Hello, I might be buying a 1929 ford roadster body and I would like to know how to get this look. Specifically the hood top, hood sides with the 1932 ford grill shell. Similar to Nimrod's, Chris Casny, Malcolm's and 08racer's. Does Rootlieb sell the hood sides and top? Do you have to make your own? Thanks in advance for your answers.
One man's junk is another man's tools. Necessity is the mother of invention. Caveman metal forming = using whatever you have access to and using your muscles, hammers., other metal to make it go where you want it to. Store bought stretchers and shrinkers are nice but a big old heavy flat file will shrink metal by slapping it with a backing dolly on the opposite side. Stretching with a hammer and form or sand 9lead costs money and sand can be found along the local creek bank) filled leather bag. Burlap feed bag will do but need frequent replacing.
Those are 3 flat panels. The top is curved flat metal. No complex shaping. You need the body and grill shell mounted to a finished, square frame. Then use thick poster board to make a pattern. The Rootileb guys can use those patterns to build the hood. But you need perfect patterns. Or use those patterns to build your own. The sides can be bent on a break. The top can be bent around a pipe then flanged on a break. There’s a few threads here for a homemade louvre press. but any decently equipped rod shop should be able to make ‘em. But you’d need the body and shell fit to a ch***is.
FWIW; Please note the grille-shell-top/cowl-edge location(s), forming a very nice slightly-downhill angle, giving the 2 curves a beautiful transition for good proportions. Also note the hood/side panel joint-line, has become a continuation of the cowl-tank body-seam line, giving the eye another pleasing line to follow. Marcus...
Rootleib will make to your design, at least until a few years ago. I took my car there, they kept it a couple weeks, and I could not have been happier.
We’re in bama. So for one build we sent Rootleib measurements. They made us a hood top and 2 sides. Not having the car on hand for Rootleib, we had them made longer. We final fit them on the car. Worked out nice. Another thing is mounting. Figuring out how you want the pieces mounted to the car needs to be considered. We made locating pins for the bottom of the hood sides and made a bar that mounted between the body and grill shell to hold the top of the hood side. Countersunk Allen bolts held the top of the hood side. The top was hinged. So a custom frame work was made with a hidden latch. There was a company that made a universal kit for “street rods” don’t know if they are still around. I kinda prefer the older style removable hood top that’s held in place with latches.
Cool. Ive seen those or similar used. I like how they can be used to set the gap with the hood side. I dig this look better than the hinged to the side look.
This is the idea, once you get a little shape rolled into it, no matter how, the remaining shape can be attained by wrestling it with your hands while it is clamped to a bench, table, or in a brake like I do. Now I use .063 -3003 aluminum, start long and trim to fit with snips.
I'm no wizard metal mover but I made my hood to and sides from 3003 half hard 050" aluminum sheet. I had a louver press at the time so that was the simple part. I had a small brake for the edges and the shape of the top was done with an argon bottle and a basketball post. Learned as I went...made them long and trimmed to length.
I recall the original post car as being Bart Root's, (Norwalk, CA?) That's his wife pictured. Bart ran the roadster at the drags, but when his wife drove it, she beat his time. HRM said she 'showed the car less mercy'! Good replies on the shaping/fitting/t******* of the hood pieces. Marcus commented on the lines continuing from the tank line on the '29, Really worth doing. (many don't, and it stands out like a sore thumb)
Building a hood from scratch is actually easier than you might think. I am not a fabricator by any means, but I did build mine on my own. I used .063 aluminum. There is a great how-to thread on here that I followed by @Kiwi Kev .. I'll search and post the link.
Now that I think more about it, maybe it was a Rod & Custom magazine how-to article he wrote? Here's a little insight - https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/rpu-gets-makeover-built-me-a-hood.175985/
@Marty Strode, @Charlie Chops 1940, @Malcolm Ok I gotta ask, I noticed that alot of you who built your own hoods have built them out of aluminum, why aluminum and not out of sheet metal why ? I've considered building a half hood for my 31 tudor, I've lengthened the frame about 4" in the engine area so a custom hood is my only choice. .
For latches I like these ****erfly, camlocks. View attachment 5775466 For me, I like the lightweight aspect, easy to get it to hold the shape. Also steel hoods are thinner, and require a hem on each end. Besides I can get an aluminum one laid down fairly fast. Look at the times written on the metal, on one sometime back.
Shoot, Chip can make the whole hood for ya! He's done them for several cars running in the Valley. PM me and I'll get you his contact info.
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