introduction of graywolff

[grantf]

I think I would be guided by your repairman Bud. That is providing you can actually buy a different hood. The two front corneres are where the hinges are so there needs to be some good metal in that area. You would be happier in the end with a new hood in my opinion.

Brian.

Strange, I find it funney that people can give advise on this without seeing the actual body panel. Really now, how do you know that the hinge area is even compromised? really!!! :stupid: is it just surface rust? rust through? can you show us a picture? can it be sandblasted, sanded out ect. If you bought a new hood you will still pay for not only paint to match but prep anyhow, why not prep and paint the hood you have and save $$$ unless of course the hood is rust through.

Edited December 3, 2010 by grantf

[Travel'n Man]

That is one great picture of your Z car Travel'n man The backgroung brings out the lines and the blue water compliments the color of the car.

Superb!!!

Bud - Thanks for the kind words! As with any of us that put more money into our cars then they are worth it's a labor of love more than anything else. I would have to agree with you though, there is something about the lines on these Z cars that just keep on talking to me.

[olzed]

You should note Grant, that I suggested Bud be guided by his repairman.

I shouldn't think he would have suggested a new hood unless it was in a pretty bad way. Surface rust is fairly obvious don't you think.As Bud states in his first statment. "The hood is rusting from the inside out"

Edited December 3, 2010 by olzed

[EScanlon]

Strange, I find it funney that people can give advise on this without seeing the actual body panel. Really now, how do you know that the hinge area is even compromised? really!!! :stupid: is it just surface rust? rust through? can you show us a picture? can it be sandblasted, sanded out ect. If you bought a new hood you will still pay for not only paint to match but prep anyhow, why not prep and paint the hood you have and save $$$ unless of course the hood is rust through.

Based on the OP's first post, where he mentions that the rust is occurring from the inside out, and the fact that the hood's metal backing is mostly spot welded /caulked all the way around the last inch or so of the hood, and that the support metal at the corner IS the point of attachment for the hinge mounting tabs, if he's experiencing rust-through... those areas of the hinge support are bound to be compromised.

Even if the rust is only on the extreme leading edge and outermost corner of the hood, where the exterior skin metal is unsupported by the support metal, by the time you cut and replace those corners you will have more dollars invested than a simple prep and spray on a rust-free hood. It won't be easy to cut and replace metal that close to the support metal.

If upon removing the hood skin at those corners, it uncovers rust on the support metal, then you have to address that... which adds money to the repair bill.

The OP's concern is to maintain the originality of the original hood. If he's willing to spend the money... go for it. But it will be a REPAIRED hood which will likely require that the bodywork effected on it be done on BOTH sides of the hood in order to hide the repair.... or he'll suffer the visibility and the depreciation of the repair. Added to the cost of the repair, this will in turn, AGAIN, be more $ than a simple paint and replace.

The advise isn't on where and how to effect the repair, just that the repair will be costlier than a replacement.

Olzed's point is spot on.

Maybe the funny part is your mis-reading of the original post and lambasting the rest of us.

FWIW

E