Proper fit repop '30-'31 Model A hoods

[Jeff/Illinois]

Do the hoods that Rootlieb or Brookville Roadster make today, have the proper curvature in the rear of the hood, to match the curvature of the cowl? Most reproduction hoods I see aren't formed correctly here. They are straight. These seem to have been coming out in the '70's.

I've looked at their web sites and all they say is 'made to original, etc.'

Thanks

[1931 Flamingo]

Both company's have excellent reputations (only 1 may make the hood). Call them and inquire. Or, shop here on the barn for a good used one. FWIW
Paul in CT

[Tom Wesenberg]

I haven't tried, but wouldn't it be fairly easy to put the curve in the rear edge?
I've thought about this before when I see people using the hoods with the straight edge.
Maybe fold a blanket over the hood on both sides, lay it in your kid's sandbox, then roll your spare tire back and forth over it while pressing down lightly.

[Mitch]

I have a repo hood on Paul my first Tudor and it fits nicely. I purchased this one back in 2005 from Rootlieb. Your best bet is to make a few calls to these places and ask directly

[BNCHIEF]

Most likely Rootlieb would be the answer they do quality work.

[Ed H]

Maybe fold a blanket over the hood on both sides, lay it in your kid's sandbox,

I threw my kids sandbox away 40+ yrs ago. Now what do I do? :rolling

[Tom Wesenberg]

I threw my kids sandbox away 40+ yrs ago. Now what do I do? :rolling

You'll have to till the soil in your garden, or go the beach and have the added benefit of checking out the beautiful women.

[BNCHIEF]

I would probably get self absorbed and say now why did I bring this.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

All our Guys buy from Rootleib, they're just North of us. Some of the Guys have toured their shop.
Bill Jones, around the corner, bought a '30 hood from them & it fit PERFECTLY! Go to sierramodelafordclub.com & see it on his Roadster, on the home page.
Dad

[BNCHIEF]

I bought a new hood from them for my 1927 fordor sedan the top of mine looked like somebody danced on it.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Did they make it "right"? Hope so.
Bill W.

[Tom Wesenberg]

I bought a new hood from them for my 1927 fordor sedan the top of mine looked like somebody danced on it.

It was probably nice before the post office got ahold of it.
There are now several things I can't buy on ebay because they never arrive in good condition.

[BNCHIEF]

Let me clarify my original hood looked like somebody danced on it the one I got from Rootlieb was perfect and fit exactly like the original.

[Kevin in NJ]

Original hood are curved along the length including the louvers. The curve at the front and the rear match the radiator shell and the cowl and are 2 different radiuses. So the curve changes through the side panel.

Repro hoods are flat. The louvers are flat and you can not change that!!!

Please do not get me wrong the repros are actually pretty good.
You will always be able to see the flatness of the louvers and once you learn to see it you will always see it on every car with one. Some owners figured to change the front and rear curve so the bottoms do not stick out so much and that helps. You can not change louver area. Curving the metal requires a change in length and the square up section and the raised louvers will distort before they will take on a curve.

Good original side panels are not hard to find. You usually need to know how to repair the worn area by the latches. Most just weld it up, I stick a copper wire in the loop and weld so it is hollow. Keep in mind the louvers can be tricky to fix and you are best looking for ones the louvers are nice looking with no cracks. The reason why louvers are trickey to fix has to do with the length change when they get bent. They usually shrink a bit and it does not take much to make them out of wack. Fixing them take a ton of patience and some experience with metal working (I am pretty good but not that good).

FWIW. The riveted hardware on the hoods goes on nice with a brake shoe kick riveter and 2 people.

That is my take and experience with hoods.

Just do not ask me how to paint them properly. I am a horrible painter and that gave me some grief.

[BNCHIEF]

Also you are right the hood curvature changes from front to back.

[BNCHIEF]

Kevin good point i have not paid attention to that. when I got my hood it looks great but it did not have the side handles on it, the sides of my original hood are perfect and I will use them instead of the rootlieb side panels for two reasons.

1. i did not know their was a difference on side panel so thanks.

2. The handles now there is the real problem mine are not riveted on with rivets so a brake riveter will not work these handles were made with what looked like a hollow rivet that was cut in three different tabs then layed down on the inside of the hood and I assume spot welded to hold them tight giving a broader base of attachment, now i need to look again and take some photos, plus take the floor board out of my 19 and try to get some pics for plucker as well. I bought this hood over 20 years ago sound familiar but I am retired now and I am gonna finish this car it needs paint and upholstery so I have the original stuff to work with for perfect patterns. Now I need to go look at rootlieb and see if they have made any changes to the hood they are selling today. I will photograph both hoods for comparison. What am I doing today cleaning the shop going thru old boxes cleaning house and consolidating part and marking so I am not digging thru multiple boxes looking for things.

[Mitch]

The hollow rivets hold the hood brackets and handles to the hood panel.
My hollow rivet tool is gentle and would install these easily, as i would be very careful about using a kick riveter so as not to distort the hood panel.
This tool makes it a one person job


riveter.jpg

[BNCHIEF]

That would do it but now i need to investigate the side panels after kevin's post.

[BudP]

Mitch-Who makes that tool? Thanks

[Mitch]

Hey Bud
I guess you missed this one

https://www.vintagefordforum.com/forum/model-a/20958-hollow-rivet-rolling-tool

[BudP]

Sure did. Thanks, Mitch.