Topic: Hood insulation in 69s & 70s

[BillEBobb]

There have been at least couple of posts on this forum (http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=2632.msg26633#msg26633) regarding underhood insulation on 69 & 70 cars.

While perusing the current MCA guidelines for judging I came across the following:

Y. Underside of Hood: Same color as exterior. Hood insulation on A/C non-ram air models and
all Grandé ... 2
Workmanship, condition and cleanliness ............................................................................................... 2

SO, here we go again kicking that same poor old dead horse -- do I install the repop hood insulation I own on my air conditioned convertible OR do I leave it off and risk being "dinged" for the 2 points at the upcoming Grand Nationals in Oklahoma?

I would actually prefer to leave it off and show off the beautiful Acapulco blue paint!

[BillEBobb]

People I really do need a reply to this question.  I've written MCA and was told that the "Hood Insulation" issue is correct as stated in their judging guidelines.

I know that Nelson, 69GrandeCJ, has stated that all Grandes did come with the hood insulation.  It's the San Jose small block, non ram-air, air conditioned cars that I question whether or not came new with hood insulation blankets.

[69RavenConv]

I'll start by stating that I am no expert. Having said that, my father owned a royal maroon 1969 convertible in the early 70's. F-code 302-2V, 3-spd, standard black interior with two options: AM/FM stereo and air conditioning. I don't remember any under-hood insulation on that car.  But it was many years ago and I was a teenager so my memory may well be faulty...

[J_Speegle]

Bill took a look at what is currently in the files and like other details I think that we can't always draw conclusions when something is missing from a picture. I've got many Mach I and Grande's where the hood pad has been removed or fell apart over the years - sometimes the clips were left on others they are missing. Honestly I can't say for sure that those cars never had a pad.

With that said - I do have examples of F and H code non- Mach or Grande's with AC with the pad. No examples from San Jose cars currently but I would think that if it were a requirement at the other plants San Jose would have also followed that requirement. Most of the differences between plants normally are related to suppliers or worker practices not a difference of how a car was equipped.

Just my opinion

[BillEBobb]

Thanks Jeff!

Looks like I'll be putting the re-pop blanket back on for the GN show.  I hate them because they're so thick that they actually scuff up the air cleaner.

I'm going to lay an old bed sheet (for protection) over the engine to see if the hood insulation will take shape before loading the car on the trailer for the show.

[69grandecj]

Bill:

You could also find another lid and use that to drive the car with.  Then at the show you can swap it out.

[J_Speegle]

A really nice original example of the hood insulation came in on a 69 NJ Mach I so I got a couple of pictures of it the other day. Thought I should share - rarely find one in this condition

BTW there was a NOS one on ebay the other day.  The auction was one where you had to pick it up locally and was being sold with a NOS hood. Yes I tried  to separate the two





A shot of the retaining clip and the wire (though the wires are no longer tapped to it) retainer




Shot of the rear cut out and the hood scoop light wiring

[drummingrocks]

Jeff, the clip you show in one of the pictures--is that for the turn signal/hoodscoop wiring?  And you said the wires were originally taped to it?

[J_Speegle]

Jeff, the clip you show in one of the pictures--is that for the turn signal/hoodscoop wiring?  And you said the wires were originally taped to it?

If you'll notice in the bottom picture the wires "naturally" travel in that direction as they go towards the drivers side of the engine compartment where they connect. Similar to the 67-68 turn indicator wires. Would guess that it was attached to the clip with two pieces of tape (fabric) one at each end of the clip like the cowl pinch weld wire clip on 69's. 

Would have to check Dearborn and San Jose examples to see if they used the same routing and clip

[Kid Autolite]

My hood off of my 69 Cobra Jet still has the original insulation pad on it.  I'll post some pictures of it.  Notice the cutout for the under hood light!  Mine has that too!

[7Lscjracer]

When I bought my car in spring '81, it had no hood pad and a very dirty hood underside.
Took a lot of scrubbing with solvent soaked rags to bring back the nice paint finish.
It was the early hood with the 4 cut outs, and the hood mounted scoop had a rubber flap to keep water out.
It was years of soiling, if it had a pad, it would have been removed when the car was pretty new to have allowed the time to get that dirty.