Hood question, 1953 (Yes, '53, kinda)

[silverhawk]

Hey guys,

How hard it is to find a absolutely destroyed '53-54 C/K hood? It can have twisted corners, no corners, rusted out, ect; as I only need one part of it. Right in the front, where the emblem is. I need a big circle out of that area.

Reason being is I have a grouch with '52 hoods. They look "bulbous" in the front. I'm seriously considering giving it a make over, but I need that section to determine if I will or not. Or, even USE that kind of section.

So, is even trashed hoods worth a fair bit of dough? Or are they cheap, relativly speaking?

Thanks!

[woodysrods]

Hi Dylan
You are up late. How about a 55 C/K hood? They are less expensive and by the looks of yours in the picture. You would only have to graft the peek onto the front of the hoof to fit your grill?? OR how about a 53 sedan hood? The length would be less of an issue???
Brian

[woodysrods]

The flat black looks like you are making progress.
I know it rains there a lot......but you should really have a Convertible!
Remember you are young and can stand the elements!
Brian

[silverhawk]

I would LOVE a convertable; just it isn't a good idea. This rod will be the jump and go whenever driveway car

Hmmm. A '55 center shall be considered, but it isn't quite what I have in mind. All I want is that center peak area, yes. I want some sort of bulge there, and I thought the one from a '53 style would be perfect, but not so far out and pronounced as a stock '52.

[candbstudebakers]

Dylan, as a person that sells parts yes the 53-54 c/k hoods are worth money in any shape you know they don't make these any more so is getting to the time in their life that they need to be saved and repaired, a good body man can repair most anything metal, I have one left with rot in the nose but once repaired it is worth a lot so even in it's stated it still has value, good luck, might want to find a 53-54 sedan it should fit better and give much the same look...Bob

[silverhawk]

The sedan ones were considered, but the section I want is still too pronounced. I guess I'll just keep my eye's peeled for a parts car getting ready to be crushed......

[mbstude]

My grandad has a '54 coupe parts car with a mangled, rusted out hood. But, we're in Georgia.

[silverhawk]

Dang......

Maybe if I can't find anything else up here that I could cut up, I'll talk to you two......

[sweetolbob]

Dylan

If all you need is a small portion of the hood, Why not mock it up out of cardboard to get the profile and then cut it out of sheet metal and weld it in place. It's like body work, you can contour the pieces, weld them together and put them where you need them. If you need to shape them more, you can bend them over pieces of pipe or fill a tough bag with sand and beat them to the proper shape with a plastic hammer. The only cost is a piece of 18 gauge sheet metal and no hood sacrificed.

You are also learning body work.

Bob

[Sdude]

You should embrace the bulbous hood. Think of it as a bullet nose in a cashmere sweater.

[PackardV8]

If all you need is a small portion of the hood, Why not mock it up out of cardboard to get the profile and then cut it out of sheet metal and weld it in place.

Three possibilities:

1. Start with a '53 hood, as you suggested.
2. Use sheet metal, as bob suggested.
3. Walk through a U-Pick yard with a good eye. I've worked with a custom body guy who could see the curves and creases he needed in the strangest places.

jack vines

[sweetolbob]

Walk through a U-Pick yard with a good eye. I've worked with a custom body guy who could see the curves and creases he needed in the strangest places.

As usual from Jack, another great suggestion. Just a word of caution. If you find sheet metal this way, try to go as old as you can. The newer sheet metal is quite thin, warps easily and can be a bear to weld well.

Bob

[1954khardtop]

I saw a '54 station wagon (same hood as sedan) under construction this summer. The builder had made a "pie cut" and reduced the bulge at the front of the hood. It looked more like a c/k that way. I don't know if he wants to share "trade secrets" or not, maybe he'll see this and post a pic.? It might work on your stock hood, or you could find one from a '53-'54 sedan.

[studegary]

How about making a fiberglass copy of the section that you want from a good hood and then attaching that to your existing hood (with the necessary part cut out)?

[Nelsen Motorsports]

I got a solid hood, but it aint cheap. It is also simply too nice to destroy.