Camaro Custom Hood Cowl
The 80's Camaros were cool looking cars but unless you had an Iroc they were void of the Muscular Look
associated with the first generation Camaro's. We are going to "one off " this 86 Model with some special touches. 1. The stock Camero awaits its new Cowl Hood upgrade. Bone stock she is some what flat with the exception of a few body lines. http://s24.postimg.org/xm23s3w5h/image.jpg 2. The owner bought this fiberglass cowl hood in hopes of a muscular face lift but it has an unnatural look and a lot of fit issues. One being too short front to back by over 1 inch. In our opinion the cowl section is too high looking with a rounded top edge that goes down in to a hard line at the bottom and this does not flow with the rest of the Camaro design. http://s24.postimg.org/qqr20hgg5/image.jpg 3. The first step is to find out the minimum clearance needed between the top of the air cleaner assembly to hood panel. We are using a K&N open element on this particular project. http://s24.postimg.org/kn9hgkq6d/image.jpg 4. We stripped the hood to bare steel. Time to analyze what we are able to do, taking in to consideration the natural limitations of the panel and the filter clearance. http://s24.postimg.org/67w5vf2it/image.jpg 5. With the hood flipped over you can see GM built a lot of reinforcement to compensate for the thin outer panel which is 22 gauge at best. We cut away all the caulk / adhesive holding the outer panel to the inner structure to release them from one another. http://s24.postimg.org/vx27biv7p/image.jpg 6. We drew out the basic areas with a sharpie where we are going to slice. http://s24.postimg.org/mzcw0fddx/image.jpg 7. At the front and rear edges of the panel we are going to cut about 3/16ths of an inch just inside. Note the 3M weld protection paper on the windshield. http://s24.postimg.org/50mtgy1s5/image.jpg 8. After cutting the panel off we are ready to measure our air filter to hood clearance. http://s24.postimg.org/fq0i97dl1/image.jpg 9. We located the air filters center by marking and drilling a 1/2 inch hole. As seen an extra long carb stud protrudes through the hole for marking purposes. The engine sits off center in the chassis to the passenger side by factory design. Lou cut a circle one half inch outside the outer filters diameter for extra clearance room to allow for engine torque side to side. http://s24.postimg.org/w2ajyxrwl/image.jpg 10. We installed the filter and it clears fine during opening and closing. http://s24.postimg.org/bai33y16t/image.jpg 11. We cut out some metal and rolled it in to a circle the same diameter as our cut out in the hood. http://s24.postimg.org/q1hgfluo5/image.jpg 12. Next we fit it to the hood then tack welded it in place. Using a sharpie we marked the wavy irregular shapes of the inner structure to the new metal. We then cut the tack welds free, removed it and trimmed it to fit. http://s24.postimg.org/qjclvgk91/image.jpg 13. The result is a stiffened inner panel that custom fits the contours. We only tack weld every inch at this point. We will fully weld it later. http://s24.postimg.org/gxnmswih1/image.jpg 14. Everything still fits and clears well so on we go. http://s24.postimg.org/m7slk72px/image.jpg 15. The next step is to lay the original center panel back down in place and tack weld the very front to stabilize the panel. We raised up the rear to check for minimum clearance and to establish the " LOOK" we are after. http://s24.postimg.org/5wnwa50ud/image.jpg 16. It is determined that 3 inches in the center and 2.5 inches on the outer edges has the most natural look. http://s24.postimg.org/krchobaf9/image.jpg 17. As seen on the under side our air filter wing nut has approx 1/2 inch of clearance. We bent some aluminum bar stock to match the hoods contour and then inserted it down the center to stabilize the panel. http://s24.postimg.org/y3aab92th/image.jpg 18. Next we start on the sides by bending 1/4 inch rod to match the slope we were after. Making a template for exact duplication on both sides is mandatory. http://s24.postimg.org/amifchh8l/image.jpg 19. As we fit the wire it is starting to take shape. Note the extra length behind the hood toward the wind shield. We have not yet determined the full length that the cowl section will be so we will leave it long and trim it later. http://s24.postimg.org/valo4yrut/image.jpg 20. Some increment rod material was cut to act as pillars in order to strengthen the main rod so it will take the weight of the panel. http://s24.postimg.org/jzj0glkzp/image.jpg 21. We tack weld them in place and start the process of checking our fit regularly to be sure nothing moves. http://s24.postimg.org/ovmn8al51/image.jpg 22. Once all the rods were in place on both sides of the hood we fabbed some 18 gauge reinforcement