How I did it.
I ended up with a hood from Dale too.
As with almost any product except Kent Wilcox, they may use different vendors to produce them. A member who sells em on eBay from time to time gets a bulk order from the UK.
Dale had switched fab guys using his molds taken from a original LAT hood and it is far superior to the originals I have seen.
Having a round corner car and since one size is built to fit all there is substantial fitting to be done.
Required and light belt sander and several 120 grit belts if you are not brave like me. Paper Tyvek one piece overalls and face eye and lung protection.
I used some advice from members Defsailor. He suggested a bungee cord hanging system to hang the hood from in the many refits. I also got two longer matching 1/4 28 TPI bolts and made them into studs to not have to find the holes repeatedly. I used four of them and nuts and this made it much easier.
I started on the front leading edge of the hood, all edges were at least 1/2 to 5/8 larger then the hood so be prepared to frost a big area with dust. When sanding, I used blue masking tape to assure a good line and even cut on the area next to the Sunbeam letters "remove them" and protect the paint corners with layers of tape as this will give you fudge factor and the hood will not nick them. Be sure to have a pre fitment in the forward slot of the hinge slotted bolt bracket you can then always move it back later. Getting the curves right and a good feel for how fast the cut happens is the big reason for the 120 grit.
When happy with the front and the curves easier with a colored felt marker then tape do one side at a time and use the blue tape as a cut too line laid on while test fitting. "note protect all paint edges as a fresh 90 degree hood edge is rather sharp" me I always did a quick edge knock down between fitments.
After I got it totally fitted I had my broken arm problem then I became like the one armed wall paper hanger all these projects and I had to ask my wife to open jars etc for me
A local car guy and long term member Rick J. aka Tootech on forum helped me with the two hands required fiddly hood latch adjustment.
"remove the secondary latch" as getting it stuck is not fun.
Now, I am still in the final stages. The back crown of the hood is subject to change after a bake in the sun in a open position "tougher when black" After baking yesterday for couple hours in the sun its back to the garage. Now she sits with a small wood in the middle and lots of weight trying to get over the memory of the f/g. Suggested was a glue between the liner.
Put some pics up later. Still working on a good grille opening mesh not going with the period slathered in goo method. I worked way to hard at fitment to finish the job like dat
