Is there a hood center support? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

69_hafton · 12-26-2003, 03:02 AM

The center of my OEM style hood jumps up and down when
going over bumps. I thought I'd seen a picture of a
show truck with a support that goes between the two
I-beam supports that are on the original hoods. But
I haven't seen any advertised anywhere or offer online.

Anyone know of such a thing? Maybe it was just another
custom piece on the truck I'd seen.

krue · 12-26-2003, 04:17 AM

Mine has a couple of pieces of cardboard. I guess you could call that "custom"

.

1969 GMC · 12-26-2003, 05:11 AM

My hood does that "bounce" thing too, but there is a nasty dent where it looks like the p/o dropped something pretty heavy on it. The frame is bent downwards slightly, and there are some wooden shims shoved in between the sheetmetal and frame. I always thought if it was right, it shouldn't bounce.

JimKshortstep4x4 · 12-26-2003, 06:41 AM

I don't have a picture of it, but one of the board members installed a center brace using an old hood brace. It looked real factory and he put the rubber strip in between the brace and hood so that the brace would hold the hood in the center.

Apparantly there has been a lot of hoods sat on and the center is depressed with the stiffness reduced so they shake. You will want to make sure that the original rubber strips are in place as they will move out of position sometimes. The rubber strips are available from the vendors.

We used a hood brace from a truck hood to brace the center of a 56 Chevy car hood that had been sat on. It works really well and looks like it belongs there.

Here is a pic of the home made brace that I made up to stop the hood shake in the middle. It works but it is not as slick as using a hood brace off of a junk hood.

Jim

PR454SS · 12-26-2003, 08:02 AM

Now I'm confused, don't all hoods come with a center brace that has a rubber seal underneath it???

69_hafton · 12-26-2003, 11:34 AM

I'll check the rubber shims, I remember at least one that
is slipped out slightly. I don't have any dents that would have
caused any weakness, but who knows with an old piece of sheetmetal?

I'll have to watch for a hood that has a center brace that looks
useable. I guess I could do a fix like yours Jim, but my temporary
fixes usually become rather permanent.

PR454SS, does your hood have a center brace? What year is it
from? Mine is a '71 or '72 hood without a center brace.

PR454SS · 12-26-2003, 03:19 PM

PR454SS, does your hood have a center brace? What year is it
from? Mine is a '71 or '72 hood without a center brace. [/B][/QUOTE]
Never mind I WAS confused I was thinking of the two outer braces that have the rubber seals in them.

Sweet72 · 12-26-2003, 03:51 PM

Replace the old foam-rubber strips and secure them with 3M weatherstrip cement. Make sure your hood bumpers and latch are adjusted correctly as well. This made a world of difference in my hood. Our trucks never came with any such brace, and should be strong enough without one as long as there's no structural damage.

69_hafton · 12-26-2003, 09:32 PM

Sweet72, I took a look at the foam strips and they've
slipped to one side or the other and definitely need
replaced.

I hadn't thought of the hood stops, that's a good point -
I'll have to check those again after I get the strips
glued in place. They appear to be adjusted correctly.

After seeing the condition of the foam rubber strips,
I really think that they're the problem. I don't know
why I though they were OK? Selective memory?

Bermblaster · 12-27-2003, 04:48 AM

This is how I got rid of the hood ripple when driving. I cut 1 inch square tubing with plasma cutter in half length wise. I welded to the existing hood braces only. I used a non expanding sealant to fill the gap between the new braces and the hood. Also I sealed inside of the original braces and hood. This needs to be done with the hood installed so the sheet metal of the hood will be in its original lay position. If you plan on painting the underside of the hood make sure the sealant is compatible. When I shut the hood It sounds like a new truck. NOTE: This mod may change the folding characteristics of your hood if you are in an accident. My truck is a 4x4 so I am not to concerned. My hood is ripple free while on the roughest roads.

Bermblaster · 12-27-2003, 04:52 AM

Here is a photo.

Bermblaster · 12-27-2003, 04:54 AM

Different angle. Hope this helps.

69_hafton · 12-27-2003, 11:01 AM

Bermblaster, that's a very clean install! The
folding characteristics aren't something I'd
thought about. I do plan long term to lower my
truck, so I think I should leave the hood the
as close to original for now.

Note to self: clean and paint underside of hood.

12-26-2003, 03:02 AM	#1
69_hafton Sleep-Deprived Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 445	Is there a hood center support? The center of my OEM style hood jumps up and down when going over bumps. I thought I'd seen a picture of a show truck with a support that goes between the two I-beam supports that are on the original hoods. But I haven't seen any advertised anywhere or offer online. Anyone know of such a thing? Maybe it was just another custom piece on the truck I'd seen.

