Join Shelby Forums Today

Hood warpage

Discussion in '1965-1970 Shelby Mustang GT350 & GT500' started by ghost, Dec 22, 2005.

  1. ghost

    ghost Well-Known Member

    Age:
    73
    Posts:
    53
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2005
    Like many shelbys my 68's hood has that bow in it. A body shop guy told me that if I removed the hood springs the hood would straighten out. He suggested I put a metal hood stick to hold up the hood in lieu of the springs. anyone have any experience with this?
     
  2. TLEA

    TLEA Well-Known Member

    Age:
    67
    Posts:
    887
    Likes Received:
    11
    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2005
    Location:
    Warwick, Rhode Island
    The hood will still stay up with the lightweight springs. I wouldn't count on the hood straightening out though.
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2005
  3. Tout

    Tout Well-Known Member

    Age:
    66
    Posts:
    166
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2004
    Location:
    Doylestown . Pennsylvania
    I never close the hood completely when the car is in storage, leaving it open just a few inches will keep the pressure to bow down considerably, you can use something soft to just rest it on. What you have is not going to change, just try to keep it from getting worse.
    Tout
     
  4. Texas Swede

    Texas Swede Well-Known Member

    Age:
    76
    Posts:
    520
    Likes Received:
    2
    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2005
    Location:
    Richardson, Texas
    My 67 Shelby hood had some serious warpage
    and I changed the springs to smaller size and
    after some time the hood sat pretty flat.
    Texas Swede
     
  5. ghost

    ghost Well-Known Member

    Age:
    73
    Posts:
    53
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2005
    Thanks guys. Gotta love this forum for great insight.
    Ghost
     
  6. SFM6S2015

    SFM6S2015 Well-Known Member

    Age:
    62
    Posts:
    212
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2005
    My 69 hood would bow badly with the springs installed but would lay flat without them. The only time I ever but the springs back on was for a Mustang Monthly photo shot.
     
  7. kinwc

    kinwc Member

    Posts:
    11
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2006
    There is an excellent article in mustang monthly or mustangs & fords on how to straighten out warped fiberglass. I tried it on my 70 and it worked near perfect.
    Basically, it said to place the hood on a 2 level sawhorse's one at the latch location and one at the hinge location. put 100 lbs of weight in the exact center of the hood. Let it sit for 6 weeks.
    This removed a 3/4 inch warp from my hood.
     
  8. daltondavid

    daltondavid Well-Known Member

    Age:
    61
    Posts:
    925
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2004
    Location:
    Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania
    my 67 GT500 had a Bow and I removed the springs and have been using a Prop rod. In 2 short weeks I was shocked at how much the Hood straightened on it's own.
     
  9. shlby66

    shlby66 Well-Known Member

    Age:
    83
    Posts:
    405
    Likes Received:
    4
    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2006
    Location:
    East Coast - NJ
    Hood warpage is something that all Shelbys have in varying degrees. Warpage is a result of heat, age and springs that may be too strong.
    1967 Shelbys in particular, exhibit warpage in two distinct patterns.
    First, the hood bows up in the middle as seen from the side; making a
    gap about half way down the hood. The second, is just the opposite;
    being bowed down in the middle with the front and rear higher. I have
    had both conditions on 1967 Shelbys that I have owned.
    Installing a new set of lightweight springs may help restore the hood
    back to near normal. If not, some of the previously mentioned remedies
    will have to be done.
    shlby66

    1967 GT350 #1688
     
  10. ghost

    ghost Well-Known Member

    Age:
    73
    Posts:
    53
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2005
    I have had the light weight hood springs on now for about four weeks. The hood is much less bowed. Thanks guys
     

Share This Page