t is for train wreck

One of the reasons for doing this blog,
is to give me a chance to sit back and digest a project mid-stream.
You guys are basically along for the ride whether it works or not.
Either a train wreck or a near miss.

high hood

Since I was on a roll with that '36 side project,
I'd thought it would be a good idea to carry the momentum back to the 40,
specifically tackling the hood.
The last huge sheet metal project.

high line

The hood's reveal line seemed to shoot up a bit from the body line.
It's  hard to see from this picture but it looked about 1+1/4" high.

low line

The big problem was this car was never meant to have a full hood.
Vague measurements were used to match the front fenders to the body.
1.5 inches longer isn't a big deal without a hood,
but ouch now its thrown a wrench in the gears for sure.

So this hood project has two goals.

One to make the hood fit length-wise,

and two to pie cut a little bit out height-wise.

ill fitting

After scrubbing the paint off the potential weld seam area,

a tape line mapped out the first cut.

It was getting late so there was no time to dilly dally.

I didn't hesitate long to start making some noise.

lower section

With the bottom section free,
it was painfully obvious how bad the hood lined up with the fenders.
Most likely a result of using a botched up grille.
Slowly the reality was setting in.

mismatched

Here you can see the gap if the top piece lines up with the cowl,
and the bottom piece lines up with the grille.

1940 ford coupe chopped channeled sectioned

Now this is where the picture gazing comes in.
The other night I had removed the stainless trim from the hood.
There were 2 pieces that overlapped the grille,
but since they were behind it actually raised it up a bunch.
The above picture is how the hood sits jammed down,
and compared to the picture below I think I like it better.

pie cut hood - 1940 ford coupe

Now the pic mocked up with a pie cut looks too low.
I think what happened is since the grille is slanted down,
the forward movement of the hood also lowered it another half inch.

holey chit

Did I screw up the 74 year old sheet metal by cutting it?
Not yet!
The base will be easier to match up to the fenders in pieces like this.
There are already a couple small relief cuts to the inside lip.
Instead of a fat pie cut the front will only be lowered maybe 1/2- 3/4 of an inch,
and the extensions will go in that square above the exhaust,
and along the top line of the cowl.
Good thing I didn't cut the wedge slice out...

This made the choice easier to not go to the LA roadster show this weekend!

TP