1929-1939 Cowl Hood Lace with Wire Installation
By Stephen Kassis
Hood lace with a wire insert is what protects the cowl and hood on early Chevrolet cars & trucks. After two years of working with the manufacturer, we have been able to make an exact reproduction of hood lace with wire insert (FS-285) used on 1929-1939 Chevrolet (and most other GM) cars & trucks. This hood lace comes with the wire inserted into it and the fabric is 48” long. The wire insert is 52” long which leaves 2” of wire at each end for anchoring to the cowl (on some models in the mid-1930’s the wire type hood lace is also used on radiator shells). The color of the fabric is a dark brown and each piece has the same contours and dimension of the originals. We are proud to offer this quality reproduction to our customers.
Hood lace with wire is not difficult to install. The cowl lacing is mounted in two different methods, depending on the year of the vehicle. Early cars & trucks were mounted with the wire pushed through a hole in the cowl and doubled back to anchor each end. All applications used a small hook (AF-277) to draw the wire tight for a clean installation. Later versions require a screw and clip at each end to anchor the hood lacing.
Early Installations:
- Locate the small hole in the recess on the side of the cowl. This will be used later in the installation.
- Look for two to three holes in the groove on top of the cowl near the hood center rod. (If there is only one hole at each end large enough for a machine screw, refer to the Later Installation instructions.)
- Push the wire through the top of the cowl through the hole that is nearest to the hood center rod. From underneath the dash, use needle nose pliers and double the wire back and out of the hole furthest away from the hood center rod. Bend the hood lace down to lay flat on the cowl.
- Locate the hole closest to the bottom of the cowl. Trim the fabric of the hood lace (Do not cut the wire) back to the hole and remove the excess fabric. Bend the wire just enough to push it through the lowest hole on the cowl. Pull the wire with the pliers through the lower cowl as tight as possible. Note: you may have to trim additional fabric from the wire. As before, use needle nose pliers and double the wire back and out of the hole furthest away from the lower hole. Keep the wire as tight as possible before bending at 90 degrees to lock it in place. Trim excess after pulling wire to outside and fold flat under hood lace.
- The hole located in step 1 is for a small tension hook (AF-277). This hook will be used as final tightening of the hood lace for a clean installation. Align the hood lace center wire with the groove in the cowl. Poke a small hole in the hood lace (next to the wire) directly in line with the small hole in the recess of the cowl. Push the threaded end of the hook through the hole with the hook end over the wire. Install washer and nut and tighten down until the hood lace is taut.
Later Installations (with a screw anchor at each end):
The only difference between the early and later versions is how the ends of the wire is anchored. Later installations had a sheet metal or machine screw and clip to hold the end of the wire.
- Make a secure loop in the wire at one end. Mount this end with a screw and clip (DS-106R) nearest the hood center rod. Pull tight across the cowl to the lower hole.
- Trim back the fabric (not the wire) to the lower hole. Pull as tight as possible. Make another secure loop in the wire and insert the screw and clip.
- The hole located in recess on the side of the cowl is for a small tensioning hook (AF-277). This hook will be used as final tightening of the hood lace for a clean installation. Align the hood lace center wire with the groove in the cowl. Poke a small hole in the hood lace (next to the wire) directly in line with the small hole in the recess of the cowl. Push the threaded end of the hook through the hole with the hook end over the wire. Install washer and nut and tighten down until the hood lace is taut.
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