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I do have a question for you guys with a 51-54 Packard. If you open your hood up, and press up against the hinges, is the bracing bonded (attached) to the underside of the hood skin? It appears mine is only attached at the side, but not in the middle.

Not sure if the bonding or spot welds came loose at some point. As there is a lot of flex in the hood, and I am worried about it cracking the paint after it is sprayed. I can always as a flex agent the paint, but I figured the hood would be a little more stiff.

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Kev - your car is looking great. Perhaps the pictures below will help answer your question on hinges - thanks Frank

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So it appears that your underhood bracing is not bonded to the hood skin either in the middle. Or that is what it looks like to me in your picture.

I don't remember if 51-4 hoods had center brace & weld or not but 56 Carib does--all the way from back to front. Do remember seeing several hoods of various years with cracks or metal fatigue at the leading edge of hinge because the hinge needed lube. It might be a valid concern. It looks to be a simple matter to have a brace bent up and spot welded in--really easy now since your hood is still unfinished. The blanket would cover things so would be unseen and stock looking.

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That is much like my 56 hood. Not banded or if it was it has broken loose. The 56 hood has some flutter to it at speed and is also rather flimsy feeling upon opening and closeing.

When closeing the hood or the trunk do NOT slam it. There s no need to slam it like modern cars. Keep the hinges greased well. One reason i removed the hood ornament is because it takes nearly no effort at all to close the hood. THe hood dropped on my head one time during a rather breezy day.

OH!! The Carib had a hood brace!! Didn't know that. Where does it subtend at the front????

Both of my hoods (52 and 51) are spot welded only on the windshield side of the brace; there is a 1/4 inch gap on the front side. There is padding in the corners near the hinges...

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So the padding is wedged between the bracing and hood skin on in the corners?

My hood does not have this. I wonder if that is why it has so much flex to it.

Yes, and it looks like 2 layers, much like the padding material on the gas tank straps. 2 inches wide, 10 inches long, 2 layers, directly over the front bolt for the hinge.

The padding is non-structural. It won't add any support.

HH56's idea of a 56 Carib type support is most likely the best idea. Probably just JB Weld it to the under side of the hood. Why not?? That's my plan. The 56 Executive hood is very flimsy.