67 Dart Hood Scoop re-bracing

[BT67Dart]

It seems that prior owners of my project car got a overly enthusiastic when installing a demon style hood scoop (fiberglass) on the stock hood. They basically cut out a large portion of the inner hood structure resulting in the hood vibrating up and down when the car was driven. Not to mention the hood scoop hole in the outer hood skin is too large at the rear. I am contemplating re-bracing the inner skin and bolting it to the hood scoop studs for overall strength. No design as of yet. It's either I salvage the hood and strengthen it up or buy another hood and install the scoop on it. Here's a picture of my hood vs. a hood with the inner structure intact. Any suggestions on re-bracing option, or should I just hunt for another hood?

 

[Darter6]

Look at this 65 Belvedere hood scoop reinforce with angle iron box frame.

 

[BT67Dart]

That's along the lines of what I am thinking, although that hood has more inner structure than mine, it would still work. I am thinking if I run the bracing pattern to include the scoop studs, I can tie it all together to help provide some stiffness. I am wondering if that may cause the scoop to crack due to vibration.....

 

[doug 371]

Hunt for another hood

 

[BT67Dart]

I did a quick check, nothing in my area as of yet. Back there are a few selling for $700, freight would likely be expensive. I'll keep looking while I consider reworking this one....

 

[Dragonsteel]

At $700 I would look into a fiberglass hood with a scoop.

 

[Kegan B]

Flat hoods are usually sub $300, I'd just find another. $700 is power bulge money, US body fiberglass are anywhere from $649-$779 depending on scoop option.

 

[Dana67Dart]

3rd option....

Replace hood and DONT put a scoop on it

 

[BT67Dart]

I'll keep an eye out for a flat hood. I like the scoop, always wanted to have on on a car. Just like the looks of it.

 

[Darter6]

include the scoop studs

Good idea !

I like the scoop, always wanted to have on on a car. Just like the looks of it.

True dat. I feel the same.

 

[jos51700]

At $700 I would look into a fiberglass hood with a scoop.

This!

Find a flat hood now, for when you want to sell the car, and get the fiberglass hood with your dream scoop on it and be done with it. There's several ways to fix and address that problem on a factory hood, but I'm at the point where I try to NOT cut up factory parts if there are other options.

 

[BT67Dart]

I hear you on that, there's the trade off of my time and investment to fix the existing hood vs. finding and buying a replacement hood in decent shape. The fiberglass ones are available, but the metal OEM ones are scarce in my area, at least what I am seeing right now.

 

[BT67Dart]

I decided to take a crack at rebuilding the hood under structure. Total investment is a little over $100 so far. I used thin walled square tubing and tied that into the under structure perimeter. Got a welder nearby to weld up the joints, all good, plenty stiff. Next step will be to apply seam sealer between the braces and hood skin, then primer. Pictures below show the hood with hood scoop attached and all the fabrication pieces before welding. The other two are after welding.

 

[Dana67Dart]

Out of curiosity...

Why is the rear most lateral brace short vs the full left to right length?

 

[BT67Dart]

It's pretty stiff back there even without the brace i added, I didn't see a need to run the full width. Not to mention bending 1.25 inch square tubing for that piece to get it to fit was challenging given tools.