Question - Does leaving the hood up on AAR T/A cause it to sag?

[Bossgold]

Probably a really dumb question but I have to ask...Are Original AAR/T/A hoods that fragile that leaving a hood up on an AAR or T/A can cause it to sag? Because of the limited support around the hinges if you leave the Hood open in the up position for a period of weeks or months when you close it will it have a bow in the hood? Anyone seen this or know?  I was told that when you open the hood always pull up from the AAR corner in the scoop....is this correct?

[Cuda Cody]

   I think if you have the springs on at all it will put pressure on the hood no matter if it's open or closed.  I leave the springs off and it never bows.

[Chryco Psycho]

in the open position there is no stess on the hood with the springs on , close the hood & the springs will pull the hood against the hood pins causing them to bow but it still took years

[HEMICUDA]

There is absolute zero hinge pressure on the hood when it's closed.

[Cuda Cody]

Here's what I know.  I did all the body work and lined the hood up perfectly.  The hood was dead nuts perfect.  Put the springs on and after about 2 months (in the closed position) the hood started to bow up in the middle just like the originals did.  Mine was sitting about 3/8 to 1/2" high after having the springs on for a couple months.  Remember, most the originals (if not all of them) ended up bowed up in the middle AND these hoods were closed 99% of the time back in the day.  My hood was bowing in the middle exactly like originals had done....  so I took the springs off and put some weight in the center of the hood on each edge.  It took a few days to go back down, but the hood relaxed and went back to the original location.  It's been several years now and it's still perfect.  I bet if I put the springs back on (keep it close) it will start to bow up again..   

[Fastmark]

I bought my AAR in 76 and it was bowed up. It has never been damaged. You could almost check the oil without opening the hood! I read the original service bulletin that said to take the springs off. I did just that and sat it in the Texas sun for about three days one summer. It flattened out perfectly. It has never been worked or fitted. My fenders have never been off the car. I've heard that the fiberglass that used back then had a low resistance to temperature and would move around when it got hot. Idk. I was told this by a guy that made repops for awhile and he used "tooling grade" fiberglass for his hoods because it had a higher temp that hoods would move around. The support metal inside the hood that they hinges is attached to is too short imo.

[dodj]

There is absolute zero hinge pressure on the hood when it's closed.

I assume you mean open?

[DocDave]

in the open position there is no stess on the hood with the springs on , close the hood & the springs will pull the hood against the hood pins causing them to bow but it still took years

What springs are you referring to? The front springs I assume. It was my understanding that there were no springs on the front of fiberglass hoods. If so, they are so strong they would scar the hood. Also, there doesn't seem to be a catch/release on the fiberglass hoods.

[RUNCHARGER]

Hood hinge springs.

[erik70rt]

Here's what I know.  I did all the body work and lined the hood up perfectly.  The hood was dead nuts perfect.  Put the springs on and after about 2 months (in the closed position) the hood started to bow up in the middle just like the originals did.  Mine was sitting about 3/8 to 1/2" high after having the springs on for a couple months.  Remember, most the originals (if not all of them) ended up bowed up in the middle AND these hoods were closed 99% of the time back in the day.  My hood was bowing in the middle exactly like originals had done....  so I took the springs off and put some weight in the center of the hood on each edge.  It took a few days to go back down, but the hood relaxed and went back to the original location.  It's been several years now and it's still perfect.  I bet if I put the springs back on (keep it close) it will start to bow up again..   

Cody - how do you keep the hood up when opened?  I assume a prop of some sort.

[Bossgold]

Ok, so it sounds like its actually worse when closed for long periods because of spring pressure. Also, sounds like its OK in the open position regardless of time? I 'm going to pull the engine soon but for now the hood has been open for a while and will be that way for a few more weeks.


So when you take the springs off and you go back to open the hood how do the guys with no springs keep the hood open.....cause I'm guessing a stick at the front might not be a good thing due to weight?

[dodj]

Here's what I know.  I did all the body work and lined the hood up perfectly.  The hood was dead nuts perfect.  Put the springs on and after about 2 months (in the closed position) the hood started to bow up in the middle just like the originals did.  Mine was sitting about 3/8 to 1/2" high after having the springs on for a couple months.  Remember, most the originals (if not all of them) ended up bowed up in the middle AND these hoods were closed 99% of the time back in the day.  My hood was bowing in the middle exactly like originals had done....  so I took the springs off and put some weight in the center of the hood on each edge.  It took a few days to go back down, but the hood relaxed and went back to the original location.  It's been several years now and it's still perfect.  I bet if I put the springs back on (keep it close) it will start to bow up again..   

Cody - how do you keep the hood up when opened?  I assume a prop of some sort.

I see a lot of T/A hoods  at shows propped up with some sort of rod or two. From wooden to carbon fibre. Depends how fancy you want to be.

[Cuda Cody]

Yes, use a rod to keep it open.

And if you leave it open it will also bow as the weight of the hood will make it bend.  The best is to take the springs off and keep it closed.  That way all 4 corners are being supported with no pressure. 

[Bossgold]

got it thanks

[Chryco Psycho]

There are a couple of holes in the hood hinge , you can take a piece of steel rod bend a hook on each end & slide it into the holes in the hinge & the hood will stay up , far cleaner than a prop rod & no chance it can be accidenily knocked out causing the hood to drop