| Author | Message | ||
| Skip Williamson (Darolls)
Junior Member Username: Darolls Post Number: 158 Registered: 7-2003 |
I know this is late, but finally a friend took some pictures of the brace my mechanic made. Here are the pics.   And some other pics. we took today   | ||
| Leonardo Soccolich (Lens)
Member Username: Lens Post Number: 360 Registered: 3-2001 |
Thanks! | ||
| Daniel B Reese MD (Dbr328gtb)
Junior Member Username: Dbr328gtb Post Number: 200 Registered: 5-2001 |
Good for you, Lens! | ||
| Leonardo Soccolich (Lens)
Member Username: Lens Post Number: 358 Registered: 3-2001 |
The repair on my hood brace is strong enough to handle the gas strut (so far). Dan, I had a terific time at Morristown. I judged the 348 class with Mike Bayer. I think he lives down by you. He has a 330. He's very knowledgable, and made the entire experience a lot of fun. Despite being the only 328 judged, I scored enough points for a platinum, so all in all it was a great day. | ||
| DGS (Dgs)
Member Username: Dgs Post Number: 348 Registered: 5-2003 |
"Can anyone provide PROOF, that a hood was bent from retrofitting a later gas strut to an early hood? I can provide plenty of instances of bent hoods with the original support...." Does anyone have an original hood with the original strut that hasn't been broken?  Which may be the concern: Will a repaired hood stand up to the gas strut? That will vary with the quality of the repair, of course. | ||
| Daniel B Reese MD (Dbr328gtb)
Junior Member Username: Dbr328gtb Post Number: 199 Registered: 5-2001 |
Lens, The entire underside of my hood is painted red-everything. The serial number sticker is just forward of the strut attachment. Mine is 75063. BTW, How was judging at Morristown? | ||
| dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 1926 Registered: 5-2001 |
The later gas strut will bolt right on no problem...yes the later hoods where reinforced to handle the added resistence of the gas strut, but after a over a year of use (I open the hood at least 3 or 4 times a month, no problem. My mechanic has replaced these on every 308/328 he can, and has not had anyone bend their hood...FWIW. Can anyone provide PROOF, that a hood was bent from retrofitting a later gas strut to an early hood? I can provide plenty of instances of bent hoods with the original support.... | ||
| Todd Gieger (Todd328gts)
Member Username: Todd328gts Post Number: 591 Registered: 6-2002 |
I do the same as Daniel B Reese MD...I bought a retractable hood prop from Snap-On...safest remedy. | ||
| Leonardo Soccolich (Lens)
Member Username: Lens Post Number: 357 Registered: 3-2001 |
I also have the later-style gas strut, but never really noticed a problem with resistance. I always push the hood down (carefully) closer to the strut, never from the top. This thread is food for thought, though. My hood brace was repaired at some point by welding (I'll try to post a pic tonight). Its strong enough, but not very aesthetic. There is an almost imperceptable bow in the hood line just where you would expect it. The paint, fortunately, is fine. I've always thought about buying a new hood Bill; I wonder if a 328 hood is about the same price. I'll speak with Jeff or Mark at Ferrari UK. On another note, my hood has a small patch on the strut side that isn't sprayed with the black undercoating. Its red, just like the body color. There is a small #2 stamped into the metal. Anyone have this on their car? What does it signify? Dan, I don't have a serial number sticker on the underside of my hood. I wonder if this was affixed to later cars? | ||
| Craig Dewey (Craigfl)
Member Username: Craigfl Post Number: 691 Registered: 1-2001 |
I tried a gas strut on mine but didn't like the extra hood flex when I was closing it. I would sell it for $20 if someone wanted it. | ||
| Skip Williamson (Darolls)
Junior Member Username: Darolls Post Number: 89 Registered: 7-2003 |
Paul- I'll try and get a friend with a digital cam., to take a pic. and post it. Dave B., can we do this? Note to all, I'm computer illiterate! | ||
| Paul Jeffery (Peajay)
Junior Member Username: Peajay Post Number: 132 Registered: 4-2002 |
Skip I have an 87 328 which has the strut on the left hand side, but it has a new gas strut. I don't know if the frame is strong enough for the gas strut, but I do know that the gas strut is extremely difficult to push in manually when not installed on the car. I would be interested to see what your strengthener fix looks like if you can post a photo. | ||
| Daniel B Reese MD (Dbr328gtb)
Junior Member Username: Dbr328gtb Post Number: 197 Registered: 5-2001 |
The guy I used is in VA, but I am sure a good body man could do the same. As your hood is already damaged, it will the crease will only get worse with use. You will enevitably get swirl marks on your new paint so I wouldnt worry, unless your current swirl marks are more than barely noticable | ||
| Morrie (Morrie)
New member Username: Morrie Post Number: 14 Registered: 9-2003 |
Skip, I like the idea of rivets. I'm nervous about welding. Daniel, Do you have contact information for David Carte? I bought the car knowing about the wrinkle in the hood, which isn't all that bad, and thought perhaps that Dent Wizard could improve or fix it. Later I noticed that the underlying support structure was crimped, causing the hood to flex each time it is opened or closed. I don't plan to show it, so I don't mind a few blemishes, though I may decide to repair or replace the hood. This is complicated slightly because the car has some very minor swirl marks which are visible only in bright sun. I don't know if they will buff out yet, and if not, I'm not sure how one repainted panel would look. One of my problems is that I flew from California to Florida to buy the car, then left it with the dealer to finish the repair, so I'm doing it by long distance. I'm inclined to fly to Florida tomorrow to oversee the hood repair. This all must make the car sound pretty rough, but in fact you have to look pretty hard to see that the car has been used at all. The information that all of you have provided on this thread has been very helpful and I am most grateful. | ||
