Autofab copy of Hickey drop center hood

[RubberFloorMat]

Ok so the blazer goes to paint before the end of the month, i need a new hood, and I really want a Drop Center Hickey/Eagle hood, BUT my paint and body man doesn't like cheap fiberglass (no kidding). The only one I can find is the Auto Fab reproduction, anyone running one?, is it worth the money, how much work did it take to be ready to paint?

Thanks in advance.

 

[sreidmx]

We had a later 80s hood made for the racetruck, autofab makes really good stuff, however we have not painted it.

 

[SpeedlabDan]

I'd like to know as well

 

[RubberFloorMat]

how is the fitment? im not super concerned about the finish, as that can be fixed in the normal manner, im more concerned with fit side to side and front to back, Ill be using the factory hinge and hoodpins, but im concerned about fender to hood fitment and grille area fitment.

 

[vandelay industries]

Which year range is your blazer?

 

[RubberFloorMat]

75

 

[Blazooki]

"Autofab" and "cheap fiberglass" shouldn't be used in the same conversation. I've had their fenders and hood on two different trucks and they were great.

 

[Stomis]

Have the body guy spray it with polyester primer (which if hes good he would be doing anyway) it ill give you an extra layer of protection from shrink.

 

[dremu]

Ill be using the factory hinge and hoodpins,

Assuming you're gonna take the springs out of the hinges or something? Those factory hinges get gummed up and are famous for then bending steel hoods (well, the monkey trying to close it is what bends the steel )

Curious what you have in mind as the 'glas hood will be way lighter than factory.

-- A

 

[RubberFloorMat]

"Autofab" and "cheap fiberglass" shouldn't be used in the same conversation. I've had their fenders and hood on two different trucks and they were great.

Exactly, my paint and body guy hasn't used thier parts and I wanted a review, thus the thread.

Did you have the hood and fenders on the same rig, how was the fit and finish?

 

[RubberFloorMat]

Assuming you're gonna take the springs out of the hinges or something? Those factory hinges get gummed up and are famous for then bending steel hoods (well, the monkey trying to close it is what bends the steel )

Curious what you have in mind as the 'glas hood will be way lighter than factory.

-- A

Yes factory hinges with no springs.

 

[Blazooki]

no springs with hood pins. I wouldn't use hood springs or the factory latch on any fiberglass hood. I had front prerunner fenders with a four inch flare and a hood on a 78 step side pick up. It fit just as good as the factory stuff. I'm pretty sure someone on the board ended up with them when I parted the truck.

 

[RubberFloorMat]

Does the hood have structural supports or a finished underside like the originals? Is it pretty thick or thin like a race part?

 

[Blazooki]

they have different thickness options if I remember. Mine was plenty thick. it had flat steel sandwiched inside the fiberglass you bolted the hinges to. its only gel coated on the outside

 

[Blazooki]

sometimes people will use 4 hood pins and the factory hinges. When you dont use the hinge springs the back corners can lift or wobble from the air at speed. Or rig up a weak spring/bungee to replace the factory spring. just enough to keep the hood from bouncing or wobbling.

 

[RubberFloorMat]

Outstanding. I've got some springs that I'm planning on using, they should be about half the rate of the factory ones.

Well, looks like I'll be ordering one, less than two weeks from hitting the paint shop.

 

[toomany]

Springs for a first or second gen Camaro/Firebird with a fiberglass hood will work on 73-80 hinges.

 

[Stomis]

That hood is slick btw. Ive never seen one had to google it.

 

[rampage]

I’d look into lift struts.

 

[RubberFloorMat]

I've considered that as well, I'll worry about those details later