I have a 1972 Cutlass and was considering purchasing a pin-on fiberglass OAI hood from Glasstech or Tamaraz, my question is how does the hood stay secured on the car in the rear if it doesn't use the hinges or springs? Is the hood secure enough with using only the front pins ?

 

hey buddie i have a oai hood from glass tek email them for more info they produce almost all hoods for the vendors so why pay more then needed. I am almost sure though that they put in a spot in the rear for hood locks and by the way for safety get locks for it. There are real a--h----s out there now a days.

 

Thanks for the info.. I will definitely give them a call.

 

if the hood has a fiberglass bottom frame you use the hinges without the springs. if it has the steel bottom frame then you can still use the springs.

 

Okay, thank you for that insight! I am going to go with the pin-on hood from Glasstech. Since I don't have an original 442 and I'm just looking to have a good driver quality convertible I figure why spend alot on the hood.

 

A true lift-off hood, as used on race cars, has pins front and back.



As noted, if you have the 'glass under frame, use the hinges with the springs removed.

 

where in Atlanta are you? I am up at the end of GA400 near Dahlonega. if you need something I may have it or know someone that does. I have a '70 SX conv. so I still have a few misc. parts around.

 

I'm located in Austell so you're not too far from me. Cosmetically I'm looking for a ram air hood, a rear wing, I'm also looking for the rear bumper with cut outs but ill probably buy one off of eBay from Tamaraz.

Mechanically, I need a compressor for the A/C.. As far as I can tell. The car needs some brake work so I may need some parts for the drum brakes. Ill be taking it to a mechanic shop within the next week. Also if you know of a good paint & body shop that is reasonable that would Really help.

 

But please let me know what parts you have

 

hey buddie this is not orgiinal but give it some thought and also cheaper. fiberglass front and rear bumpers and with cutouts included and lighter by 48 pds per side and painted body color like the rally 350,s sold at glasstek in naperville il. you will have the paint and the bumpers should be a c note less then chrome,maybe used also!

 

the only cutout bumper we have is a 70 and it needs to be straightened and chromed. for the a/c compressor I try not to use any thing old if I did not take it off as they tend to go bad or leak at the clutch seal. as for the paint and body, what does it need and what do you consider resonable? I actually work for a restoration shop and we are fair and the boss is pretty good at working with guys on a budget but paint materials are not cheap if you want something quality. we are pretty busy right now as I have a 35 Buick that I just painted and have to put back together and a 56 chevy that I have a few things to finish so it can go to the interior shop, lots of other smaller projects to finish as well but we prefer to have them lined up and in process. feel free to give me a call on my cell during the day. 954-270-2628 (florida cell still) and we can talk about what you need.
steve schmidt

 

Thanks Steve... Ill give you a call. The car seems pretty straight to me, it's yellow and I want to change the color. Maybe a burgundy with W-30 black stripes or Cortez silver with black stripes since the interior is black.

 

good colors, the 68 442 I had a couple years ago was burgandy and the boss has a 70 cutlass supreme that we are doing silver with black hood stripes.

 

Can I ask a question? I have a Tamraz hood, and it functions same as the OAI hood with the glass on steel frame. It has the hood locks in the front, and the stock hinges and springs.....functions as it should....I'm not understanding leaving the springs out? Is your objective to have the same look as an original OAI?

 

you have one with a glass top and a steel lower frame so you can use the springs, there are hoods made with a glass top and a glass frame so you have to remove the springs or the hood would break in half when you try to close it.

 

Well from the information I have gotten it seems that the " pin on" hood is too light and doesn't have a bracket for the hood hinges to go. But the " bolt on " hood can use light weight springs... I could be wrong but that's the info I have so far

 

I have an all glass hood no steel from Tamraz. I bought the lightweight springs, but they were not strong enough to keep the hood up. I put the stock springs back in and worked perfect.

 

you must have some pretty weak springs or the quality has gotten better. I have a glass on glass hood and with my stock springs the hood started to crack when I tried to close it. I ran for years with no springs and then used the light weight springs which were ok. now I have an OEM hood for the car so it is not an issue. my repro hood is one of the earlier ones (I have had it for 28 years or so) so maybe they improved them from mine.
on the boss's car we have a hood from the Parts Place with the steel lower and other than the fit being marginal it works good with stock springs.

 

The differences between the pin on hood and bolt on are quite easy to see.....






One bolts up to your hinges while the other takes 4 pins to hold it down. And the information you posted is correct.

 

Yes, hence, no fiberglass frame let alone metal frame on the pin on.....thanks for the clarification 71 442! My hood was purchased in the early 90's.....also note, the pin on is not truly functional....more like a/c for the engine compartment. the other is "tunneled"sp to the air cleaner. Although, without the aircleaner, not functional either...

 

fwiw also the pin on hoods need more than 4 pins or you will end up like me having a 6 inch gap between the grill and hood at the end of the traps in the 1/4 mile. I added 2 more rear pins so thats 4 across the back i aded one on each side in the middle and one dead in the diddle in the front . no more lifting at highway speeds lol. Just though id share my experience.

 

Yeah.....the pin on is for looks only. There's no air dam to mount it to the air cleaner.

Where did you buy your hood, if you don't mind me asking?