Body / Glass: Hood reinforcements.

[RDWEAVER]

Are hood reinforcements really needed on a 59 Silver Hawk? We are restoring a 59 and I would rather not add anything that was not put there by Studebaker.
What do you think?

[BobPalma]

IF the hood is strong and straight and IF you keep all the linkages at the rear well-oiled and IF you know to pull out as well as up while opening the hood and IF you know to push back gently while closing the hood, you don't need the stiffeners. (In other words, it needs your understanding, co-operation, and help to avoid needing stiffeners somewhere down the road.) BP

[DEEPNHOCK]

If you keep your hinge mechanism properly lubed, and the springs in good condition....
And always pull the hood forward (towards you) when you open the hood up...
Then the reinforcemnts won't be needed.

[DEEPNHOCK]

You type faster than me, BP

[BobPalma]

Strength in numbers, Jeff; great minds think alike. BP

[PackardV8]

Your build, your decision. Those of us who came up in the early days saw nearly every old C/K with bent hood corners. Most of us had at least one hood come open at speed and wrap around the roof. Those are two experiences we never want to see again.

JMHO, but I'd never, ever put any C/K back together without the hood corner reinforcements and the good hood latch. It only takes one person who doesn't know the drill, one moment of forgetfulness to do $1000 worth of damage to a custom paint job.

The reinforcements are essentially invisible, add value to most purchasers and are cheap insurance.

jack vines

[RDWEAVER]

Jack,
There is wisdom in your reply that I will respect. I think I will order these from classic enterprises. They also have the fin strip mouldings but they must be "bent to fit " have you had any experiance with bending these to fit?

Your build, your decision. Those of us who came up in the early days saw nearly every old C/K with bent hood corners. Most of us had at least one hood come open at speed and wrap around the roof. Those are two experiences we never want to see again.

JMHO, but I'd never, ever put any C/K back together without the hood corner reinforcements and the good hood latch. It only takes one person who doesn't know the drill, one moment of forgetfulness to do $1000 worth of damage to a custom paint job.

The reinforcements are essentially invisible, add value to most purchasers and are cheap insurance.

jack vines

[skyway]

When my late and really great former body man repaired the hoods on my 60 Beetle (gas cap under the front bonnet which had a locking strut that the gas station jocks always tried to pull shut without releasing the strut), and on my GT Hawk, he bent and brazed lengths of 3/8's round stock up under the edges of the hood. A really swell and invisible addition!