Anyone had experience with Maier Racing fiberglass parts?

[AlanCasida]

There is a Maier Racing teardrop hood for a 65 Mustang for sale locally and I was wondering if anyone has used or seen their stuff and how they stack up against Crites quality wise. He wants about the same as a Crites hood minus shipping. It is supposed to be new also. Thanks.

[jayb]

Years ago (like 30 years ago) I bought some Maier racing fiberglass parts for my '68 Shelby.  They did not fit very well, and I ended up repairing the stock parts rather than using the Maier racing parts.  It was so long ago that you probably can't make a call based on my experience, but there it is...

[ScotiaFE]

I have a Maier Teardrop hood sitting on my 68 Fastback.
Good Stuff and looks great.
I've also got some Crites glass stuff, bumpers for a Fairlane which is good also, but I think you will like the Maier hood a lot.

[AlanCasida]

Well I went and got it. It's a pretty good looking piece. The only big issue that I didn't notice or think about when I looked at it is the back of the hood, from side to side, is flat where normally it has a kind of crown to it. I don't know if will arch up any when I bolt it on or not. I don't have the hinges on my car yet so it is just sitting there.  For $350 it is worth the risk.
     

[rcodecj]

On the fiberglass hoods that I've had they all had a bit of a bow from front to back  on the sides. I assumed because of the length. I've never seen it side to side on a hood, but all of the fenders I've seen had to have a bit of massaging too. It is fiberglass! 

[ScotiaFE]

Looks Good.
Kinda taking away the stealth look though.
Lots of room to go up.
That's why I got one.
The big holes need a fancy screen fitted.
I have a couple of ideas. I'm thinking alum cut to fit and mold to the curve in and out and sandwich in the screen and some rivits/screws
to hold it all together.
I'm not really allowed to work on the Stang until I get some house projects done. I've been putting them off for a while now.

[Heo]

The flat rear of the hood is probably
beacuse it was stored laying down on
a flat surface .A tip for fibreglass parts
mount them as soon as you can after
you get them they change shape if stored
wrong.Buy from a company that sell much
so you get fresh parts that not were used to
wheight down shelfs

[AlanCasida]

I put the hinges on tonight and bolted it on. It is not completely flat on the back but it does have a flatter crown than the cowl. It is about 3/8" lower in the middle. I wonder if it would be possible to rearch it by setting the center on some blocks and weighing down the sides. I am imagine a body shop can fix it but it is a little frustrating .
 

[jayb]

Just put a little bumper under the middle of the hood to space it up, Alan.  Seems to me I had to do that with my Crites hood on my Galaxie.  A little L-bracket with a piece of fuel line on it would work.  Or you could use a factory hood bumper for the front, just bolt it in place in the center of the cowl at the back where the hood comes down.  That will surely solve the problem.

[ScotiaFE]

Hmmm... Yours already has screens.
Mine came with no screens. drat...
Mined if I trouble you for a pic of the underside.
Just to see how it may have been done by Maier or where they put on by PO.

[Heo]

Space it up to the right shape or with just a
little Moore crown than it should have. And
put it out in the sun  or some other heat
source.Not hot but real warm.Like you still
can touch it....45 degrees Celsius It will take a while but eventually
it will take the right shape
And when you paint it make sure they
don't put it in an Owen. I have a friend
that run a fiberglass company an i have
seen many fibreglass parts ruined by
the painter that have put them in the
Owen

[AlanCasida]

Thanks for the input, guys. I was thinking about some sort of bumper for the back but didn't know what that would do to the paint if it flexed every time I opened the hood. Maybe I worry too much sometimes. 

[lovehamr]

If you use the heat treatment that heo described then it'll take a permanent set and won't flex every time you open or close the hood.  The problem that I see is that using the sun to do the work is in inexact science at best.