12-26-2003, 04:17 AM	#2
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,450	Mine has a couple of pieces of cardboard. I guess you could call that "custom". __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

12-26-2003, 05:11 AM	#3
1969 GMC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Rubber City Posts: 5,498	My hood does that "bounce" thing too, but there is a nasty dent where it looks like the p/o dropped something pretty heavy on it. The frame is bent downwards slightly, and there are some wooden shims shoved in between the sheetmetal and frame. I always thought if it was right, it shouldn't bounce. __________________ 1969 GMC K2500 1996 Honda Accord 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650

12-26-2003, 06:41 AM	#4
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	I don't have a picture of it, but one of the board members installed a center brace using an old hood brace. It looked real factory and he put the rubber strip in between the brace and hood so that the brace would hold the hood in the center. Apparantly there has been a lot of hoods sat on and the center is depressed with the stiffness reduced so they shake. You will want to make sure that the original rubber strips are in place as they will move out of position sometimes. The rubber strips are available from the vendors. We used a hood brace from a truck hood to brace the center of a 56 Chevy car hood that had been sat on. It works really well and looks like it belongs there. Here is a pic of the home made brace that I made up to stop the hood shake in the middle. It works but it is not as slick as using a hood brace off of a junk hood. Jim Attached Images

12-26-2003, 08:02 AM	#5
PR454SS Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Louisville, TN Posts: 338	Now I'm confused, don't all hoods come with a center brace that has a rubber seal underneath it??? __________________ PR Too many projects, not enough time! 72SWB 350/350TH, 3500stall,525 lift cam 3:73 posi. Sold! 69LWB Flatbed 350/Super T-10, ported/polished 481 heads, 480 lift cam. 78SWB 468/400TH, ported/polished Alum. heads, 3:42 posi, 3000 stall on 17x8 and 18x9.5's 77 Jeep CJ-5 304V8 fiberglass body on 36" Ground Hawgs

12-26-2003, 11:34 AM	#6
69_hafton Sleep-Deprived Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 445	I'll check the rubber shims, I remember at least one that is slipped out slightly. I don't have any dents that would have caused any weakness, but who knows with an old piece of sheetmetal? I'll have to watch for a hood that has a center brace that looks useable. I guess I could do a fix like yours Jim, but my temporary fixes usually become rather permanent. PR454SS, does your hood have a center brace? What year is it from? Mine is a '71 or '72 hood without a center brace.

12-26-2003, 03:19 PM	#7
PR454SS Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Louisville, TN Posts: 338	PR454SS, does your hood have a center brace? What year is it from? Mine is a '71 or '72 hood without a center brace. [/B][/QUOTE] Never mind I WAS confused I was thinking of the two outer braces that have the rubber seals in them. __________________ PR Too many projects, not enough time! 72SWB 350/350TH, 3500stall,525 lift cam 3:73 posi. Sold! 69LWB Flatbed 350/Super T-10, ported/polished 481 heads, 480 lift cam. 78SWB 468/400TH, ported/polished Alum. heads, 3:42 posi, 3000 stall on 17x8 and 18x9.5's 77 Jeep CJ-5 304V8 fiberglass body on 36" Ground Hawgs

12-26-2003, 03:51 PM	#8
Sweet72 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 1,534	Replace the old foam-rubber strips and secure them with 3M weatherstrip cement. Make sure your hood bumpers and latch are adjusted correctly as well. This made a world of difference in my hood. Our trucks never came with any such brace, and should be strong enough without one as long as there's no structural damage. __________________ '72 GMC SWB C1500 Custom, frame-off in progress. 383 SBC, 9:1CR, Comp Cams XE262H, Scat internal balanced crank, Eagle SIR 6" rods, Keith Black dish pistons, Dart Iron Eagle 72/180 heads, Weiand Stealth intake, Stewart stage I water pump, Holley 4bbl vac sec, TH350 with B&M Shift Improver Kit. 12 bolt positraction.

12-26-2003, 09:32 PM	#9
69_hafton Sleep-Deprived Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 445	Sweet72, I took a look at the foam strips and they've slipped to one side or the other and definitely need replaced. I hadn't thought of the hood stops, that's a good point - I'll have to check those again after I get the strips glued in place. They appear to be adjusted correctly. After seeing the condition of the foam rubber strips, I really think that they're the problem. I don't know why I though they were OK? Selective memory?

12-27-2003, 04:48 AM	#10
Bermblaster Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Boise Id Posts: 34	This is how I got rid of the hood ripple when driving. I cut 1 inch square tubing with plasma cutter in half length wise. I welded to the existing hood braces only. I used a non expanding sealant to fill the gap between the new braces and the hood. Also I sealed inside of the original braces and hood. This needs to be done with the hood installed so the sheet metal of the hood will be in its original lay position. If you plan on painting the underside of the hood make sure the sealant is compatible. When I shut the hood It sounds like a new truck. NOTE: This mod may change the folding characteristics of your hood if you are in an accident. My truck is a 4x4 so I am not to concerned. My hood is ripple free while on the roughest roads. __________________ "70" Chevy 4X4 Short Step "68" Mustang "03" FORD 4X4 V10

12-27-2003, 04:52 AM	#11
Bermblaster Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Boise Id Posts: 34	Here is a photo. Attached Images __________________ "70" Chevy 4X4 Short Step "68" Mustang "03" FORD 4X4 V10

12-27-2003, 04:54 AM	#12
Bermblaster Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Boise Id Posts: 34	Different angle. Hope this helps. Attached Images __________________ "70" Chevy 4X4 Short Step "68" Mustang "03" FORD 4X4 V10

12-27-2003, 11:01 AM	#13
69_hafton Sleep-Deprived Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 445	Bermblaster, that's a very clean install! The folding characteristics aren't something I'd thought about. I do plan long term to lower my truck, so I think I should leave the hood the as close to original for now. Note to self: clean and paint underside of hood. __________________ 1971 K/10 Long Fleetside 350/350 - 6" Lift 1969 C/10 SWB 292 - Sold It



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.