Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Ok, now that the Packard is up and running time to take care of some on-going issues. The hood on our Packard is not actually attached to the car. The places at the front and back of the hood, at either end of the hinge, are not secured.

How should the hood be attached to the car? I can see how it should fit in but what secures it to the car? One Packard mechanic who took a looks said we need a new hinge. To me the hinge itself seems to work ok. ??

Unfortunately the ill fitting hood has caused a number of scratches and areas requiring touch up around the hood :(

Bill,

There should be a front and a rear bracket that the curled around part of the hinge slides into. The brackets bolt to the cowl at the back and to the radiator shell at the front and are often deformed beyond easy repair. Reproductions are available from the San Diego region of PI. They also list them for sale on eBay at times.

Thanks for the reply...

I will post some pictures so you guys can see what our car has and let me know what I need to do....

Here is one closeup of the rear of the hinge and the mounting pount. I see how the hood rests on the mounting point but I am still uncertain what secures it... ?

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I really need to take a look at a mid 30's hood in person to see how it should be....

On a '36 Super Eight the hood is attached by 3 bolts under the dash, towards the front of the cowl. A '38 mounts the same way, only a little wider. Looking at my '38 Super Eight hood, it looks like you can just loosen the bolts up, and slide it backwards. I have no idea if Juniors are the same, but I'm sure someone here does.

My 38 JR has the same 3 bolts up under the dash

OK.. time to figure out my hood issue. So do you fellas think I am missing the attachment that bolts to the cowl? Does anyone have a schematic or pictures of what I might be missing?

On mine it does seem there is a place for the end of the hood to slide into but nothing secures it in place... ???

Thanks for the help on this one!!!!

Don't know about a 36 but my 38 jr those afore mentioned 3 bolts in the center section do the job but on my 41 110 the center slides under a part of the cowl and is secured only at the radiator end.

There is nothing that mechanically Secures the hood hinge to the car. As you have photo'd, the hood hinge sits on top of the front and rear thingy's that bolt to the cowl/radiator surround. They are not drilled to be adjustable. As Brian said, the San Diego region of PI reproduces these to maybe improve your fit to the hood hinge itself (which wears at this point, surprise, and not replaceable!), but the sad fact is this is an underengineered design and you simply need to get used to carefully raising and lowering your hood. Look at any 35-37 junior non-trailer queen and you will see scratches along the rear edge of the hood and along the cowl. The only mechanical attachment of the hood to the car is by the rod pivoted by the hood handles...