63 Hood dilema

[Boyan B.]

The hood I have for my 63 roadster seems to have been sanded down a little too thin for my liking. The edges are much thinner than other cars I've compared it to. The surface is very wavy, I'm guessing from too much orbital sanding during the last repaint--you can see the sanding marks. Also the front corners have alot of deflection when you push on them--Too thin I think.

I need advice on what to do. Should I get a reproduction hood? If so, whats a good brand and it needs to be an exact repro if that exists. Or should I try to have a body man salvage the hood I have?

I've already tried to buy a mint original hood and have located 3. The only problem is no one wants to sell. This would seem the best way to go, but I'm running out of time and can't wait in the hopes that I'll find one some day.

I'm shooting for a Top Flight car and everything else is original and solid.

Thanks in advance.

[Chuck G.]

Re: 63 Hood dilema

To add to your dilemma, there are several "styles" of 63 hoods, depending on whether and how many "hood blocks" were used. Some had no blocks, some had 2 and some had 4. The corresponding mounting points for those blocks might be drilled/not drilled.....holes present, not present, nut plates/no nut plates, etc. I know nothing of the quality of the repro hoods, other than to say I've seen some cheesy hand molded models, where the undersurface is rough and unfinished. Chuck

[Chuck G.]

Re: 63 Hood dilema

To add to your dilemma, there are several "styles" of 63 hoods, depending on whether and how many "hood blocks" were used. Some had no blocks, some had 2 and some had 4. The corresponding mounting points for those blocks might be drilled/not drilled.....holes present, not present, nut plates/no nut plates, etc. I know nothing of the quality of the repro hoods, other than to say I've seen some cheesy hand molded models, where the undersurface is rough and unfinished. Chuck