The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Smoothing the hood

I have a 1953 3100 that we want to remove the hood rib, weld the seam and smooth over. What are the steps to doing this? The depression for the molding is too deep to fill all with weld and I don't think filling it with body putty would be a good long term solution. Am I wrong? What is the best way to accomplish this?

Thanks all for the help.

You will have to weld up the seam. The hood is two pieces and filler will crack almost instantly if it's not welded solid. Weld the hood halves together then fill with your preference body filler,
Scott

If you were closer, I'd say come on over. I have one that is done but needs other work I would give you.

The weld advice seems like good advice to me, as the two piece hood would seem to flex and cracking would be a matter of time.

I bolted mine together, than slowly filled the seam with weld, must keep cool to keep from warping,the back edge of hood has no roll so it will distort easily. Also welded the cowl vent just filling the seam with weld, because the vent and cowl have a rolled lip it takes heat better. Filled the four depressions for the emblem with a disc, ground welds down and finish with minimal filler. You will be adjusting the rear hood brace to get the hood to lay flat on the cowl, I had to shim with washers. Zeke
see here under hood:
http://community.webshots.com/user/zeker6

Thanks all for the info. I do want to minimize the fill needed and I'm a litle leery of using lead.

One other quick question, how is the trim rib held in place? I can't seem to get it to budge.

the trim piece has prongs that go down through the base. those pieces then get a twist with a pliers to lock them in place. Work your way along the edge with a bigger pliers and straighten them out one by one.

Thanks Jake, that will definitely make life a little easier. I'm rapidly discovering there is nothing really easy on these things but I am having a blast and learning a lot at the same time.

Thanks again.

Zeke,
I looked around in your Webshots, Very Nice!!!
I'm going to try your way on my hood, then maybe add cowl induction.

Buddy

I also plan to fill the seam on the hood of my 54. I have talked to a couple of people who have done this and they all recommended strongly that it be done with the hood in-place. Evidently they both tried it while the hood was off on the floor and it did not fit exactly right once it was put in place. Sounds like good advice to me.

I was thinking the same thing Houston54.

Zeker6 ??

Buddy

Has anyone thought about or tried to lay a strip of metal into the center depression (after welding the seam) and welding that into place to fill the molding relief groove? It would be less welding and filling. Just thinking out loud. Let me know what you think.

Thanks.