I have a 1970 maverick and had a small fender bender a while back. The front tip of my hood dented inward and it is costing me an arm and a leg to get it fixed. I was thinking about just changing out the hood for one I just found on craigslist but I would like to know if I need mounting equipment or if I can just use the parts from the damaged hood. Also, is there anything I should look for when checking out the new hood? It looks like it was recently painted but I'm afraid I don't know enough to know if there is rust hiding beneath the new paint. Any advice? Thanks. Also, if anyone out there has a spare grille for a 70 let me know.
It's hard to say if your original latch will still work, without seeing it, but if your hood still closes and unlatches without binding, it should probably be OK. If you are worried about rust and body fill, you can take a small flexible fridge magnet and see if it will stick. If it does not stick, it's a sign there is some plastic filler or body work below the paint. The front edge of these hoods are notorious for rotting out! Be sure to look at the underside of the front edge, too!! Hope this helps.
Based on the communication with the seller he says that it has holes on the front end where the letters F O R D used to be but he doesnt have the letters or the molding. If I'm not mistaken the 1970 model didn't have letters or molding. How difficult would it be to cover up the holes w bondo or something? Is it advisable? Im assuming this came off a 76 or newer when letters were on the front end of hood.Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I got a few estimates to get my hood fixed and they are in the $300 range, something that with my current unemployment status I cannot afford.
Actually $300 sounds cheap to me. By the time you buy a different hood and fix what's wrong with that one and have it painted it will still be $300 or more. I don't think anyone would even paint a hood without and bodywork for less than $200.
With what you have said about money, I agree with Paul. Buy the hood and bolt it on. Worry about piant and letters later. It will be cheaper to but the letters than weld up the holes. Also, when the time comes just scuff the hood and paint it the correct color to match your car. But for now, at least it's dark blue, to too far off from your paint color.
