Pocket

iTrader: (24)

I just picked up a RAII hood and am having trouble fitting it. Bodywork isnt my thing so I figured Id ask

Does this warp look like something that can be remedied with heat and weight or will I have to make relief cuts and repair with matts on the bottom?

Im pretty sure Ill have to build up the sides too because its over 1/4" gap still with both fenders pushed inwards to the max

Fenders and hood are adjusted so they are level in the front/rear but the bow in the middle is excessive. About 1/2" on the drivers side and 3/8" pass. Its bad enough I can see into the engine bay with the hood closed

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

This thing is a POS

Had to adjust it to the max forward just to get it off the wipers. After that and adjusting the headlights (PITA), the nose had to come forward to the max too. The gaps look good but the headlights need more room to be able to open. Time to trim it. I havent decided if Ill trim the headlight recess or near the wipers. Might be easier to trim the rear and slide it back where it's supposed to go

The front 4 corners are all sorts of warped out of shape. I might be able to pass the fender warp by dropping the hood corner adjusters and flexing them back up with a little heat/weight. That'll be tomorrows project

Im also seriously considering fabbing a fresh hood latch with an integrated release mechanism/spring. Im sick of crawling under the nose to get the stubborn thing loose

The joys of bodywork So far I have resisted the urge to yell "HULK SMASH" and do what felt natural. That may change...

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

Wow, that is really warped. Best of luck getting it to sit right. Who is the manufacturer?

GOATS2QUICK

iTrader: (5)

that does look bad. im curious too, where did you get that?
ive been reluctant to buy one, fearing just this same issue.

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Its a hawks hood, not sure of their supplier. I got it 2nd hand though, so no telling what happened between the purchase date and now

Opher

iTrader: (1)

You may find you need to play with the rear hinges a lot, and do some major mods to the rest of the mouting.

You really can not heat and bend fiberglass, doesnt hold well. I would advise building up the fenders to match the hood.

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Cant really build up the fenders, they're steel. If this were a Corvette, that'd be the first course of action

Ill have to work with the hood some. The pass side has already relaxed a bit more so the gap isnt as apparent. Drivers side still looks awful, I likely will have to do some relief cuts on the bottom. Ive already slotted the rear hinges quite a bit, its actually laying on the steel cowl

Alot of the issues are from the design not being right, the nasty warp is just another hurdle. This hood is about 1/2" narrower than the stock steel and about the same amount longer up front. The hinge mount holes are drilled too far down so the hinge must be slotted to lower the hood inline with the fenders. The cowl area is excessively bulky touching the steel cowl and severely crowing the wipers

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Well, this is as far as it can be adjusted without building stuff up

Overall it looks good. Pass side is slightly high still. Nose is adjusted to max height, latch is moved down to the max. Next step is to cut the steel striker on the hood and weld it higher so the latch will be within an adjustable range. Pretty simple

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Heres the bad side, the drivers headlight door has an excessive amount of room around it and the hood is too thick at the rear. Ill have to block sand it at an angle for the doors to actuate without scraping the paint off. Next pic shows the warp at its worst. You can see down into the engine bay. I cant quite get my little finger in there. Last pic shows some of the crummy design. Pass wiper hits in two places. I can sand it clear but just the fact of having to do it

Plans for the future:

Since the side gaps are so wide I was thinking of making long flat pieces of fiberglass then flexing the hood even with the fenders and using the strips to both keep the hood rigid at the right curve and fill the fender gaps. I would also like to build up the gap between the nose too. 1/4" is more than I like up there

Next, Id like to patch the holes the PO cut in the rear and form the inside of the nostrils a bit more. Hawks ram air box doesnt actually seal to anything. Its just positioned right behind the opening. Id like to change that to forcing ALL the air coming in to go to the box. Im also wonding how good/bad it would look with the grills taken out of the nostrils and smoothed

quickkris2006

iTrader: (2)

wow i hope mine isnt like that! the hood itself looks great on the car minus the gaps of course.. good luck with the fitment issues

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

that hood looks like a real heap. you have more patience than i have, it would have been already at my place if that was mine