I need to cut a hole in my steel hood for a tunnel ram setup.Any suggestions?I plan on laying it out with masking tape first,cutting inside the line with a jigsaw,and grinding to the line with an air grinder.Is there an easier way?

I see a problem in laying out a perfect circle with masking tape. My suggestion would be to get a sheet of vinyl perhaps, use a compass or if the hole needs to be bigger you can use the "string and marker" method to draw a larger circle on the sheet. Cut that circle out, carefully of course, perhaps by using a razor blade, then tape the sheet with the circle cut out of it onto your hood. THEN do what you proposed.

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-1978 El Camino-
www.geocities.com/sleepyli0n/MyCar.html

Kinda doubt if your actually cutting a circular 'hole' in the hood. With hood removed and manifold in place, layout pattern with string and tape leaving clearance for movement. Remove manifold and lay hood on opening and transfer pattern to area to be removed. Its that easy.

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Dave Bradley
www.corvetteforum.net/classics/d1_bradley (http://www.temp.corvetteforum.net/classics/d1_bradley)
'69 SS396 ragtop
'33 3W Coupe
'65 Vette BB Roadster

Hey guys,appreciate the response,you are right,the hole will be rectangular.Laying it out was not a big problem.What I'm concerned about is how to cut the metal without tearing up the hood.The hood is double thick,with the support structure,and it's not flat,it's a 70 Chevelle SS hood.Thanks.

I hope you give laying it out the respect it deserves. All I can say is measure ten times and cut once.

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1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

I second that advice of measure 10 times,then measure again.A plazma cutter wound be a great help here,but you need a steady hand.Then a die grinder to do the finish work

You wouldn't consider trading your domed SS hood for my flat hood, would you? It would be shame to cut up an OEM SS style hood. The tunnel ram certainly doesn't care what type of hood it's poking up through.

Please dont cut up that SS hood. The area you remove is going to be that whole domed area and then some

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Philip Mullaly
72 TPI El Camino
You can never fix a Ford,You can only work on them alot.
70 442 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/442lftsd.jpg)
The Z-meano (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Caminoside.jpg)
Cowl induction injection (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/tpienglft.jpg)

The SS hood is not in great shape,the hinge areas are welded up and the point on the nose is damaged.I would not cut up a nice SS hood.Thanks again.

Panic strikes the hearts of men. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/eek.gif