[notatempest]

Stuck on what to do. I've been stripping my 68 HO chemically for a couple months now panel by panel. I'm at the point where I need to make a decision on the hood. While the skin is in fairly good shape with a little rust on the front edge, the hood frame is pin holed. It's the original hood on a numbers matching car so I'd love to keep the hood. I'm doing most of the dirty work myself but separating the hood frame from the skin to repair is just something I'm hesitant on and I'm sure the labor to do it is expensive. Welding in patches with the skin on surely would warp the skin. I've heard the parts group hood is a decent replacement. What would you do? Repair or replace? Thanks!

['ol Pinion head]

Not sure where you are located, but in my locale, & if the '68 is a higher end build, I'd source a nice clean '68 LeMans or Tempest hood & drill out the spot welds & after metal working the '68's hood skin, would reattach to the correct replacement inner bracing. '69 & '70 hoods have different inner bracing than the '68 hoods. The Goodmark (maybe its Dynacorn) hood that's been out 20 years is based on a '70 hood. Am about to source a repro for a '70 GTO that have in final metal work phase. Fully expect to have to build the ironing board area up some with a little filler on the repro hood that's always been an issue with them.

[1_Wild_Cat]

I know a guy with the metal skills to fix it...if you happen to be in Boise?...

[tjs72lemans]

Not sure how skilled you are with a welder, but if it was me, I'd be cutting and slowly welding. At least you know how well that hood fits now!

[PurelyGTO68]

Replace. The replacement hood from Ames is an exact copy of the 68 hood in every detail. As good as an NOS piece. I have had them both side by side.....its by far the best reproduction piece I have ever seen for the 68 GTO

[MUSLCAH]

Time to say good bye....before the latch area let’s go at 70 mph....

[ignaro]

Cut it and put in enormous hood vents and a fake supercharger. Make it your "fun" hood. There are plenty of super-resto's out there.

[dataway]

Speaking of hoods .... mine has surface rust on the underside ... bracing is nice, top is nice ... is it worth it to separate the bracing to get to the surface rust for removal? The level of rust is somewhere between "just use some rust converter", and "needs to be sanded down". Got to be a real pain to sand it between the bracing. I have all the necessary tools.

[notatempest]

Originally Posted by PurelyGTO68

Replace. The replacement hood from Ames is an exact copy of the 68 hood in every detail. As good as an NOS piece. I have had them both side by side.....its by far the best reproduction piece I have ever seen for the 68 GTO

Obviously, this is certainly an easier fix. This is the one side of my brain in let's keep the project moving along because I have many other issues to grapple with metal wise. The other side is let's keep as much of the original metal as possible. Any photos of the ames hood? Thanks for chiming in, appreciate it.

[notatempest]

Originally Posted by 1_Wild_Cat

I know a guy with the metal skills to fix it...if you happen to be in Boise?...

Man, I wish...good metal guys are hard to find. East Coast

[notatempest]

Originally Posted by 'ol Pinion head

Not sure where you are located, but in my locale, & if the '68 is a higher end build, I'd source a nice clean '68 LeMans or Tempest hood & drill out the spot welds & after metal working the '68's hood skin, would reattach to the correct replacement inner bracing. '69 & '70 hoods have different inner bracing than the '68 hoods. The Goodmark (maybe its Dynacorn) hood that's been out 20 years is based on a '70 hood. Am about to source a repro for a '70 GTO that have in final metal work phase. Fully expect to have to build the ironing board area up some with a little filler on the repro hood that's always been an issue with them.

I've been looking and they're tough to find in the southeast. Any that I've come across need work as well or I have to drive to Minnesota or Wisconsin. I have that plan to separate the hood mapped out in my head and it hurts...lol. Know of any how to's on giggle?

[notatempest]

Originally Posted by dataway

Speaking of hoods .... mine has surface rust on the underside ... bracing is nice, top is nice ... is it worth it to separate the bracing to get to the surface rust for removal? The level of rust is somewhere between "just use some rust converter", and "needs to be sanded down". Got to be a real pain to sand it between the bracing. I have all the necessary tools.

That is probably another issue that I have if I decide to repair as is since the pin holes developed from the inside of the hood frame. I've thought about using internal frame rust converter to get to those areas. I've used it before and seems to work well. With the rust converter products on the market, I may give that a shot if I was in your shoes. I don't know for sure but it looks like a pain in the ass to separate the hood from frame.

[PurelyGTO68]

Originally Posted by notatempest

Obviously, this is certainly an easier fix. This is the one side of my brain in let's keep the project moving along because I have many other issues to grapple with metal wise. The other side is let's keep as much of the original metal as possible. Any photos of the ames hood? Thanks for chiming in, appreciate it.

Couple of recent photos. The Ames hood is an excellent piece.

[1965gp]

I would go with the Ames hood and hang the original on the wall.

[MUSLCAH]

In my 44 years in the Autobody field...I have removed 1/4 panels from a used carcass....same with roofs.... but I have NEVAH even thought of removing a hood from its structure.....what a waste of time.....it’s a Pontiac...not a 1935 Bugatti ( sp )...

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by notatempest

I've been looking and they're tough to find in the southeast. Any that I've come across need work as well or I have to drive to Minnesota or Wisconsin.

That's kind of surprising. You are finding better sheetmetal in MN and WI than in the southeast?

[MUSLCAH]

Notatempest......where you located ?

[notatempest]

Originally Posted by MUSLCAH

Notatempest......where you located ?

South Carolina near Hilton Head. I like your point of view, I’m one of those crazy’s that has to view all options over and over. I think I’ll get the Ames and keep the original. Maybe the next guy will fix it...lol


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[MUSLCAH]

Is your car from that area....near the coast ?

[notatempest]

Originally Posted by MUSLCAH

Is your car from that area....near the coast ?

No, car is from Cincinnati, OH.