[72projectbird]

Picked up this hood today. The scoops arent cut out, the corners are pretty nice, and none of the teeth are broken. Iirc the 71+ hoods had steel strips running the length of the hood, but this one doesn't. Is it from a 70?

[johnta1]

1970 only I think had no metal bracing.

[bird72]

You do know a lot of people on here hate people that find nice, perfect, beautiful Formula hoods, don't you? Seriously, that is a fantastic score and good for you! From my reads on this, yes 1970.

[Judge273]

Could be an early 71 too... http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=837835

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by bird72

You do know a lot of people on here hate people that find nice, perfect, beautiful Formula hoods, don't you? Seriously, that is a fantastic score and good for you! From my reads on this, yes 1970.

You'd really hate me if I told you what I got it for. lol

I dont know much about the Formula cars, but I remembered something about the metal bracing being added in 71.

[Formulabruce]

Typically these are "buldged " up at about mid point from rear to front. This can be significant and undesirable. Have one on the wall that just doesn't look good even after 1 year of cement blocks on blankets on it. So, it's nice, but is it flat enough to use.

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by Formulabruce

Typically these are "buldged " up at about mid point from rear to front. This can be significant and undesirable. Have one on the wall that just doesn't look good even after 1 year of cement blocks on blankets on it. So, it's nice, but is it flat enough to use.

I've read about these hoods doing that. It looks pretty flat, but I guess you can never be sure until you bolt it on.

Maybe I'll put it on today and see how it fits. I'm curious now.

[eaglesan13]

I've seen a 1970 Formula 400, built in Van Nuys in July 1970, with an original hood, which had the metal braces on it. A friend of mine has a 1971 Formula 400, built in mid-September of 1970 (09B), in the Van Nuys plant, which has it's original hood and it does not have the metal braces.

I have a hood in the garage off of a 1971 Formula 455, built in Van Nuys in September of 1970 (09A) which has the metal braces on it. My current 1971 Formula 455HO, which was built in the Norwood plant in mid-February 1971 (02B), and it does not have the metal braces. I think this is the original hood, but can't be 100% sure.

My old Castillian Bronze 1970 Formula 400 (04B Norwood car) had a perfect hood on it (no bow), while my old Palomino Copper 1970 Formula 400 (also an 04B Norwood car) had a really bad bow in the hood. Neither of those hoods had the braces, so it does not appear to me that the braces are related to the hood having the bow or not.

Your hood is an early hood, for a 1970 or early 71 model. I don't know when and why the braces started being used, but I've wondered if it might be due to different suppliers, (or different production runs). If that's the case, that might also explain why some hoods lay flat, while others have the bow in them. Just a thought.

Congrats on scoring a nice hood.

[Judge273]

Is it better to have the original hood on the car or a flat non warped? Not all warps are created equal...


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[Formulabruce]

Is it better to have the original hood on the car or a flat non warped? Not all warps are created equal..."
Excellent point Mike.
IIRC these hoods were made in Ohio area and shipped to the west coast. I can imagine the "cure time" for the fiberglass ,glue and position has something to do with the amount of warp when they were made.

[bird72]

I had a zero warp hood and have no idea what really causes it, but was always told dry hood hinges. (??)

Has anyone been brave enough to try (medium) heat and weight to try to fix?

[unruhjonny]

my understanding to date has been that the "unbraced" hood was original to 1970/1971 cars, while the "braced" hood was 1972-1975;
I also have understood that dealerships didn't care a hoot about what was detailed as a proper part by todays standards, so if a car was having any repair work, or warranty replacement stuff, what was being made at the time was the "correct" part;
ergo, I would find it to be wholly plausible for a seemingly original 1970/1971 Formula to have a "braced" hood, complete with patina which would suggest it's the original part...
I mean, a hood replaced in 1972, on what was still a virtually brand new car would be a pretty tough thing to tell apart from the original part.

I would wager that if any members here worked in dealerships when these cars still had any kind of warranty, or if they went for repairs, would know best what was done as far as repairs or replacement of parts.

[OVERULD]

Mine has the dreaded warp. If I ever find a perfect hood it will get expensive real fast, because that will then trigger major mission creep and the beginning of a full resto. So, for now, I just drive it and enjoy the rush and “real-ness” of the fact that so many of these cars developed that patina and character.

BJ