Hood louvers / vents on a '57?
 

I've had my truck together and running for a little while now, cruising around and getting little fiddly things dialed in. After getting my toe-in set up right it drives pretty well at 70-80 mph - but the hood drums pretty badly in the wind at that speed. Like, I can watch the sheet metal bouncing up and down a good 3/8" in the middle, edges staying put. It needs a vent.
Anyone have pictures / practical experience on this one? I can't decide if it would look cool or if the hood has other problems (missing bracing?) that is letting it flex / drum the way it is.

Re: Hood louvers / vents on a '57?
 

The TF bunch will have to answer that, I had my 57 panel up pretty fast and don't remember the hood shaking.

You might see if you can slip a folded piece of cardboard between the sheet metal and the brace at the back and see if that helps. The AD trucks came from the factory with something like that to cut down the vibration.

Say hi to that big white bearded Santa Clause looking cousin of mine Chuck Stahl if you see him around town. Don't offer to buy the beer though as he can cause a guy to go broke that way.

Re: Hood louvers / vents on a '57?
 

stepside jim modified his 57 hood like this and put medium density foam between the hood and brace
58/9 added a brace in the center of the hood but my 58 hood still moves a lot

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...541132&page=22

http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8a84733d.jpg

Re: Hood louvers / vents on a '57?
 

Helpful as ever, guys! Thank you!
Ogre, very helpful pic. I'll probably fab up a similar brace and see if I can tie it all together with sheet metal. Also confirms that my rear brace seems to have been abused somehow as the lip of it isn't flush & welded to the hood skin.

Re: Hood louvers / vents on a '57?
 

The name sounds familiar to me but I can't put a face to it. Is he working still, retired, own a local business...? If I see Santa Claus around, I gotta tell ya, I'll take my chances and buy him a beer :)

Re: Hood louvers / vents on a '57?
 

My 57 used to oilcan right in the middle at 55 or so, so much so that if it was raining a puddle would collect there. When I slowed up the water would run off. My 56 never did that. As far as I could tell it did no damage to the paint.

Re: Hood louvers / vents on a '57?
 

I bought an aftermarket support for a 57 Chevy sedan and installed on my 55 hood. Only had to cut a bit off and drill/install a couple nut-serts.

Cheers, Jim

Re: Hood louvers / vents on a '57?
 

stepside jim has a cnc plasma table, he made a lot of cool stuff on his truck with it

Re: Hood louvers / vents on a '57?
 

Mine did too after having the hood louvered, it must have stretched the sheetmetal a little bit. I added a 1/4 inch polyurethane pad about 1/3 of the way back on the brace, which really seemed to tighten things up

https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...fb&oe=5A314398