I'd like to make a new hood for my pile, which had this complicated bend belt line. I played around on a brake last night but can't figure out how to bend one way and then the other, the first bend is in the way. Maybe if I take that red piece on angle iron off the brake so the new fold goes downward, then move the fingers out until there is only a bit of the folding mechanism sticking out? Anyone done this?
Yes, I've taken the angle off of mine and bend all kinds of stuff. Moving the fingers past the hinge point will not work. I hope this makes sense- Make the bend then pull it piece back down. That will make a step but I don't know if that will match your profile. That profile should be doable in a press brake with the right dies and a good layout man. You could also do that in a bead roller too. The right dies with fancy set ups and multiple pass or a set of fancy dies made and do it in one pass
Like bradly1929 said, but other possibility is to cut off the belt line and weld it onto a new rolled hood sheet. A lot depends on how good the metal is along the belt line. Find a 2nd hood and make one out of two. If there is only a bad spot some where in the belt line, possibly some kind of homemade die for a press could get you by. I look forward to reading other ideas...
i used some thin strips to do a test........ i show how i did it in this thread:https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/31-buick-3w-coupe.1019753/
Its hard to tell what the profile of the original belt line is from the picture but it looks to me to be factory stamped into the edge of the hood. You might have better luck with a bead roller replicating the profile or at least the look of those beads.
thats what I was thinking could the top two flat details be made with a bead roller then the rounded bottom one be made with a brake or the other way around now I confused myself
Thanks guys. I'll try the brake suggestions, if I don't get anywhere I'll look at the roller. I went through all the dies and nothing similar, I would have to turn some up. I only have half the hood so can't cut and weld.
It's hard to tell on your picture of the brake...but on mine the piece of angle iron comes off as well as a piece of 3/8" plate behind the angle iron. I've removed both at times in order to bend in tight quarters with reverse bends. But be aware that you also reduce the rigidity of the brake with these pieces removed. As others have said you can also get pretty inventive with a bead roller...especially if you have access to a lathe and are not beyond making some of your own die shapes.
Just do a 4-6" long section of bead, so it matches up with the beaded panel next to the hood. No need to run the bead all the way down the hood! That should make it easier to do.
American Bantam. I'm doing this at the local jr. college. They do have a bead roller, I don't know if it's a pullmax, you can see it in this blowup. It does use a motor. Non of the dies match, I would have to make them. Also my old home made hood that lacks the belt line. I won't get to try again until next Wednesday night.
You will need to form 3 slight reverse breaks. Draw it out one bend at a time on paper positioning the paper in the break to test feasibility. Plan on forming the upper step first working toward the panel edge to form the next 2 reverse bends in order. The break work will most likely have to be done on a flat hood blank before the final hood forming is done. A formed hood won't fit into the jaws of the break to do reverse breaking. The real question will be if you can form the bottom roll after the steps are formed. Practice with strips of metal of the same gauge as the new hood will be. It matters because the reverse breaks are so slight. It's not uncommon to do part of the work with a break and finish with a Pullmax and vice versa. I would first try to do it on a break and then a Pullmax if not. I don't have a bead roller so won't comment on it's use.
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