Store a Steel Skylark Hood on Convertible Top?

Discussion in 'Wrenchin' Secrets' started by Dan Gerber, Jan 3, 2022.

  1. Dan Gerber

    Dan Gerber Founders Club Member

    A friend of mine suggested storing my stock steel ’72 Skylark hood on top of the convertible top when we pull the engine out of the car. The top (as well as the rear-side windows) will be up and covered with moving blankets. That same friend stored the steel hood of his restored 1960 Cadillac DeVille on the flattop roof when he recently pulled the engine. I also heard of other people doing the same with their sedan or hardtop cars in the past.


    The first time I removed my Skylark hood I stored it on top of the car, but with the top and windows down, and the front seat headrests removed. I wasn’t too concerned about it because it was before I restored the car (had 24 year old seat covers, top, paint, etc). That didn’t work very well because it was difficult getting in and out of the car, etc. The second time I removed the hood, I (and a couple volunteers) carried it through my small L-shaped kitchen through the dining room to the living room. It was a little bit of a tight fit in the kitchen but it all worked out.


    I’m asking because if I pull the engine out in my garage (instead of the shop), the hood must be stored in the living room. That’s doable but a little tougher now because my “volunteers” and I are almost 20 years older, and definitely not as physically fit. So holding the hood in a vertical position and snaking it through the kitchen and a low door jamb is a potential “back-breaker" for us older guys.


    Anyway, has anyone out there successfully stored a steel hood on the roof of a convertible top?
     
  2. Matt Knutson

    Matt Knutson Well-Known Member

    Storing the hood on a hardtop is standard practice. I guess it would be o'k on a convertible top with a lot , a LOT, of padding, but, I doubt I would do it unless foe short amount of time. Maybe store it outside garage and put it inside at night.
     
  3. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    Hang it on the wall in the garage
     
    Dano likes this.
  4. rmstg2

    rmstg2 Gold Level Contributor

    As long as there is sufficient padding the roof is fine as long as the vehicle is inside, even a convertible!

    Bob H.
     
  5. 2dtrak

    2dtrak Gold Level Contributor

    I wouldn’t. A convertible top replacement is $2,500-$3k. And damaging the frame is even more costly. It’s getting harder to find people who are qualified to do it or even know how to work on and adjust the frame. As I get older I try to avoid mistakes and think of the repercussions if something goes wrong. I like the idea of storing it outside on its side when u have quality time in the garage. Why ask for trouble
     
  6. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    I contemplated this last week but I don’t have nearly enough padding to do it. My concern is indenting the vinyl. The hood isn’t heavy enough to do any damage unless you let it. So I put down a moving blanket and stored it on its side against the wall.
     
    Max Damage likes this.
  7. pbr400

    pbr400 68GS400

    Ahh, just lean it up against the side of the house. Stick the points in the ground real firmly. Lean a few bicycles or wheelbarrows up against it for security. It’ll be fine for a couple years…
    Patrick
     
  8. Nearing

    Nearing Well-Known Member

    Why take the risk? Hang it on the wall... easy to do.
     
    BUQUICK and 69canbuick like this.
  9. flh73

    flh73 Gold Level Contributor

    I did it, not heavy enough to do anything to the frame of the top. Moving blankets for padding. No ill affects to material and i have a white top. Sat there a month while I freshend up the engine bay.

    Just my 2cents, take it for what its worth.

    I'd be more concerned on a regular vinyl top leaving possible impressions that won't come out. lets face it convertibles need the material to move so a slight depression if it did occur after a few temp cycles would be back to normal.

    Whatever you do just keep the hood out harms way and wind. Good Luck!
     
  10. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    Leave the hood on.
     
  11. TAG

    TAG Well-Known Member

    Why not put it under the car for storage? If your pulling engine and doing something to it, youre not probably moving the car? And if need arises, it can be taken off during it and put back under.
     
  12. Dan Gerber

    Dan Gerber Founders Club Member


    Where on the ceiling or wall? See attached photos.

    Good suggestions if I had the space. Thank you.


    Garage Front.jpg Garage L Side.jpg Garage R Side.jpg Garage Rear.jpg
     
  13. Dan Gerber

    Dan Gerber Founders Club Member

    Thank you gentlemen. I think I like your answers best.

    Actually, I want to thank you all for taking the time to respond. I appreciate it.
     
  14. Dano

    Dano Platinum Level Contributor

    Hang. Prob. enough room if the ladders were hung vertical & GSCA sign gone. L-Brackets below are rubber covered and just there to hold it in place while hooking it onto the hangers (D-hooks) so I could easiky do it by myself. I used an eye hook @ the hood & J-hook w/rod connectors to put them together. Probably fancier than it needs to be. 20210121_111830.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2022
  15. Cutlass

    Cutlass Platinum Level Contributor

    Will have the similar situation and want to check if I can hang it to the ceiling.
    As my GS is offsite, would one of you guys be so king and measure the total lenght and width of a '70 GS hood.
    THX
     
  16. Dan Gerber

    Dan Gerber Founders Club Member

    You're right. I usually ask myself "What could possibly go wrong?" when contemplating a new (to me) process or method of doing something. Probably picked that up as a Quality Engineer and then a Material and Process Engineer during the last 32 years of my 46 year career at a major aircraft manufacturing facility in So Cal.
    I guess it turned me into a perpetual pessimist, maybe?

    For instance... Your ideas are good, although I worry about making those storage locations "earthquake proof" (like almost everything else in my garage). Yeah, I know... I haven't experienced a real "shaker" in my location in a about a decade, so why worry? Oh well...


    Thanks for your responses, though. That kind of info keeps me moving in the right direction.
     
  17. Dan Gerber

    Dan Gerber Founders Club Member


    Very interesting... Thanks to you and Nailhead in a 1967, I may have a viable alternative resolution to my original options (In the living room or on top of the convertible roof).
    If you don't mind, I'm going to PM you for detailed information regarding your hanger set-up, especially the hangers.

    Thanks again, Dano.
     
  18. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    Local upholstery shop,...get 12ft of 2in foam
    It's cheap,..it will be about 32in wide
    Two strips leave the center open turn hood painted side down,...done
     
    tubecatgs and Ryans-GSX like this.
  19. steve murray

    steve murray Well-Known Member

    I’m with Patrick on this one lol !
     
  20. Dan Gerber

    Dan Gerber Founders Club Member

    OK folks, the "Store a Steel Skylark Hood On Convertible Top?" question has been resolved. The hood is safely nestled in a few layers of moving blankets on the convertible top.... Safe and sound.

    I want to thank you all for the help. I really appreciate it. Also, I want to award Dano the prize for the "most clever hood storage procedure" suggestion, while I'm at it.
    (I'd insert a "thumbs up" emoji right here if we had one)
     
    Dano likes this.

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