TRUFIBER HOODS for Those with GT500 front Fascia!
I'm wrapping up progress with mine, still some fine tuning and striping to do. Once all that's done I'll post pics.
Bullitt Member
Joined: October 23, 2006
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Still working on my Venom Hood. We now have over 60 hours in it. I will admit 25 or so are due to the addition of the recessed twist loc hood pins but the hood really could have been much better quality. The waves in the top surface and VERY numerous pits, the lack of bonding between the inner and outer shells etc.
Here are a few photos from yesterday afternoon:
The louvers are flush and all body work was wrapping up yesterday afternoon. Should be blue when I get there today. Hope to mark off for the inside and outside striping. I'll admit to being pickey, I want the hood to look OEM quality when on the car. But the hood was not up to TruFiber's reputation for quality and has cost me a great deal of $$ to correct.
Here are a few photos from yesterday afternoon:
The louvers are flush and all body work was wrapping up yesterday afternoon. Should be blue when I get there today. Hope to mark off for the inside and outside striping. I'll admit to being pickey, I want the hood to look OEM quality when on the car. But the hood was not up to TruFiber's reputation for quality and has cost me a great deal of $$ to correct.
Bullitt Member
Joined: October 23, 2006
Posts: 410
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No silly, the holes are the easy part. The KR twistloc hood pins need to be recessed in order to look right and need a load bearing surface to clamp down on. We drilled 2.25" diameter holes, cut out the inside hood liner and adheared 4x6" metal plates to the back side of the hood top surface. Then the hood liner had to be reshaped and filled to smooth the back side. Here are a couple of shots of the hood right out of the paint booth yesterday afternoon. You can see the recessed locations the hood locks will go.
Still no paint other than primer on the bottom yet and no stripes. We did mark for the stripes while on the car yesterday and unlike some other photos that have been posted of striped GTs, on a real Shelby and lining up the contours and taper with the roof and front bumper, the stripes will NOT go through the louvers. They will land about 1/16" inside the edges of the louvers on the flat part of the hood.
Oh and 65hrs is about $2500 in body labor in this neck of the woods ($38/hr plus actual materials)
Still no paint other than primer on the bottom yet and no stripes. We did mark for the stripes while on the car yesterday and unlike some other photos that have been posted of striped GTs, on a real Shelby and lining up the contours and taper with the roof and front bumper, the stripes will NOT go through the louvers. They will land about 1/16" inside the edges of the louvers on the flat part of the hood.
Oh and 65hrs is about $2500 in body labor in this neck of the woods ($38/hr plus actual materials)
Bullitt Member
Joined: October 23, 2006
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Its a first gen. recieved it in late jan I think. Body shop was pretty slow to get started. I'm there every day now and they work on it. I want it done for Fun Ford Weekend on May 2 so running out of time.....He finish sanded the hood last night to get all minor surface imperfections out (1000grit) and is wrapping up the underside body work and into the paint booth today to finish the blue on the bottom. Plan to tape off for the striping tomorrow and paint the stripes Sat. Its a plan anyway.
Cobra Member
Joined: September 25, 2004
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The hood pin recesses look good though.
Bullitt Member
Joined: October 23, 2006
Posts: 410
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It did look that way but the hood was just bolted up for color match check. We did not align it before that photo. It fits VERY well now and the coutours match the surrounding body panels perfectly. Spent a good deal of time getting that right. Good eye though. I'll post some more as this goes on. Supposed to be blue on the underside today and dropping the car off Sunday evenign so they can have it all day monday to do the twist lok latches on the radiator core support. The twist loks are MUCH less forgiving to install as the mating angle of the latch pin much match the top surface of the hood. IE the twist lok must meet the latch plate at a 90deg angle or it will not engage. Anyway, they plan to mask for the stripes monday too and shoot them tues morning. Man we are running out of time.
On a good note, the new 335/30/18 Nittos on 11" GT500 wheels are on the car with the matching chrome GT500 front wheels today and I just got the 2.2" Steigmier pulley installed for Justin to tune...That went very smoothly and the tires fit perfectly.
On a good note, the new 335/30/18 Nittos on 11" GT500 wheels are on the car with the matching chrome GT500 front wheels today and I just got the 2.2" Steigmier pulley installed for Justin to tune...That went very smoothly and the tires fit perfectly.
Cobra Member
Joined: September 25, 2004
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Can't wait to see the final product.
I think it looks pretty darn good, and I like the color.