I just picked up a Glasstek 2" cowl hood for the Camaro and it needs a few mods to fit.
The leading edge of the hood is particularly thick at more than 1/2".
Has anyone come across this and how did you remedy it?
I figure a flexible disc in an angle grinder to take the bulk of the edge down and then block it to get the final thickness. Looks like the final number would be about an 1/8".
I have an OEM glass hood for comaprison and the leading edge on it is practicaly zero. My concern is the potential for the hood to delaminate as I think this is where the two halves are bonded together.

 

Where did you get the hood. As soon as you start to make alterations to it most likely your opportunity to send it back is over.

 

My oh my, take that sucker back.

 

neve even heard of glasstek and that's probably why. try to get your money back buy a harwood or one of the more common brands

 

My harwood cowl hood had the same lip all the way around it. It's 100% intentional. The lip protects the corner of the hood during shipping. You can just grind it away with a die grinder or a disk grinder. Just take your time, and don't take away too much! I decided to leave most of the lip to keep the extra strength. The only place I removed it was along the front edge of the hood.

 

i have a glasstek 4 inch cowl. there pretty popular round my neck of the woods. didnt have to modify it, and have had it on for 4 years

 

Picked the hood up right at Glasstek. Met with Robert (their front man). He was very helful. Even lent a hand to help unload and repack the van as we had about 3 grand in car parts plus two hoods to transport.

That's not likely. Glasstek is 8 hours from where I live.

I think they're fairly popular. His warehouse is packed full of 'glass parts for almost every body style imaginable.

I didn't figure it was a flaw. Just the results from the molding process and I can appreciate how it would give the hood strength.
I figure a grinder and a soft disc is the way to go. Then block sand the final fit.

I don't recall having to modify the 4" cowl that's on the TA either however the hood for the Camaro needs not only the leading edge profiled but there's no provision for the hood latch mechanism that's mounted on the rad support. I'll have to carve a hole for that too.

I've sent an e-mail to Robert to get his opinion on how much I can safely trim before I get myself into trouble.

 

I bought a 4" cowl hood from them for my 96' Z28 many many years ago and it had the same "lip" to it. Grinded it down and preped it before paint - no issues for the 6-7 years I had it on the car. Bet it's still doing fine with the new owner now too..

 

That seems to be the case.
Here's my e-mail to Robert at Glasstek and his reply (printed with permission).


Hi Robert
I was at your shop a couple of weeks ago and picked up 2 hoods to load in my van.
You may remember us unloading all the car stuff we had picked up and packing everything again. A couple of Canadian guys out shopping.
First thing is I'd like to thank you again for the excellent customer service. The trip went without a hitch and the hoods arrived safe and sound.
I have a question regarding the Camaro hood. The leading edge is particularly thick (about a 1/2") and doesn't fit well against the front fascia. Looking at the OEM glass hood (or a steel hood for that matter), that edge practically comes to a point so that it fits flush with the nose.
My question is how much can I reduce that leading edge before I get into a problem with weakening the hood. By looking at it, I would think that this is where the two halves of hood are bonded together. I wouldn't want to sand into the seam and risk delaminating the hood.
I've attached a few pictures so you can see what I'm trying to describe.
Thoughts?
Thanks
Kevin

Kevin,

It was very nice meeting you two and glad to hear you made it home safe...
That hood (and most of our hoods have the lips around the outside made too big to help prevent shipping and handling damage) They need to be trimmed down...you can safely take that edge down to the thickness of the outer skin. Since we ship most of our hoods on comercial trucks we do what we can to help prevent damage to the corners and edges of the hoods.

Thanks,

Robert