Bad day

As I get into my jeep, I notice the windshield wiper switch (that I JUST replaced) is sitting crooked. I turn it back into place and see a white spark through the one switch hole that isn't occupied, and since my linkage is broken at the moment, I removed the fuse going to the switch. When I tried to tighten the switch nut, I felt behind the dash and the switch came apart in my hand. Awesome.

So I'm driving to work this morning...nice and dark outside with my one headlight on after I finally decided to drop the cash and upgrade to a better headlight setup on my '69 CJ-5. Last night I had opened the hood to give the wiring a look to make sure I knew where I stood.

I never re-latched the hood (I think you know where this is going).

At about 55 mph, my hood slams upward into my windshield. THANK GOD I wasn't in heavy traffic, and I was able to pull over into the fourth lane and re-latch the hood. As I drive under a couple streetlamps I can see the massive 1 1/2' dent where the raised part of the hood hit the windshield, and the paint that was knocked off.

I still didn't know just how bad it was until I got on base and started to feel wind over the windshield--my Bestop soft top was coming loose. I pull over, and there is way more slack than there should be (usually all the tension is in the back. I reattach it, get ready to drive back home to switch vehicles, and of course it comes off again, causing me to have to hold it in place as I drove down the road.

When I finally get home, I open the hood again, reseat the right hinge that had popped out, and it doesn't close quite as easily as normal (this was on the passenger side). Closed, I can see that the back part of the hood on the driver's side is sticking out some, so it's obvious that the hood was bent out of shape a bit (not to mention, ME).

So not only do I have to figure out how the hell I'm going to fix the dent and re-bend the hood back into shape, but I have absolutely no idea what color code the once-beautiful restored paint on my hood is (the guy who restored it is dead). The windshield frame was apparently tweaked somehow, effectively loosening the distance between the top of the hood and the rear of the car, but I can't see where. The front of the soft top is cut in 3 places (although I hated that tan top anyway).

So I'm not really looking for pity; I just cannot believe that this really happened; there were a few minutes there where I honestly thought this was a bad dream. This was a beautiful Jeep before, and I'm really worried that taking it to a body shop is going to lead to an off-colored paint job, too. I have no idea where I'm going to start.

Any ideas on the best thing to put on the bare metal on the hood to prevent rust until I can paint it?

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UPDATE: PICS --> http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/3148157/2/CJ5/damage?h=cb4544

 

I have days like that. Hope you get it all fixed without too much problems.

 

Could have been worse...

Used hoods are generally available - often under $50 or even free. Paint shops can match colors with optical scanner if shown a sample.

If you can't see the problem with the W/s, I would suspect the hinges may be tweaked. The rubber seal to the cowl possibly could be shimmed to restore top tension?

 

You could read this book:



It describes how to remove metal damage of this type without filler. I own it and have read it.

 

Yeah, I'm really worried about getting an accurate paint match. I needed to get the color figured out anyway so I can touch up a few scratches, as well as the huge new ones the hood put in the area between the hood and the w/s. Pretty sure flat black would devalue my beaut quite a bit.

As for the windshield, the first thing I looked at was the rubber cowls, and they all looked fine. I inspected the windshield all over, and I can't find any instances of buckling anywhere. At first, the right windshield latch was way too easy to open, but now it's tight like it was before. Any suggestions for how to shim it back if that's my only option?

And what do I do about the bare metal on the windshield in the mean time?

 

How much bare metal? Clear fingernail polish works really well on small areas to seal and keep from rusting. Comes off easy afterward.

 

The geometry of the hinges and latches means a tiny difference there will change the the windshield angle considerably. Perhaps the metal of the cowl has been pushed down slightly, underneath the gasket? The hinges have a solid iron "leg" that goes up inside the W/s frame several inches. Perhaps that is bent slightly.

I have done quick and dirty shimming to tighten a rattley W/s, by putting some thin rubber gasket material over or under the cowl gasket. A new cowl gasket with fresher resiliency would do the same probably, if the old one is hardened and compressed.

 

Total...maybe half the size of the palm of your hand. Enough to matter.

 

I feel your pain.
When I had a solid lifter engine I was running the valve-lash in a hurry because some friends of mine were gathering up at the river for a day of Jeeping fun. I finished up, cleaned up and packed up for the trip and a couple of miles outside of town I became acutely aware that I had forgotten to latch the hood back down. I was made aware of my mistake when the hood came flying up, smashed my windshield then took off flying over my Jeep for a sliding trip down the highway. I continued driving for a moment thinking to myself, “Did that just happen?” I decided that when I could look down and see my engine that yes, it did indeed happen and I needed to go back and find my hood.
Luckily my Jeeps a beater, there’s nothing “pristine” about it. A few more dents and rattle can patches actually adds some character.

 

If you are taking it to a shop, tape around the damage, feather the paint some and spray some rattle can primer on the bare metal . That will protect it till you get it in the shop.

 

Use primer/sealer. Regular primer will allow water through.

 

Pretty good size, but if you have any clear fingernail polish floating around it will work until you can get it painted. I have a wife and 2 girls so it is very plentiful around here. I covered a few some years back and still no rust.

 

Me too.

 

Would cosmoline work maybe under some taped on plastic sheet till the permanent repair can be made? As far as matching the paint color my PPG paint dealer has a phone book sized color selector. I'd suggest taking the book out in the sun once you have narrowed down the candidates. I think that even if it is a tiny bit different once you paint the whole hood it might not be visible.

I almost lost the hood on mine the other day due to low brain activity. I did have the top fly off a VW Thing and ruin a good convertible frame once. I had the bad dream thing too.

 

If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the one to go wrong - murphy's law
we all have had a bad day when it comes to vehicles . good thing you made it home

 

Colonial,
I have a hood and will be traveling thru MD this Sunday. If you are near I-70/I-95 maybe we can work a deal.
It would be best to reply to cbmullen@hotmail.com

 

Yeah, I'm thankful I made it home safe. And after some of your stories, I realize it could have been much worse.