I need to buy a new hood and want some input. I know of Branda, mustang depot, maier, or others out there that produce these hoods, but I am concerned with fitment of the hood, whether to use props or springs and most of all, don't want to do this again.

Am I just looking for the pot of gold or is there someone that makes a great fiberglass hood. I am half temped to buy a steel one and modify it if there are no makers.

 

I don't know who's is best, but I can relay MY experience:
First hood was a 66 shelby style from Unlimited Products. Biggest POS ever. Fit, quality, finish, EVERYTHING stinked
Second hood is a Maeir 67 shelby style for the 66. Quality is OK, but fit is kinda off. The front part of the hood doesn't "bow" enough, so the front edges sit higher than the fenders. One of the rear corners was WAAAAAAY low. Yes, these can be fixed when I do the body/paint work.

Just my $0.02

 

Thanks...I had talked to them last month and was surprised with some of their fabrication methods. Mustangdepot has one but it is not reinforced. Branda is however.

 

Doesn't speak directly to the "best 'glass hood" subject, but I did bond a 'glass scoop onto a stock steel hood. I'm no paint and body man, but I must say that it wasn't too tough of an installation. I know that everyone says that they tend to crack at the seam, but I was prepared to gamble for the sake of budget. I've also heard that bonding agents have vastly improved through the years, so hopefully I'll dodge that bullet.

I got contacted Len at autobodystore.com for supplies and advice. He has a good reputation for solid (and free) paint and body tech help.

 

I also bonded a '67 style scoop to a steel '66 hood. I felt the stronger metal hood would be better than a fiberglass one that might have a tendancy to sag and what not over the years...

I had a professional do the bonding/cutting/whatever was needed to attach it. I wasn't prepared to do things like that.

I worked out the $$ on this, and found I probably paid... $150 more for my hood, finished, than it would have cost for an all fiberglass hood the same way. And those costs did not include the new springs, prop rod, etc, I'd need...

 

As I have recently faced the fact that my car is just never going to be all original again no matter what kind of restoration I do, I have chosen to restomod it and will be tackling my first glass work this spring and I plan to try out the Branda stuff as I have always heard it is the best quality available, it's certainly about the most expensive one that much is for sure. You will more than make up in labor what you try to save on cheaper stuff, that I have heard time and again. As for fit, there is no utopia. You could likely mess with it eternally and never get it 100% perfect, heck just look at how poor actual shelbies are some times, even concors correct ones and original mueseum pieces.

 

Have you tried Tony Branda- they usually sell high quality parts- and I know they carry hoods- they can be pricey- but I have always had good luck

 

Can't help you much on a hood vendor, but I will tell you that my past reading says to buy the best one you can afford - you get what you pay for.

I'll tell you that I've tried both "stiff" and "soft" springs - neither worked, as you really need something "in the middle". The soft wouldn't keep the hood up, and the stiff had too much tension when the hood was closed making it want to bow.

I'm using a prop rod now, sourced from Branda.

 

Dan,

Everything I've heard and read points to Branda............ But I also remember talking to you recently and you having a line on a hood, so don't know where you are with that now

As to springs and/or prop rods. When I changed to my cowl hood, I also picked up a pair of repop hinges, which turned out to be extremely tight. So I don't run any springs at all and the hood stays up just fine without any support at all. But I do use a prop rod just to be on the safe side B)

 

I bought one from a vendor in CA who swears by them. I was told to speak to "Vintage Mustang" and contact person was "Mike". It is comparable to Branda's but since he works on mustangs and Shelbys, he has never had any trouble with his supplier and has had none that came back. Good prep right out of the box. The guy who makes them only does a few at a time and might quit the business since he is getting old. I did also buy the slower springs and may consider the prop rod later after I work with the hood some.

I need to see if I have to make another bracket for the blower or will it fit under the hood.