The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Using a 3M adhesive for Advance Design hood

I want to connect my two piece hood without using the original strip. I understand that that welding the seam can be very tricky.

What about using the 3M body panel connection adhesive? I have heard and seen pictures of it being used in place of welding. One example I saw was to use the adhesive for replacement floor boards.

I do not know the type or name of the particular 3M adhesive/glue.

Any ideas on whether or not to use it and, if so, what product to use?

Thanks in advance.

Michael

Interesting idea. Maybe it would work best in combination with a few small welds along the seam?

michael- check here for panel adhesive
http://products3.3m.com/catalog

It is used extensively in new cars, my buddy the bodyman says its best thing since sliced bread. He advised not using it in structural parts, like rockers & door posts but on fenders etc it is best, no damage from welding to repair. brian

Sounds like a good idea. I have some in my garage now. Bought it last year to use on our Nova. Never thought about trying it on the hood of our 53. Would still have to fill the seam in though? Never had our hood apart to see how much of a seam there is ? Let us know if you try it!

I am not sure you really have a problem. Because I believe the hood pieces are riveted together under the hood, and the strip is entirely decorative. But I could be wrong, my truck is not here right now to confirm this.

You may have trouble, there is not much flange area between the halves of the hood. You could grind out the flange in a few spots and stitch the halves together with steel straps and use the adhesive. You will need to fill the gap between somehow and it can't flex. You may have the best luck welding the whole thing up or doing some short welds and filling the rest with lead.

All,

I want to thank all of you for your thoughtful responses.

I am thinking that there is some bracing that does, or can be made to, span accross both of the halves. Per 4ontheFloor, I think that more bracing, and maybe I can salvage some that might be "u" shaped from another truck or car and fits the curve, can be glued or welded in where necessary. Per oldcarandtrucknut, I will definitely stitch the two halves together with a 1/4" mig weld every few inches and I am thinking of doing this top and bottom in addition to using the adhesive all along the "vertical" seam.

Also, I think that body filler could be used once all of the above is accomplished on the top side to span the two radiuses that will be left at the joint.

Now what do you guys think? Do you think that I have settled on a decent plan and should give it a try?

Thanks again

You have mentioned glueing and welding,these types of glues are released with heat.So any welding done next to the glue will release the glue therefore defeating the purpose of glueing.On this application I would WELD IT!,after all you are talking about glueing a hood together right down the middle way to structural.I have used glue on roof skins,door skins and the odd quarter panel and never really felt to comfortable with the end result.If glueing was that good the manufacturers would surely be using it everywhere,but for the most part the new vehicles are 90% WELDED