Cracked fiberglass under my hood.

[lheindrich]

I have some cracked fiberglass under my hood from years of neglect. My hood does not line up well and it is difficult to open the hood up after I pop the latch release and it has resulted in cracked fiberglass. I want to remove the hood and repair the fiberglass and give the underside a nice coat of flat black paint. Then I wasnt to put in new underhood insulation since the previous owner removed the insulation. I will also replace the piece of weatherstrip that goes on the back of the hood. I want to know what type materials will I need to repair the fiberglass and what type of paint should I use and should I cut out my own piece of insulation or should I buy the correct piece from a Corvette parts supplier. Once I spruce the hood up I will realign everything so this will not happen again. Thanks.

[jeffn]

A number of issues can cause hood mis- alignment.The epoxy that bonds the fiberglass down between the headlights may be deteriorated.Press down on the fiberglass next to the top of each head light cover, and if it moves ,then that must be re-epoxied to start with.....Just taking the hood off and painting it then re-aligning it probably wont fix it to your tolerances....A good body man will tell you that blocking and filling and sanding both the body and the hood is needed for perfection.The factory fit on doors and hoods weren't the best coming out of the factory....It all depends on your tolerances.....That's one area that I'd leave to a pro who specializes in Vettes....Good luck!

[6880 Mike]

...I want to know what type materials will I need to repair the fiberglass...

The stock panels are SMC (sheet molded compound). You will need SMC compatible materials for your repairs.

...and what type of paint should I use...

Krylon semi-flat black in the rattle can is a near perfect match.