I started by Hammering a piece of Sheetmetal on my Shotbag, and I smoothed it out on the English wheel. Once I had the right shape I clamped it to the front of the Hood, and checked for fit. The Peak is the center 5" out of a Hood from a Junkyard. ( I'm guessing some '60s fullsize Car...) I started Tacking in the front piece, cutting around it with my Airsaw as I went, and peeing away the lower ( original ) Sheetmetal. This left the parts lined up for a ****weld, with a gap the width of the Airsaw Blade. After that, I did the same with the strip that runs down the middle of the Hood, with the Peak in it...
After that, I Hammerwelded the new Sheetmetal in ( Gas Weld...) Right now I'm working on the back edge of the Hood. It needs to fit right. And the best way I can think of to do that is Double layer the Sheetmetal from the Brace back, and Hammerweld the whole back edge of the Hood. I've got the second layer Tacked in, and I'm working on getting the shape right before I solid Weld it. This way I can try and get the Gap nice to... Its going to be tricky... Hope it wont warp too much. At least with a Gas Weld I can work it, and Hammer it back...
OOH OOH I wanna be next I wanna be next. I thought about forming a peak with a oak buck and tryin to but weld it in on my 48 Suburban. I have done the rod trick and it wasnyt quite what I wanted. That looks great. If it were only as easy as you make it look. Jay
you'll get some warpage but nothin that can't be hammered back out. as long as your carefull that is. that is just how i did the hood on Big Olds but i did some MIG and some gas welding cause i was just learning to gas weld at the time. it was one of the hardest modifications i've ever done. even harder than chopping a 50 Chev sedan. i would have never doubted you could have pulled it off beautifuly though. nice job.
My hat's off to you! Beautiful work, and nice to see gas welding and hammering to do quality metal work!
I sectioned my 54 GMC hood 5 1/2 inches and it came out nice. I'm putting 47 buick hinges on it so it opens from either side (not done yet) moving the truck from the shop to the car port yesterday and (stupid me) jumped on it going down the driveway. hood came on the front and I ran over it. I have another hood thats all ready louvered but will probably run the bent hood (with pride?) to Paso
Your metal craftsmanship is second to none. I look at that front end in stock form (but a 54) every single day. That's a unique idea and the way you pulled it off is the very essence of tradition and quality. I'd love to see more of it.
Nice metalworking on my 52 I smoothed the rib in the center. It took a lot of time but i eventually got it. had a warpage problem I also had trouble getting the gap right with the cowl. Instead of welding a strip to the back edge hood I shimmed the radiator support mount that closed the large straight seam right up but the corners still didn't fit so I welded a sheetmetal angle to the cowl to prevent any more warpage to the hood the cowl wouldn't warp as bad. anyway it looks good Devo
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