Thread: Updates and hood problem (need help)

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Faith, that is a 32 hood side panel.
32's measure 32" along the center of the hood top.
30-31 Model A hoods measure 31 5/8"
28-29 Model A hoods measure 27 3/4"

Model A hood sides are straight on the bottom edge, 32's turn down a bit at the rear so as to pick up the swoopy frame lines and flow into the swoopy body lines.



The hood side may pull down to match the lower beltline when there's some tension on it from the hood latches.
I note that the upper hood/body beltline is mis-aligned about the same amount.

As far as the overly long at the back bit goes, there may or may not be an overlap - or double layer of steel - running vertically at the back.

If your hood side panels are not doubled you could have your body guy shorten them by grinding off part of the hood's rear vertical run - or do it yourself, it's not difficult.

A good trick to do this is to clamp a piece of 1 1/2" x 1 1 2" x 1/8" angle steel to it.
Make sure the angle steel is straight.
Clamp it top and bottom so the edge of the angle is where you want to make the cut.
Then use a 4" grinder with Pearl wheel (some call em flap wheels) to grind the excess hood material away.
Grind down to the angle which is now your guide.
Makes for a nice straight edge.
Be sure and deburr.
Use a file here.

You don't want to make the cut with tin snips or you'll bend the hood edge and/or put some waves in it.

I did angle steel/grinding trick with the home-made hood side panels on my 31 on 32 rails roadster and it worked great.

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About your tailights . . . is the bulb just lying there in the bottom of the bucket?
Or is the bulb socket that low?

Both sets of my 39 taillights have the socket and bulb centered so the light hits the lense like it's supposed to.

You may want to add the rubber gasket between body and taillight housing.
That'll keep the water out of the body/taillight juncture.

You especially want to run the narrow cork gasket between lense and taillight housing.
Water in there will create electrical/lighting problems.

The body/housing gasket is available at Bob Drake reproductions.
A very good piece fwiw.
They should carry the cork gasket as well.

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Great on the road pics....

Originally Posted by C9x

Faith, that is a 32 hood side panel.
32's measure 32" along the center of the hood top.

As far as the overly long at the back bit goes, there may or may not be an overlap - or double layer of steel - running vertically at the back.


About your tailights . . . is the bulb just lying there in the bottom of the bucket?
Or is the bulb socket that low?

Both sets of my 39 taillights have the socket and bulb centered so the light hits the lense like it's supposed to.

You may want to add the rubber gasket between body and taillight housing.
That'll keep the water out of the body/taillight juncture.
Great on the road pics....

OK here are the answers:

1- 32 inches for a 32 hood? how appropriate !
2- side panel has double layer at both ends
3- bulb is securely screwed in but located towards bottom of housing but I had to unscrew EVERYTHING in order to get the housing off to paint it.
4- Of course I put both rubber gaskets in - I am not THAT clueless (just a little clueless, that's all)

I am going to try to find an original hood top next. they come up on and off on ebay. This way I will have an original hood top to bottom and hopefully the length will match this time

Originally Posted by HiboyGal

1- 32 inches for a 32 hood? how appropriate !

I thought so as well.

It's kinda funny when you start measuring on a Deuce, lots of things are 32".


A little off the subject, but my 31 on 32 rails roadster project has a hood length of 32 5/8" and the wheelbase is 105" which falls in between the Deuce and Model A wheelbases of 106" and 140".

It may be interesting for you to measure the top longitudinal length of the hood side panel and compare it to a gennie 32 hood side panel.

Measuring your hood top at the outer bottom edges would be a good idea.

Before I'd spring for a gennie Deuce hood side I'd think about doing one of two things.
Lengthen the hood top or shorten the hood sides.

A job easily done by a skilled body man.

I have a friend in Ventura who can do it.

He chopped the top on this Henry J drag race car and it came out very nice.
Especially when you consider the gloss black paint.
Chopping tops on rounded top cars ain't easy....