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Two questions...first, does anyone know for sure, are there any differences in the sheetmetal thickness between a '76 and a '79 factory hood? It may be my imagination, but my '79 hood seems thinner than my spare '76 hood that I am going to sell. If the '76 is a better hood, I will remove the "FORD" letters swap it out and sell the '79 hood.
Second, how do you tell if a hood is factory? (where is the part number stamped, etc.) If there are no sheetmetal differences, I may have a cheap, aftermarket hood...in which case I need to swap it out anyway....
I haven't notice any difference in thickness on the ones I have swapped out. Just the 79 would have the letteres on the hood and the older ones didn't. I think you might have an aftermarket one.
No answers to your questions, but some observations.I just checked all of my hoods ,(4 '73-'77s and 5 '78-'79s) All 4 old style hoods are in good shape but 3 of the 5 newer ones are getting rusty around the front corners and some of the inner support stampings. This might just be coinidence or it might say something about the different style hoods. And try as I might I couldn't find a part number on any of them. I also found out my '79 F250 has a '73-'77 hood.
Last edited by Bgasrickshaw; Oct 26, 2008 at 03:54 PM.
Reason: sp
You could have a reproduction hood? Those almost always have thinner steel. I cant say that I know the difference, but on some years they put the emissions stickers on the sides, that might help narrow it down.
Thanks for the replies. I do have emissions stickers on the drivers inside of the hood, but after taking a closer look, it looks as though the outer skin has been replaced...there is evidence of the inner structure being straightened and it is not welded very well to the outer skin...
I've decided to definately swap it, drilling the holes for the FORD letters won't be any problem.