I am waiting for my tool and rust encapulator from eastwood to arrive. I check all the auto supplys places around town, at least the ones that will sell to non-business types, and nobody had anything. I ordered this one http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=10466&itemType=PRODUCT I got the donor sub-frame marked and cut, then I used a pair of tile snips to peel the skin off. did ok but let some ripple around on top. I just peeled the sides and whacked the back with a rubber mallet and it slid out. when the tool arrives then I will start on the grabber hood. Robert
Should be here tomorrow, If it does arrive I will start on the grabber hood tomorrow after i get home from work. I'll take some close-up pics of before and after of an area so you can see how it works. Robert
It was setting on the door step when I got home, I had dinner then went to work on the grabber hood, I cut the framing a little long then drilled out the spot welds then started peeling the fold back with the new tool. WELL I think It was worth the 30 bucks. Works a hell of a lot better than the tile snips....I started on the sides and in about 10 mins I had both sides peeled back. After you do the first pass, you go back to the start an put a little more back angle on it and the lip will stand up close to 90 deg. The top side didn't get rippled either. Didn't get it all done, stopped at 9 . just have to knock it out of the back side. Just hope I have it cut right. Here is a couple of pictures. Robert
went to whack the back frame like i did the donor, just a little lazy get the sides up then lift up on it a whack the back with a rubber mallet and this is what happened, and the guy said it was a good hood. Bondo hidding everywhere, doesn't matter but though it was worth a post. Robert
Robert I might be missing it but isn't this the grabber hood? You cutting this frame out anyways to replace with a good section? Is the skin still in good shape?
yep, removing the rear section of the grabber and replaceing it with a good one that came off a flat hood. the flat hood's front section , you can stick half your hand through. finding some filler on some parts of the skin, but it is worth fixing. I have 4 grabber hoods and this one needs a rear section and the other needs a front. I have 2 yards that had a good flat hood that looked as if someone had stood in the middle but it was fairly rust free, need to go get it. Plus I have 2 good flat hoods in the garage to, but they are too good to cut up. Robert
here is pics of the other problem areas. guess I will be learning body work at the school of hard knocks...beating, sanding and welding The black areas are where the frame was setting, I painted it with eastwood rust encapsulator after hitting it with a scotch brite wheel to knock off all the loose stuff. as you can see there is a lot of pitting, mostly in the corners. Looks like I will be getting a crash course in body work. Robert
Wow - this is a great thread. I've got a Grabber hood that I need to something similar too. Except that I've got damage on the top as well.
Well I am commited..other that the crazy part. I have cut the back corners off the donor hood and the grabber hood. I was thinking about using the butt weld tools from harbor freight, but they seem to leave a big gap between each side. I might try the magnets to see if I can get them closer. These hoods were not manufactured to a tight tolenence. I measured 3 different hoods and i got 51 3/8, 51 1/2 and 51 3/4 from the bottom of the front to the back corner. same thing going across the rear, got difference measurments I can tell you I am getting real nervous about this. I haven't done much body work and no welding on this thin of metal. I picked up some .023 wire for my welder, but it doesn't feed very well. I did a little practice on some thin stuff I had laying around and kept blowing through. So I created a copper spoon out of 3/4 copper pipe to use on the back side, which helped quite a bit. I am going to get me a tig next month. Robert
Robert,, I use magnets in doing butt welds all the time,, remember, in a case like this, you have adjusments to allow for in welding up this hood. I agree with a small space in your welds to allow for penetration, especially on the back side. I got faith in you dude. Dan
