Good morning. As mentioned in my newbie post, I picked up this 72 W29 last week. I have the window sticker but does not appear the W25 hood was ordered when new. it the OAI equipment and it works as far as I can tell w the flapper selenoid etc. Anyway the hood is aftermarket glass/glass. no release or safety latch other than the standard round locks on the hood that pin down. The hood is bolted to steel hinges and springs but just rests on the pop up spring in front. The hood and springs as set up now are like a hair trigger, it will stay up but doesnt seem to like it. For safety i will put a prop rod on it but I dont want to rely on only the hood pins when driving it. Hood as good detail but its not OEM or Thornton quality obviously. Can anyone tell me which aftermarket hood I have, and if I can modify to accept the release and or safety latch?

 

If you are replacing that hood, I'll buy it.

 

I plan to keep the hood for now its all painted to match and clear coated stripes etc. Looking at the underside I think its a Tamraz's hood. I need to figure out a secondary latch solution because just the hood locks aren't enough to make me comfortable.

 

There likely isn't enough structure in the underside of that hood to support a real latch. Any latch or other retaining mechanism is worthless if the bolts holding it to the hood just rip out of the fiberglass.

 

hard to tell there are alot of repop ram air hoods just leave it alone.

 

The all fiberglass hoods dont have the ability to support the use of the safety latch and factory hood release. You can buy aftermarket hoods with the steel frame from several sources, ranging from $900 to $3000, depending on how close to original you want.

 

Thanks guys, your comments align with my thinking. I am in the same boat as many, love the OAI look and function but not the disposable $ or even the opportunity for a OEM or Thornton. But I ask myself..would I prefer for the hood then car was born with? probably not..My wife is supportive but she drives a Honda so she doesn't quite understand. LOL

 

On The cheaper W25 hoods(900-1500) with the steel frame, the frame is not identical to OEM or Thorntons version. But still attaches like OEM, and can use all the factory locking mechanisms, spring, and hinges. The all fiberglass hoods vary by manufacturer as to look of the "frame", and must use lightweight springs(or no springs), but cant use the front latching mechanism without modification and re-enforcement using sheet steel

 

I have the same set up as you, Trevor. I use only the hood pins which I know is a accident waiting to happen. So far so good but could happen anytime... I was at Westphalia a couple years ago at their big cruise in,(another great Michigan car event you need to check out, if you haven't already)- Anyway there was a 442 with a all fiberglass hood like ours where the guy attached piece of the original steel hood frame to the fiberglass frame and then used the original latch. I may do something like that to mine in the future. So far what has kept me out of trouble is to ALWAYS latch the latches when ever car is sitting. Also I've gotten into the habit of sighting along the hood to see the drivers side latch is latched before I start to move car. You can see that one from the drivers seat. My car doesn't use the spring- "popper" thing as your does. Also you probably have the "weaker" hood springs that were sold with the fiberglass repop hoods as I do. Yeah they barely hold up the hood, but the idea being that the original stiffer springs would be too stiff and you might damage the hood forcing it down/closed.