| Bill V (Doc)
Member Username: Doc Post Number: 442 Registered: 9-2001 |
I was considering rigging up a rigid prop rod, as is used on most cars, to replace the stock unit . Has anyone done this? | ||
| Skip Williamson (Darolls)
Junior Member Username: Darolls Post Number: 86 Registered: 7-2003 |
My mechanic took a piece of extruded aluminum, 1/8' thick x 1/2"W x 8"L. Buffed it to a high shine, and pop riveted to the outer edge of the brace where the strut attaches. It looks like it was a factory item, and actually looks pretty cool. | ||
| Daniel B Reese MD (Dbr328gtb)
Junior Member Username: Dbr328gtb Post Number: 195 Registered: 5-2001 |
OK, I have experience with this. I would not use gas strut. The 88.5 and 89 models have a gas strut but the hood was redesigned with the strut on the passenger side. I had the same problem as you, Morrie, and it is a very common problem (it is a poor design). At a Ferrari restorer (David Carte), he fixed the kink in the hood and made a new underhood reinforcement and then painted the whole hood (masking the seial number sticker on the underside). The job looks absolutely original and no judge has ever detected the work. Cost was only about $850. To prevent this from happening again, I removed the strut attachment to the hood ( leaving the other end attached) and taped it down to the body panel. I now use a hood prop to keep it open and when I show the car, I simply reattach the one end of the strut. Both sides of the hood look perfectly original. You should be able to do the same. Dan | ||
| Verell Boaen (Verell)
Intermediate Member Username: Verell Post Number: 1149 Registered: 5-2001 |
Jeff, My hood bows slightly at about 1/2 closed, then fairly quickly it straightens as the force from the strut becomes in-line with the hood. Since the gas strut came on my car, and I've had it for 4 years & 10K miles now with no sign of a permanant bow, or any stress cracks, I'm sticking by my recommendation to use the gas strut. | ||
| jeff ryerson (Atheyg)
Member Username: Atheyg Post Number: 497 Registered: 8-2002 |
I would avoid the later gas strut on earlier cars, they repositioned the mount and reinforced it for the later strut, with the later strut you have much more of a chance to bend your hood as each time you lower it the gas type strut gives resistance and you bow your hood to close it | ||
| Verell Boaen (Verell)
Intermediate Member Username: Verell Post Number: 1147 Registered: 5-2001 |
My '82 Euro 308 QV GTS had a gas strut when I bought it. Couldn't figur out how people were bending their hoods until I saw another 308 with the std strut. Morrie, The reinforcement on the 328 is welded on. Epoxy just isn't strong enough for this kind of a repair. Welding on 2 stiffener strips & repainting the repaired area is going to the minimum reliable repair. To do a max. strength & cosmeticly indetectable repair, the box brace should be cut-off & replaced, then everything repainted. | ||
| Morrie (Morrie)
New member Username: Morrie Post Number: 13 Registered: 9-2003 |
Dave, I'm curious about how the hood was reinforced. I wonder if it would be possible to retrofit mine and avoid having to weld on it. Thanks, | ||
| dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 1925 Registered: 5-2001 |
Bill, I don't know if it would fit or not on a 308, but they switched to the gas strut during mid production on the 328 series...granted at the same time they reinforced the hood where it mounts and moved it to the passenger side...but it still offers insurance from some idiot bending your hood... | ||
| Bill V (Doc)
Member Username: Doc Post Number: 440 Registered: 9-2001 |
Morrie--another option, if your hood is bad enough, is to get a new one from Ferrari UK. i got a new QV hood from them a short while ago for about $350 US dollars ( as compared to about $1500 from dealers ). I paid about an extra $130 for FedX shipping and it arrived the next morning, believe it or not. Of course you need to do some fitting and painting , so the cost may not be much different than having yours repaired. Dave--I didn't realize that they made a gas strut for the fron bonnet--would it fit a QV, do you think? Where is a good source for one? | ||
| dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 1924 Registered: 5-2001 |
Just make sure after the repair you install the later gas strut.....only $35 or so. | ||
| Morrie (Morrie)
New member Username: Morrie Post Number: 12 Registered: 9-2003 |
My about-to-be-delivered 328 has a small wrinkle in the hood where someone tried to force it shut without releasing the support. The bend itself is not bad, but the rectangular brace that runs along the underside of the hood has been crimped and lost its tensile strengh. It must be reinforced to prevent the hood from flexing every time it is opened. The dealer where I bought the car proposes to weld a strip along the edge and to add one on the other side. They propose to cool the hood with towels and use an electric weld, which they say should not damage the paint. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with this process, but don't know what other solutions might be available. I'm concerned about the appearance under the hood even if the paint is not damaged on top. I wonder if an epoxy would do the job. I welcome any sungestions. |