[njsteve]

Yes sir, your hood is amazingly flat. The hood on my Gramma's car is really bowed in the center, as was the original hood on the black 72 Formula that BentWheelBob has now. I tried placing the black car's original hood on some saw horses over the winter with 75 lbs of steel weights on the outside center of both sides. After three months it didn't really do much of anything to relieve the bow. That was why I eventually went with that NOS hood I got from TheBoss, for the black car.

[Norwood]

Put enough weight on it and it will bend

[Brewster]

I had 225lbs for six months and it helped but only 50% of what was needed. Yep you guessed it Im trying to get that other 50% this winter. I always try to keep the car as original as possible or at least with the parts it had when I received it.

[PureSD]

Steve Hamilton mentioned to me awhile ago that removing the hood springs will eliminate the tension when the hood is closed and get rid of the bow in the hood. He would then just use a prop to hold the hood up. Never tried it. Thoughts?

[Judge273]

That's a smile or smerk...

Heard to remove rivets on band and add weights when reattaching the bars...that's a bit of work!

[Norwood]

Originally Posted by Judge273

That's a smile or smerk...

Heard to remove rivets on band and add weights when reattaching the bars...that's a bit of work!

I would agree with this. I don't think just removing the springs will bring it back, but once you have it back I think that it may be a good idea to use the lightest spring possible

[RicksGTO]

I used over 300. lbs. on mine for 6+ months. These hoods are heavy and strong in the middle and can take the weight pretty well. To be safer than using saw horses for support, I'd put 2 long 4 X 4's on the ground under the front and rear of the hood frame for support and then stack sand/concrete bags on top of each other at the middle near the sides until you have 150 lbs. on each side. I did this before my hood was re-painted so I'm not sure how flexing the hood like this would work with nice paint.
I also think the way you set the angle of the hinge mount plate makes a difference in keeping it straight. By that I'm talking about the up and down adjustment in the slots for the hinge to fender bolts. My theory is too much upward angle on the front of the hinge plate translates into pressure on the hood in the middle when it's at rest.

[Bentwheelbob]

I never store the Black Car with the hood latched. As soon as I park it in the garage, the hood is opened to release the tension. This also helps me remember to hook up the battery tender.

[PureSD]

Originally Posted by RicksGTO

I used over 300. lbs. on mine for 6+ months. These hoods are heavy and strong in the middle and can take the weight pretty well. To be safer than using saw horses for support, I'd put 2 long 4 X 4's on the ground under the front and rear of the hood frame for support and then stack sand/concrete bags on top of each other at the middle near the sides until you have 150 lbs. on each side. I did this before my hood was re-painted so I'm not sure how flexing the hood like this would work with nice paint.
I also think the way you set the angle of the hinge mount plate makes a difference in keeping it straight. By that I'm talking about the up and down adjustment in the slots for the hinge to fender bolts. My theory is too much upward angle on the front of the hinge plate translates into pressure on the hood in the middle when it's at rest.

How well did it work?

[johnta1]

the hood is opened to release the tension.

I don't really understand this?

Why would there be 'tension' on the hood?
(from the hood hinges?)

I would think with the hood latched there would be no tension on the hood.
The rubber bumper things on the side would help support the hood.
The hood hinge springs should have no tension/pressure on the hood in the closed position.
The hood release spring thing shouldn't be a factor when latched because the latch itself is holding it down.

The hood hinge springs only have pressure between unlatched to full open.
(then the weight of the hood past the hinge is trying to close from gravity)

[RicksGTO]

Originally Posted by PureSD

How well did it work?

It was about 3/16" up in the middle and after the weight it straightened out all the way flat.
I agree with John that the hinge shouldn't be pushing up on the hood when closed (if adjusted right) but on mine at least, when I adjusted the front hinge slot as high as it would go, the hinge was acting like a stop that forced the hood to bend slightly in order to latch. My opinion is that there is more adjustment in the angle of the hinge available than is good for the fiberglass hood.

Here is a good shot after the adjustment, the passenger side on mine was a little worse than the drivers side before working on it.

[PureSD]

Looks great. I will do this to mine over this winter.

[Bentwheelbob]

If there is no tension on these hoods, then they should all sag in the middle thanks to the combined effects of gravity and support on the four corners. I haven't seen one that way yet.

[Brewster]

Correct and I open my hood upon parking it too. Its been a habit since playing with these fiberglass equipped f bodies.
Rick, your car looks great and maybe I'll bring mine down for a visit and rip some cruise nights....If I go the long way Im thinking I could pick up a few friends. Whos up for a 2016 cross country trip for a 4-5 day weekend run??? We should make an annual trip that changes up yearly. Maybe this needs its own thread, thoughts??

[johnta1]

If there is no tension on these hoods, then they should all sag in the middle thanks to the combined effects of gravity and support on the four corners.

When closed, the hood should be supported by the rubber rests on the fender? Plus the front corner stops.
(about half way between front and hinge?)

[johnta1]

Here's a pic:
(for a 73 but other years same)

[johnta1]

And rear of hood bumpers:

[RicksGTO]

Brew, sounds good! I could get up for the Nationals or MCACN's, but I'd have a cooler full of Texas beverages for anyone that came this way too!

[Bentwheelbob]

I would estimate that at least 35% to 50% of Formula hoods are bowed up in the middle. I will continue to unlatch my hood when it is parked for an extended period. I may be wasting my time, but I bet the hood won't warp and my battery will always be charged. We've probably hijacked DJ's thread enough....

[SD455DJ]

Bob,

I do the same thing and leave the hood unlatched on the Formula for the very same reason. I think it helps since I feel tension in the hood springs and need to push the hood down and against that tension, even when almost touching the latch spring loop.

Dennis