Fiberglass hood

[metallicareload99]

I'm putting on a fiberglass 6 Pack scoop hood, it's a bolt on that'll use the stock hinges. I already have plans to get lower tension springs, but in the meantime could I still use the stock springs temporarily?

Otherwise I'm willing to remove the springs and go without temporarily, but could no springs cause any problems? I understand the hinges are also an over center spring mechanism: the springs help hold the hood closed when it's down

[timmycharger]

Hello! I would not use the stock springs with the glass hood, not even temporarily. I don't think you would even be able to close the hood without cracking the glass hood with the stock springs. I would run without springs if I didn't have the correct ones. See my thread below for the spring comparison. 



http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,143477.0/all.html

[metallicareload99]

I'm definitely taking them off, and thanks for the link! I'm probably going to have to do all that too, as I also want hood mounted turn signals

[timmycharger]

some tips on the turn signals, first don't make the opening too big like I did the first time I tried it, it ended up cracking, just enough to get the backing plate for the lens in there is good enough.

Second, when you go to wire it up, make sure you run a separate wire from the backing plate of the turn signal through the hood bracing down onto the firewall to a good ground. otherwise they will not work. 

Good luck and post pics!

[metallicareload99]

Also, since the hood is just fiberglass should I apply some type of clearCoat? Before installing?

[metallicareload99]

Would some type of rattle can clear coat offer protection and not cause problems in the future?

[timmycharger]

Would some type of rattle can clear coat offer protection and not cause problems in the future?

The stuff I used was just some cheap hot rod single stage paint from Amazon but I did a bunch of bodywork and had to get it all black again and one color.

They do make nice rattle can clear that you push down a button on the bottom that activates the hardener but not sure how that would look and if you would get the dreaded "striping" effect.

If it is just raw, black fiberglass and the correct shade of black (if you are going for black), I think it would be ok with nothing on it but I am far from an expert.

[Kern Dog]

Regular clear as well as paint usually turns out best with a 50 % overlap when you apply it.
Any matte clear, a semi gloss so to speak, requires a greater overlap. I was told that a 70-75 % overlap is customary. I sprayed a Duster with base coat black and a matte clear on the hood. My first effort of a 50 % overlap on the clear left tiger stripes.