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Has anyone changed out the hood on a Prius Gen 1 ??

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by Sandy Meyers, Jun 8, 2019.

  1. Sandy Meyers

    Sandy Meyers Member

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    Has anyone changed out the hood out on a Prius Gen 1 ??

    My paint on the hood is completely beat up and chipped down to metal from my time in the desert on the I-10 Freeway. So many trucks coming up from Mexico and sandstorms out here beat the crap out of cars and windows.

    I’ve been watching local junkyards for a white hood and they’re out there, dirt cheap in So Cal. I’m just curious how challenging it is to remove and reinstall. Anyone accomplish this task???
     
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I never did it on my Gen 1, but I'd be willing to bet just about anybody can swap a hood.

    You may need some patience to get the new one lined up to your satisfaction, even gaps all around. Depends on how easily satisfied you are.
     
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  3. Brian in Tucson

    Brian in Tucson Active Member

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    If you can find one in a pick n pull type yard, take a sharpie and mark the positions of the hinges. That will help you get the hood positioned in the general neighborhood. Also you can practice taking a hood off. I usually put down bath towels to protect the paint on the cowl and fenders and use the hood prop to position it. It's only 4 10mm socket head fasteners, it's pretty easy.
     
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  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Is the original hood beyond painting, or that's just cost prohibitive??
     
  5. Brian in Tucson

    Brian in Tucson Active Member

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    Probably can get a hood for about $50, painting one could be $100 to $200.
     
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah up here I'd guesstimate it would be more than double that to paint. On the flip side, what are the chances of getting a salvage hood won't need painting? And aren't wreckers prone to write stuff on the parts?

    Even if you get an unblemished match: you can have two cars with the same factory paint spec, but years down the road, swap parts and there will be mismatch, due to different environments and so on. To make it seamless you need to repaint and blend into the adjacent panels

    I'm maybe too picky, lol. Probably...
     
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  7. Brian in Tucson

    Brian in Tucson Active Member

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    Yes you're correct. Be worth trying to find one that matches, tho. And in the LA area, it might happen. If the wrecker writes on the part, it can be wiped off with Brakleen or some other brake cleaner product (the stuff from Walmart is pretty good.) Anyhow, it's worth trying and Sandy seems to be on a budget and does much of her own work. (love women who don't let mechanical things intimidate.)
     
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah, completely concur.

    I just hand copious amounts of cash to the body shop, and insurer, but it borders on irrational sometimes.
     
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  9. Brian in Tucson

    Brian in Tucson Active Member

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    Don't feel too bad, Mendel, I just bought an 07 Highlander and the very next day took it to Maaco for a respray, color matched the original. Looks very nice, and I got the shop owner to cut the price to $1000 us. I've painted my last three cars, they almost know me, I think. What can I say, I like my old cars to be shiny!
     
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  10. Sandy Meyers

    Sandy Meyers Member

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    Last time I checked Pick Your Part I could get a White Hood (not that kind of hood, (grin) for about $15 on a 50% off day..... crap, sheet sets cost more! At least $300+ to paint it in my area.... given the condition it’s in now, I think I can live with a junkyard hood.... I can always get it painted if a million bucks mysteriously shows up on my doorstep.
     
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  11. Sandy Meyers

    Sandy Meyers Member

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    I figured it was all 10 mm , anything terribly complicated involving the window washer supply???
     
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  12. Brian in Tucson

    Brian in Tucson Active Member

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    nope just pull the hose apart at one of the junctions or at the bottle. (I can't check, my Prius is sold and gone!)
     
  13. Sandy Meyers

    Sandy Meyers Member

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    I’m still fully covered on my ‘02 Prius.... it’s debatable but I love my car.... can’t live without it and I’ve had several people ask me if I want to sell it.... which means there are some people who’d like to steal it too, so there’s that. I’ve got it locked up behind a security gate but when I’m out and about, crazy stuff happens in So. Cal....
     
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  14. LBPrius562

    LBPrius562 New Member

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    Hiyaaa fellow LBCer, If you need that hood you better go quick. Rumor has it that the big Wilmington yard is shutting down completely by end of year. The smaller yard will still be open but that yard is a fifth the size or smaller.
     
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  15. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    Switching the hood should easy, especially since the Prii have light aluminum hoods. How many miles do you have on your Prius now, Sandy?
     
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  16. Josey

    Josey Active Member

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    If it was me, I'd probably paint it budget style. Take the paint code (likely listed on the driver's side door pillar) to either an auto body supply or an auto parts store that will replicate them. I'm on the east coast and at least some NAPA AP stores will mix up any paint code and install it in an aerosol rattle can. At an auto body supply you can likely get a quart, but then you'd need an air compressor and sprayer - better option.

    There are very large numbers of YouTube videos showing you how to do a decent DIY job. A power sander would be handy.

    If you spend the time to do it, you'll now have new paint and clearcoat - rather that the 16-20 yr old paint on a JY hood.
     
  17. Brian in Tucson

    Brian in Tucson Active Member

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    Actually, Maico probably would do it for around $100 or so.

    Josie, you planted an earworm in my head today, I've been going around humming Steely Dan's "Josie."

    "when Josie comes home, so good
    she's the pride of the neighborhood."

    Good old music that's not played on the oldies stations. Thank the lord for Youtube!
     
  18. Josey

    Josey Active Member

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    LOL. I'll now plant a different one instead, though nothing wrong with Steely Dan. My name is actually just "Joe" but certain members of my family who are fans of the "The Outlaw Josey Wales" movie (Clint Eastwood, of course), started calling me "Josey." So now you'll just read my posts and think "I reckon so."
     
  19. ronlewis

    ronlewis Active Member

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    My favorite Clint movie, and that's saying a lot he's had so many great ones. That's exactly what I thought of when I saw your name. My second guess would have been "and the Pussycats."
     
  20. Sandy Meyers

    Sandy Meyers Member

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    Well, that’s great news.

    Thanks so much. I’m really not keen on going to a junk yard.... but I would.