Fitting old to new (part two)
One of the problems I've run into is fitting old original to new. They should fit fine.. But.. What tractor was the new part modeled after?
Was it a 64 or later in the 70's? Checking my hood to the new dash there was quite a bit difference in angles, weight and so forth. That's not a show stopper. I've shown how to make a pattern to use while shaping the hood braces to match the front end. Now it's time to turn to the rear end of the hood. They are differences in shape since I'm replacing the nose. My old hood was badly warped. The hood had a piece of rope as the safety to keep it from flopping over. That issue will be resolved later. Why was my hood warped? The brace welds as previously mentioned where broken. They get fixed while I put the hood back into it's original shape and mating it to the new nose.
Are you still with me. Don't fall asleep yet.. :laughing:
He we go. Making a pattern for the front dash to hood.
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Now I use positive pattern of the dash and compare it to the rear inside of the hood. WAY OFF... way off. No problem..
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Found several causes of the warping. broken welds. Five out of eight where bad causing the hood to flex. Easy fix.. After tacking the welds back in place the hood was still way out of alighment.
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I had to cut the hinge brace bracket out of the hood brace in order to bend the hood brace to conform to my pattern. I later weld it back in.
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One of a welder best friend is the welders spoon. It can be homeaid by use a flattened piece of copper tubing. I have two spoons. One curved and one hammered flat. Here you see a couple of holes drilled into the hood for reasons unknown. Easy fix.. Grind off the paint around the holes and a good grounding point. Place your spoon flat against the hole on the OUTSIDE and weld in the hole from the inside. This leaves less cleanup on the outside with minimal finish grinding. I have some side pieces that are rotted with rust near the bolt points I'll repair the same way and redrill the holes.
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Now to clean up the hood, prime it and move on to other pieces that need attention.
:thumbsup: