Cobra R Hood On Car I Bought Shakes While Driving

[from6to8]

I bought a 95 and the hood shakes while driving. I haven't driven it much since I bought it a few months ago and I'm thinking the shake is more so at speeds of around 55-60 as I cruised bring it home on the little over 3 hr drive. The noticable shake is also at the very top middle of the hood, where the hood begins in the middle of the cowl as you are looking at it while driving. I googled something about pins and read a few things about some guys having/wanting to use pins with fiberglass hoods. I just wanted to see what you guys thoughts were about the matter and rather my hood is a product of it being light (lighter than my cervini's stalker hood)?

Not sure rather some aftermarket hoods are made lighter or not. My cervini's is fiberglass as well but it's heavier than that cobra R hood. Also and I have to double check, but it appears that the previous owner or one of the owners put some black , a black liquid thick glue-like substance on the pass side part of the hood where it secures to the bracket. That may have something to do with it as well.

Ok I stopped when I typed the last sentence to go check the brackets. On the side where the black epoxy looking stuff was used, the bracket where the bracket from the body of the car attaches to the end bracket of the hood, it wasn't torqued. I torqued it down definitely got some good turns on it so from that aspect of it it's much much better secured. I probably won't get to drive the car till I take it in a few days to get the header gasket on driver's side changed. I'll see it if still shakes. I did notice also and there are some images below. It appears they had the center section of the hood cut out. Not sure if it was bought from someone like that already or what. Maybe the car had a different motor in the car and the 302 was just put in or back in to sell it, not sure. Anyway maybe if it still shakes some, maybe the hood is more flimsy and lighter than it would have been had it not been cut out? I like my cervini's hood and also like the Cobra R as well. If my other 95 sells ( wrecked) then I guess I may leave the cervini's on there though I'd like to keep it if I can and may just give a discount off the car minus the hood. I may need the Cobra R if I have intake clearance issues when I do my 351 so will just have to see. Anyway let me know what ya guys think.

 

[Boosted92LX]

I had a 97 with that cobra r hood and it was solid as a rock, but it didn't have all of that mat'l cut out either. The loose bolts may have come from the vibration caused by the structure of the hood being cut away. If the bolts back out again, try some blue loctite. That should keep them put.

 

[from6to8]

I had a 97 with that cobra r hood and it was solid as a rock, but it didn't have all of that mat'l cut out either. The loose bolts may have come from the vibration caused by the structure of the hood being cut away. If the bolts back out again, try some blue loctite. That should keep them put.

Yea could have possibly become untorqued I guess. Will keep an eye on

yea not sure if their is an authentic Cobra R hood then the knock offs. I know with Saleen you can measure their product vs the knock offs.

 

[95BlueStallion]

My guess is the hood flexes because of the underside being cut out. That being said, I would definitely use hood pins if you plan to keep it. It just not worth the risk, as it has lost half of its structural integrity.

 

[from6to8]

thanks for the insight. I may try a few different things/swaps from the other car to the one I bought and even my cervini's and see if it clears. I will go from there

 

[RangerJoe]

Not directly related to your problem, but I rode in a buddy's Shelby a few weeks back. The factory hood was very shaky going down the interstate. I asked him if it was a glass hood or metal, he said metal, but I never confirmed it.

Joe

 

[from6to8]

Not directly related to your problem, but I rode in a buddy's Shelby a few weeks back. The factory hood was very shaky going down the interstate. I asked him if it was a glass hood or metal, he said metal, but I never confirmed it.

Joe

Yeah my cervinis hood on my other 95 I never had that problem at all but I think tightening up what I did to the brackets earlier should help I will know in a few days

 

[mikestang63]

Anyone that has a fiberglass hood should use hood pins- unless you enjoy seeing your hood lift at 50mph.

 

[from6to8]

Anyone that has a fiberglass hood should use hood pins- unless you enjoy seeing your hood lift at 50mph.

My cervinis didn't do it on my other car

 

[mikestang63]

My cervinis didn't do it on my other car

neither did many guys until the hood flew up.

 

[from6to8]

neither did many guys until the hood flew up.

Their latch probably weakened over time

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

What I didn't see was whether or not a SN 95 car has hood insulator bushings like every car I've ever seen. Does your car have the 4 rubber bushings that line the top of the fenders still in place? I'd guess that if they were originally there the PO removed them to get the hood to sit better. W/O those things in place, any hood including the factory steel one will shake back and forth at speed.

 

[from6to8]

What I didn't see was whether or not a SN 95 car has hood insulator bushings like every car I've ever seen. Does your car have the 4 rubber bushings that line the top of the fenders still in place? I'd guess that if they were originally there the PO removed them to get the hood to sit better. W/O those things in place, any hood including the factory steel one will shake back and forth at speed.

Thanks i will definitely check.
I csn see how that could effect it. Im sure what i found yesterday helped too though. Will know day or so

 

[from6to8]

Yes mine does. About to drive it now I will check fort still vibrating

Still has the rubber bushings on

 

[Mustang5L5]

The problem is two reasons really. Weight, and height.

These lights hoods just really don't have a lot of mass, so any movement in the hinges or latch will also easily move the hood because it's so light. So any vibrations from the front suspension transfer up to the hinges on that side and into the hood.

Also, the higher the hood, the greater the effect just because of the distance from the axis of rotation. What you'd barely notice on a low, stock hood, now is 1/2" of movement when the hood is 3" tall.

Since there is no "beefy hinge" and latch option, not much you can do really. Lightweight, tall hoods are gonna shake. You're only hope it to try and restrict it with pins or trying to tighten up the hinges from side to side movement. Unfortunately..they are pretty wobbly

 

[from6to8]

The problem is two reasons really. Weight, and height.

These lights hoods just really don't have a lot of mass, so any movement in the hinges or latch will also easily move the hood because it's so light. So any vibrations from the front suspension transfer up to the hinges on that side and into the hood.

Also, the higher the hood, the greater the effect just because of the distance from the axis of rotation. What you'd barely notice on a low, stock hood, now is 1/2" of movement when the hood is 3" tall.

Since there is no "beefy hinge" and latch option, not much you can do really. Lightweight, tall hoods are gonna shake. You're only hope it to try and restrict it with pins or trying to tighten up the hinges from side to side movement. Unfortunately..they are pretty wobbly

Yeah mine still has the wobble but it's right under the lip of the cowl as I am looking at it it's just you know we have some movement there but it could be from the modifications mostly

 

[OneWheelPeel]

I have a small cowl hood that fiberglass with pins on all four corners. It shakes a lot on the highway. I think its normal since fiberglass hoods are so light and flexible.

 

[from6to8]

Any ag

I have a small cowl hood that fiberglass with pins on all four corners. It shakes a lot on the highway. I think its normal since fiberglass hoods are so light and flexible.

I have a small cowl hood that fiberglass with pins on all four corners. It shakes a lot on the highway. I think its normal since fiberglass hoods are so light and flexible.

I have a small cowl hood that fiberglass with pins on all four corners. It shakes a lot on the highway. I think its normal since fiberglass hoods are so light and flexible.

I have a small cowl hood that fiberglass with pins on all four corners. It shakes a lot on the highway. I think its normal since fiberglass hoods are so light and flexible.

I have a small cowl hood that fiberglass with pins on all four corners. It shakes a lot on the highway. I think its normal since fiberglass hoods are so light and flexible.

Any images?

And does anyone know what this film is on my rear windshield? On the inside it is and when you rub it off it's flaky. I thought it was dust but almost like when plastic is old and crumbles

 

[from6to8]

Sorry in bad area signal not so good. Pic didn't post

 

[LarsD]

I'm with Mike on the pin thing. I've had a hood come open on me, it is NOT fun.