VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 '37 Chevy hood question

Can the hood on a '37 Chevrolet be taken apart without removing the rivets that hold the sides to the center section. It appears the sides could be driven out of the center section but I don't want to try that unless I know it is supposed to be that way.

Thanks,
Brandon

They don't have to be driven out, they slide off. Take off the bolts at the front of the center divider and remove the nut under the dash that holds the back end. You can then lift the hood off as one piece.

I have used 1x2 wood and stuck it under the open hood sections and tied rope to the ends of the 1x2 and over the top of the hood sections. That way when you disconnect the bolts the hood sections are in the open position but locked in place. The wood sticks out past the edge of the car so you just lift the hood off and lay it on the ground. A little duct tape at each end of the two wood strips stuck to the underside of the hood stops any slipping.

Brian

I have taken mine apart at the center hinge but I have never removed the sides from the center sections.

I'm sorry I should have been more specific. I can get the hood off the car (though I wish I had your explanation a few weeks ago) but I need to separate the sides of the hoods from the center section because I'm going to have the hood painted and I need to recondition the center chrome section.

Thank you,
Brandon

I'm not sure exactly how but the hood halfs are removable from the center chrome hinge piece. The body shop that did the restoration on my car took it apart while I wasn't there so as I said I don't know how they did it but they didn't have to remove any rivets or 'drive' anything off.

The hood halves slide off the chrome strip (hinge). I can't remember if there are any "stops" on it to prevent it from moving but I don't think there are once you remove it from the car. It has been a long time since I did it.

Thanks guys. Now that I know it can be done I'll start seeing how to get that done.

Brandon

Removing the centre strip is not a real problem. It basically pulls out. Putting it back is another matter. Basically the two halves have to be placed upside down, parallel on something soft. The centre strip then needs to be slid carefully into place. When you push on the centre strip there is the great possibility that the strip will bend/crack behind the curved nose. It is best to make sure that all surfaces are clean and to help by lubricating the centre strip and hood hinge with dry lube or vaseline. This is not as big a problem in the USA where you can easily buy a reproduction centre strip but the Holden body has the same concept but the profile is different so when I pushed a bit too hard it was a matter of stripping/repairing/rechroming.Next time I was extra careful.Hope this helps.

I was thinking about it and there might be a better way. I haven't done this so it's offered as a concept at this point.

I don't see any reason that you couldn't remove the front and rear bolts from the hood center strips, carefully close and lock the hood sides, then pull the center strip straight forward and off the hood sections. The hood sections may drop down slightly but I don't think it would do any damage to any part of the car. I have rubber bumpers at the front of the car under the hood sections that should stop them from hitting anything on the dog house or grill. The cowl has that cloth covered wire thing.

If this works it's a lot more amiable to one person job.
Brian