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

Hello to everyone,

I am looking for a good used part for my hood. I had posted a description of what I am looking for in the parts wanted and I don't think I described it correctly so I thought I would post pics here and in the parts wanted section.

As you can see the hood ornament is in good condition.


but strip is broken

$225 new/ The Fillingstation RW352

Hi Steve,

Yes, I've checked with both the FS and Cot40s. I would prefer a good used one on the merits that it's aged and will fit in with the original bright work on the car. If I replace it with brand new everything else will need to be changed to balance the look of the car and my budget is not prepared to do that. But maybe someone can point me to their local vintage parts yard or someone who can repair the original.
This next part is off topic......
I have discovered that the engine has a bad #4 exhaust valve and will need to remove the head for machine work.
My last local trip was to a tech high school open house (invited to a indoor car show in the auto dept.) when I started to experience clutch problems in heavy stop and go traffic.
So it looks like I'm going to have a busy off season.

On occasion I see them on ebay.

Hello Tiny,

I have heard that they are there, but I'm allows a day late. And I've tried searching e-bay but it shows me pages upon pages of reproduction mirrors and pin-up girl suicide knobs and parts for cars that aren't even close to being vintage.
Although I will admit I've only searched the east coast area.

I would greatly appreciate any leads that VCCA members might come across. I did come across one place here in Ma. but was advertised as questionable condition and was priced at 1 1/2 times the cost of a new one.

Does anyone think this part can be repaired ?? If you look close it appears that someone tried to repair it. But because of the condition of the repair, that person may not have had the experience necessary to do it properly.

If I see something of interest, I'll email you

I am a firm believer that ANYTHING can be repaired.
In your case if you remove the molding and squared up the two broken ends and then fabricated a piece of metal that could be inserted inside them to join both halves together all you would have to deal with is a fine line of separation, if you squared the two pieces right.
That fine line would be very hard to see unless one was looking for it.....Have faith and take your time and you can do it.
Good Luck >>>ED

Thanks for the encouragement Ed.

I have some engine and clutch work to perform so I plan to remove the hood and nose. I'm going to slide it off and try what you said. Nothing to lose and possible a trim piece to gain.

Thank you Steve,

From your past postings I noticed your knack for finding parts. Your help is greatly appreciated. In the mean time I'm going to attempt to fix the original once I have the nose off.

http://wheels-of-time.com/browseproducts/1937-Grill-S-S-Center-S---No-Emblem-Hole.HTML


I don't know if this is it or not

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the heads up. These parts are for the grill. I checked out the site but found no hood parts for my car. Heading out to the garage to get things rearranged so I can start work on the car this weekend. (off topic........my garage is no way near as pretty as yours)

I'm still looking........


Hope your concrete floor isn't as hard as mine.

Dave,
My center hood hinge looked just like yours. I brazed it together ground it smooth and polished it and it looks pretty good and has held up fine. I did that over 30 years ago and it is still holding.

Hi Ed,

you have a PM.

All cars have their problems. The 37/38 Chev has the hood strip or bonnet strip as we say. Basically the nose is bolted down and the bonnet/hood swings up and down and you get that crack. I have never seen one that hasn't been repaired. Trouble is that the metal gets fatigued and it is a very difficult repair. I had mine done and plated. It came back really well wrapped up because there were a few pinholes. I put it on the car and within a week I had a hairline crack. I have obtained another and basically had a brand new centre strip made up and run way into the nose. I will paint it and put it on the car and leave it there for a while to make sure that all is well before plating. Now you are fortunate in that you can buy a new one. Ours looks the same, works the same but has a different profile, part of the Holden body thing.You may well find another one or make a satisfactory repair on yours but ultimately you can always get a new one and scratch it up, drop a little acid here and there and make it look old

Hi Terry,

Thank you for your response.

I PMed with Uncle Ed and discussed my options. I'm going to hunt around and see if there are any local shops that could repair it.

Steve has offered to use his internet hunting skills for a good used one. So for now I think I have most of the bases covered.

You guys are the best, thank you all and I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.

Terry
My 38 has a 37 bonnet and doghouse and 2 of those nose pieces in the same broken condition. I had been thinking of gluing the screw tags on and making a copy in a more durable material but It will be some time before I get far enough to need it.

Tony

Hello Everyone,

I was able to get the centered strip repaired and would like to know if I should use any kind of lubricant when I reassemble it. The hinge halves have surface rust and I plan to clean them up with a fine scotch brite pad.

I used Anti-Seize on the hood hinges on all of my cars.