walls to fit in and around the wavy slopes of the inner structure. The top edge was matched to the same template that the 1/4 inch rods were made from. http://s24.postimg.org/8w3zoqp39/image.jpg 23. Yea man, she looks good at this height. Sooo- Let's continue. http://s24.postimg.org/lslx4x66d/image.jpg 24. The next step is to make a 1/4 inch wire match the wind shields shape as this will be used to reinforce the very back of the panel or cowl. http://s24.postimg.org/kmmijv79h/image.jpg 25. We tack welded the rear cowl reinforcement wire between each side rod and then laid some mock up board on the top to get an idea of what we want the cowl to look like front to back. http://s24.postimg.org/qxn4mjj45/image.jpg 26. We determined that 4.5 inches longer then the stock hood was the best distance. We cut out some metal to fit and are ready to tack weld it in place. http://s24.postimg.org/5pe1iuu11/image.jpg 27. We used panel clamps for the right gap. This is important. 1/16th works good and allows the metal to expand during the weld process which avoids warping. http://s24.postimg.org/6zbuxwnt1/image.jpg 28. Next we mocked up the side profile to get an idea of the way we want the panel to flow in to and out of the hood for the most natural look. http://s24.postimg.org/71vqkqrgl/image.jpg 29. We marked our template where the bends should take place then transferred it on to 20 gauge steel. The green tape shows the bend line. We want to establish this line first to get the panel to sit down against the existing hood section matching the same contour as close as possible. http://s24.postimg.org/c4i4cn72d/image.jpg 30. Starting from the rear of the panel we used a roller die that is very angled. This die forces the metal to kick up slightly with 3-4 passes doing the job. http://s24.postimg.org/dgurhey6d/image.jpg 31. Mani hammer and dollies the edge in a few places to get it to touch dead on. http://s24.postimg.org/7stinn05h/image.jpg 32. As seen it sits on top of the G.M. metal pretty decent. On to the next phase. http://s24.postimg.org/fcmlpotc5/image.jpg 33. On to the English wheel to form a gradual roll from the top of the cowl section down to the lower section of the hood. Using a very tight radius wheel allows us to form a contour as quickly as possible on such a small piece. http://s24.postimg.org/fdwjj3v5x/image.jpg 34. The edges tend to get a little wavy when the wheeling is performed so using a leather faced slapper and a t-dolly Mani adjust the shape where needed. http://s24.postimg.org/5thi9yv7p/image.jpg 35. Using the planishing hammer he curved the panel a bit more to get that "just right look." http://s24.postimg.org/wwal7mxs5/image.jpg 36. Clecoed in place she fits the panel nice. http://s24.postimg.org/bit5gjc05/image.jpg 37. Once he was satisfied with the fit he carbide scribed the panel where he will slice then fit the orig G.M. Metal to our new section. http://s24.postimg.org/mky8ez62t/image.jpg 38. In addition he drew a cross line to know the exact fit front to back during the final stages. http://s24.postimg.org/5odr0anwl/image.jpg 39. After fitting and tack welding the new side sections in place we made a template that we felt gave the best overall corner transition. http://s24.postimg.org/68ss2zh51/image.jpg 40. It looks good and aggressive but subtle at the same time. http://s24.postimg.org/4sh9kue85/image.jpg 41. This angle shows a sweet transition. http://s24.postimg.org/8ilhrhfgl/image.jpg 42. Everything is tack welded in place so we simply continue tack welding as seen until all is joined. http://s24.postimg.org/ldthe8upx/image.jpg 43. It helps to blast the areas to be welded for quick and precise spot welding on a panel as fragile as this. http://s24.postimg.org/ih6gdyow5/image.jpg 44. Finish welded and ground, Nicccceee. http://s24.postimg.org/veybnk7t1/image.jpg Source Jeff Lilly Restorations 11125 Fm 1560 San Antonio, Tx 78023 www.jefflilly.com 210-695-5151 |
Jeff, I love the webpage. Its my cure for the common burn out. scroll through a few of your build tips and I'm ready for the shop again. Keep up the great work!
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Thanks for the post
Much better than the fiberglass hood.
Saw a similar technique used on a 1965 Falcon Ranchero. Resulted in a great look, that many people missed. |
Hi Jeff
I agree the hood looks better than the original and the fiberglass! Was the 1/2 inch rod left in the hood or just used for support when forming the new panels? Steve |
Quote:
I think of that mig tic-tac maneuver as "Morse code welding". Neat shop. |
Sweet!!! I like it!
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great job . Are those magnets holding everything together or some kind of panel clamp?
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