DIY Way Of Changing 1970 Chevelle Hood

If your car has met a front-end collision or you want to upgrade the 1970 Chevelle hood to one that has a hood scoop or one that is lighter, you will need to replace the part. And there is little need to take your car to a body shop to replace its hood.

If you are a DIY kind of person, you can easily replace the hood or hood as it is usually called in many countries with a few helping hands.

It is a pretty straightforward job. The hood is screwed to the body with bolts that provide it mobility while keeping it attached to the vehicle body. You can easily find two bolts on each side. If you unscrew those bolts, the hood will detach from the body and you can easily take it out of the car. While you can try doing it on your own but it is highly recommended that you have a helping hand.

Size & Weight

In 1970, Chevrolet continued with sheet metal revisions that gave Chevelle bodies a more coke bottle-styling look. 1970 Chevelle hood is a large piece of sheet metal and hence heavy. It has a massive coverage as it covers the front engine, radiator, and other important mechanical components of the car. Also, it has to be sturdy to prevent the engine from being damaged in the event of a collision.

Tools Needed For Removing The Hood

Get a socket wrench along with the appropriately sized socket to unscrew the hood from the vehicle body. If you don’t have these tools in your toolbox, you can buy them from the market. In addition to these tools, you will need a sturdy support rod to hold the hood upright. You can take a steel rod or use a 4x4 beam of the woodwork if you have one. Also, you will need some blankets to rest the corners of the hood on the windshield. You shouldn’t take chances with the large and heavier hood of your car.

Remove The Old Hood

Start with removing the hood bolts that you can easily find on either side of the hood. It is where you will need a helping hand to hold the hood while you take off the bolts. If you are using a steel bar or a wooden plank to hold the hood, you should make sure that it is safely secured. The hood bolts are usually placed closest to the windshield on the hood corners. But some cars have their hoods opening from the windshield to the bumper. Check 1970 Chevelle hood bolts before unscrewing.

Secure the windshield with blankets to rest the corners of the hoods on the blankets. Also, you need to be careful about the hood slipping from blankets and cracking the windshield or chipping the body paint. Once the hood is released from the body, you can take it off the vehicle body and place it on the ground. Here you will need the help of a friend who can assist you in taking the bulky hood off your car.

Installing A New Hood

It is a new 1970 Chevelle hood that you will set on your vehicle. Carefully remove the new part from its packing and check that all the necessary bolts are available with the packing. Also, see that the hood has no scratches or bruises. Once you are satisfied with the condition and necessary bolts provided with the hood, you can start the process of installing a new hood on your old model car.

Hold the new hood carefully and set it upright on the vehicle to tighten the bolts. Here you need to be extra careful with the hood if you are working alone. Or you can ask someone to help. Fix the new hood on the vehicle as prescribed in the product packing. First, you need to fix the bolts and then set the mechanism of opening the hood from the inside. Second, you need to check that it is working perfectly.

Make Necessary Adjustments

Close the new 1970 Chevelle hood to check whether it needs adjustment. The first sign of misalignment is spacing between the adjacent parts like the front bumper cover and fenders. And the best way of checking spacing on the new hood is to run your finger through the seam. Stop where your finger gets pinched or goes into the seam to check the alignment. It shows that the alignment is off and you need to adjust the new hood on the vehicle body.

How To Make Necessary Adjustments On Hood?

Get your tools and the steel rod to hold the hood upright. Loosen the bolt of the side where you need to set the hood and move the hood in the right position. Depending on the misalignment, you can set it closer to the front bumper or the windshield. Once the adjustment is done, you can close the hood and check it again for alignment. Also, get ready to repeat the adjustment process, if you are unable to do it right the first time.

Should I Go To A Vehicle Body Shop?

If you want to replace a badly damaged hood, it is better to go to a body shop where a trained mechanic will remove the damaged hood with the necessary tools and care. But if you are replacing the existing bumper with a new 1970 Chevelle hood simply to enhance the visual appeal of your car, you can try it on your own.

What Is The Cost Of A Hood?

It is an expensive part but you can get a new piece at a discounted price from online auto parts sellers. Also, it is a necessary part as it covers the engine and other necessary parts of a car. It will keep the mechanics safe in the event of a minor collision. If the hood of your car is damaged or has loosened its shine and strength, you should consider changing the hood to keep your car new forever.