Questions about my vette??

[Shark Chief]

I have called classic industries for a vette catalog and they told me that they don't sell vette parts. I am wondering where CAC members get there parts?:confused I might need a new hood I opened the hood and heard something crack, I looked and my hood was seperated from the latch which holds up the hood.:cry
Do I need a new hood or can I repair the fiberglass?;help

Louie

 

[Yoda]

Louie,
Check out the tab at the top of the page called Portal for aftermarket vendors and repair shops. Without seeing the hood, I'm taking a pretty wild guess here, but I have seen some fiberglass that looked beyond repair, and have repaired my share, and have had Corvette Shops do some too.

I've used several aftermarket Corvette parts houses, included are Rik's Unlimited Corvette Parts and Volunteer Vette Products, which specialize in 1963~1982 parts as well as Mid America, Corvette Central, ZIP and others. Good luck with your hood, maybe have a Corvette shop or a GOOD body repair shop take a look at it and give you an evaluation.

 

[Eric]

Ouch Louie!

Are you talking about at the front of the food on the outer edge where the two bolts go through the fiberglass? Mine is partially separated there. This is sadly common among older sharks and is caused by nothing more than the simple act of closing the hood. Most early owners didn't give a hoot and just dropped the hood from about a foot from the cowl. When someone drops the hood just watch the front of the car and you can see the front of the hood "jump" up at the hinges just a tad (dang physics). After 30 years of this the fiberglass can't take it and gives up. I have seen some interesting attempts at repairing this. If the flat metal mounting bracket is replaced with one about twice its length and bolted in it should hold fine but you'll have to insert some sort of anchor into the hollow part of the hood to hold it in good as it needs good support.

Moral of the story is never drop a Shark hood. Lay it down on the cowl and press firmly and quickly in the center and both sides will latch. If they don't you can just press each side in individually. I've been doing this for 2.5 years and the crack hasn't gotten any worse.

Best of luck!

 

[gary b.]

never drop a Shark hood

Fantastic ! Advice !

 

[Eric]

One more thing...

Before you attempt to reinforce the bracket check the glass around it. Press all around the breakage to feel for any soft spots which can be caused by the natural variations in the glass itself. If the crack(s) weakened the entire area then a new hood may be your only salvation. If the crack is localized to only the original mounting area then you may have a chance to salvage your hood.

- Eric

 

[Shark Chief]

Thanks you fellas for the fine advice you have headed me in the right direction. :s