Hey guys, I've got the original 84 power bulge hood on my 84 T/A, and suffice it to say, that it's pretty banged up. My question is this: I'm thinking about pounding out all the dents, and using bondo (body filler) to smooth everything out. I'm pretty good with the stuff, so that's my easiest fix (instead of buying an aftermarket hood). I'm trying to keep the power bulge cause you don't see too many of them. The actual question is will bondo on the hood hold the same even tho it's directly over the engine (with all of it's heat)?

Thanks!

 

I don't think the Bondo would have a problem with the heat necessarily.... don't quote me though.

If you'd rather just replace the hood I've got one on sale on eBay from my 91 that's in really good shape. A lot more expensive than Bondo, but is completely straight.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33646


How badly is your hood banged up though, do you have pics? If you just need to smooth out a few tiny dimples I wouldn't worry too much about Bondo-ing it, but if you have major craters in it or something you may wanna just replace

 

Well, its definitely not as nice as your! but its not all that bad. There are a few (probably about 5) dents that are all about the size of a fist, but aren't too deep. I plan on banging 'em out, shouldn't be too difficult, but then I'd have to smooth out everything with Bondo, so there wouldn't be too much bondo on the hood, but I'm just wondering with what little bondo is on there, if the heat from the engine will affect the bondo?

 

Body shops repair hoods with bondo everyday, there's probably a million cars out there with bondo-fied hoods. You shouldn't have a problem. Think of it this way- the hood has paint on it, right? If the heat doesn't blister the paint, it shouldn't affect the bondo.

 

Ok, thanks for your input, I just didn't want to go to all the work of doing all the stuff to it, to have it end up looking like crap in another month. Thanks again!

 

Repairing a hood with body filler or Bondo, is no problem just remember that body filler has recomendations, dont exceed them or it will give you problems. Remember body filler is a finishing material and not for filling large dents or sculpting to much. If its used correctly you will never have any problems with it. Good Luck

 

Just remember that the hood flexes a little every time you open it and flexing plus bondo or any filler equals cracks so go light with it.

 

I did all my own bodywork and prep to my car back in '97, and brought it to Maaco to be shot. I had to do some minor bondo work (two or three dings, one wide/shallow dent) to the hood. Problem is, the morons at Maaco gave the car another prep sand- and sanded that bondo area FLAT!! Idiots.

The Bondo's held up thru the years, even though the paint hasn't. Like was said, use proper preparation and application, and your job will last forever.... unlike the dorks that sand the car without chemically removing the road film/bird crap/etc, slap a chunk of bondo on the car, and then drive around without painting the bondo.

(Bondo ain't waterproof!)

 

not a problem.dont use too much hardener or it WILL crack.(unless the insulation is intact)

 

Ive got quite a bit of bondo on my hood, used it to smooth around the scoop i bolted on, and its held up fine, despite having no insulation under the hood and running at 220-240 in the summer.

 

Cool, thanks everyone for you kind advice. I guess my best bet is to make sure all the paint is off the surface before doing any bondo work. I appreciate everyone's 2 cents. Thanks!

 

we use body filler on hoods at my work. it holds up just fine.