The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Hood Brace Filler

I was looking at the hood on my 59 last nite and under the center brace there was what appears to be melted tar. There is a gap of about 3/8 in from the brace to the underside of the hood. What would be a good replacement material to keep the hood from moving? Some foam of some kind? Or what was that tar 50 years ago?

nothing will 'keep the hood from moving', the material you see in there was the same type of tar impregnated paper used elsewhere for noise reduction, intended to prevent noises when it did flap in the wind or get slammed shut .... if your whole hood is moving, the latch needs adjusting

Bill

Sorry, guess I didnt say it correctly. the hood fits and dosent move at speed. I was thinking more of the oil can effect when I close it or wash the hood. Probably need something that will take heat and gas fumes.

nothing will keep the hood from flexing when it's slammed around, by you or the wind, having a narrow rigid strut pushing against the center of that big slab will just result in other problems down the road, which is why it wasn't done at the factory .... the change in hood shape [ridges moved and widened] from 57 to 58 was undoubtedly an attempt by GM to reduce the 'flexiness' of the hood, just like the addition of the ridges in 57 was a 'fix' for the even greater flex of the 55-6 hoods

Bill

I just did this on my '59. I glued some rubber strips to the brace with weatherstrip adhesive. I just used some scrap rubber that I cut in strips. Just determine what thickness you need to fill the gap, too thick and you will have a hump in your hood.

I just used a tube of windshield caulking (newer windshields are glued in), it's flexible and stops the oilcanning....

This is what i'll be using, urethane windshield bond.

Manufacturers use a similar product on panel van sides between the braces and outer skin.
Another product is Sikaflex.

My 59 GMC has strips of a stickey cork-like material between the brace and sheet metal. I believe it is the orginal cure for the oilcan effect others describe. I think the winshield adhesive is a excellent idea and cure. Good Luck

Sorry to bring this thread back to life, but I think it important for others that search this topic to get the most points of view possible. I am at the stage of reassembling my hood that I split awhile back...

My plan is to use neoprene foam rubber sandwiched between the rear brace and hood sheet metal. If you look at the assembly manual, something was there different from the tar impregnated "paper" that was used extensively in other parts of the truck. The neoprene foam is very compressible and should hold up well to the underhood environment. I am in the construction industry and sourced the neoprene from my HVAC subcontractor. The foam is used for metal HVAC duct liner. It is easily cut with a band saw.

....and when you do it could you post us a picture. Thanks

I used 1/4" foam from the local Hobby Lobby. Comes in 9x12
sheets for a few pennys. Looks exactly like the "foam" that
was originally under the brace. Been in there for several
years and coming up on 10,000 miles now.
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/152813177
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL