Messed Up Dynacorn Hood

[WallaceMFG]

We purchased a 2" cowl hood for our 1969 Chevelle from RPC, a restoration and parts shop here in the valley. We bought the hood around a year and a half ago, and we've occasionally had it on the car for alignment and other things. Recently, we were putting the front of the car together and we ran into a problem. When we were trying to line the hood up with the fenders, the front end of the hood kept getting shoved to the passenger side of the car hitting the front fender. We started looking for the problem, and the nut plate built into the hood for the latch is not where it is supposed to be. The plate is so far off that only 3 of the 4 bolts will start, and as stated earlier it wont let the hood close properly.

Here's the problem, clearly it was built wrong:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/05/P1020016_zpsacfbbehv-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/hondaman117/media/P1020016_zpsacfbbehv.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/05/P1020017_zpsdnprlnf9-1.jpg (http://s44.photobucket.com/user/hondaman117/media/P1020017_zpsdnprlnf9.jpg.html)


RPC won't replace the hood because it's a manufacturer's defect, so they told us to talk to Dynacorn. My dad has been talking to them for two weeks and we've come to a stand still. First they told us it's been too long too return, but then they stopped saying that. Now they're telling us they won't replace it because the hood is damaged. Because the primer which is on the hood (which we're going to sand off) is faded, they say the hood is "damaged". There is nothing wrong with the hood except for what they messed up when building it, we've actually been impressed with how solid the hood is.

My dad has been trying to talk to them about it, but now they will no longer answer calls or return messages from him. This is completely unacceptable from a customer service department. I'm telling everybody this as a buyer beware that you need to check EVERYTHING on a part if you order it from Dynacorn. If anyone has a contact that could help us, it would be greatly appreciated.

[Red67Mustang]

I've heard of this sort of problem before from this same mfr... No first hand experience though.

Something to consider: why not put some bolts with large washers in the locations that will start, then drill out the spot welds, relocate the insert plates where you need them, then reweld them in with rosette welds?

In this hobby I've found it necessary to do that sort of repair on reproduction parts more often then not.

[CampbellshotrodsAZ]

I've had issues with a couple different items from RPC. Had a horseshoe shifter sitting unused in the car, crack within a year. Also had the plastic Chevelle inner fenderwells disintegrate within several months too. S.O.L. from RPC on both of those, they were no help. I haven't spent a dollar with them since.

[WallaceMFG]

I've heard of this sort of problem before from this same mfr... No first hand experience though.

Something to consider: why not put some bolts with large washers in the locations that will start, then drill out the spot welds, relocate the insert plates where you need them, then reweld them in with rosette welds?

In this hobby I've found it necessary to do that sort of repair on reproduction parts more often then not.

That's what we're going to do if they refuse to replace the hood, but we wanted to try to get them to own up to their mistake and replace it first.


I've had issues with a couple different items from RPC. Had a horseshoe shifter sitting unused in the car, crack within a year. Also had the plastic Chevelle inner fenderwells disintegrate within several months too. S.O.L. from RPC on both of those, they were no help. I haven't spent a dollar with them since.

This is the first thing we've ever had trouble from them with, and it's really not they're problem because they didn't mess the hood up. I just wish they'd be a little more help trying to get it replaced.

[MonzaRacer]

I would just fix it, I have seen so many aftermarket parts that need finessed to fit right. Including dynacorn parts. At least someone is making parts, there are bound to be some production issues.
As stated inspection of all parts before storing as soon as received is paramount.

[vintageracer]

Different point of view.

Every customer also has responsibilities as part of ANY purchase to inspect the purchased item for damaged and/or to determine if the item is defective by attempting to use that item within a reasonable amount of time or at a minimum within the manufacture's written warranty terms and conditions.

As you stated and I quote "We bought the hood around a year and a half ago, and we've occasionally had it on the car for alignment and other things".

EVERY restoration parts supplier requires the customer to inspect an item they purchase upon time of delivery to ensure there is no damage. This is especially true with sheetmetal purchases. Now you did state where you bought the hood however you did not state whether is was shipped or you picked it up at the vendor. Since you state you bought it from RPC "in the valley" I assume you picked it up at their location and I further assume you opened the box and looked at the hood to inspect for damage.

Just to be clear I understand the problem you experienced was NOT "Damage" but rather a "Manufacturing Defect".

You yourself state that the hood was on and off the car "Occasionally" and the manufacturing defect was only NOW noted 1 1/2 years LATER after your original purchase. WHY only NOW does this "Manufacturing Defect" become an alignment issue? Why not the first time you "Occasionally" mounted the hood for alignment purposes? Apparently the hood fit the other times when you "Occasionally" installed the hood on the car since hood alignment was not an issue at those times. How long a manufacturing defect warranty do you expect? Virtually any item sold on a retail basis in the good ole USA that has a "Manufacturer's Warranty" that starts at the time of purchase by the retail buyer and limits that warranty period either by product use and/or time (warranty period). It is then the responsibility of the purchaser to bring this defect issue to the attention of the seller/manufacturer within a reasonable amount of time or within the stated warranty period.

What you really have NOW is a USED hood that has been mounted "Occasionally" off and on the car that has a "Manufacturing Defect"!

Yes there is a definite manufacturing defect in the hood that is clearly shown in the picture. Yes the vendor must take care of this type of problem for an item they sell/manufacture when brought to their attention within a "Reasonable" time frame. Yes you the CUSTOMER also have a responsibility to inspect the item immediately after your purchase and bring forth any issues with the item within a "Reasonable" time frame after YOUR purchase. 1 1/2 years LATER is NOT a "Reasonable" time frame! This is especially true when the customer has already "Occasionally" mounted and removed that item during that 1 1/2 year time frame.

By the way EVERY sheetmetal manufacturer considers any part that is primered by the customer to be used/damaged. Here are your words from your first post. "Because the primer which is on the hood (which we're going to sand off) is faded, they say the hood is "damaged". Faded factory primer also qualifies!

In case you could not tell I agree with the vendor and the manufacturer.

Given the 1 1/2 year time frame that has elapsed since your purchase and "Occasional" use of the hood the problem is now yours not theirs!

I am not a restoration parts supplier or a sheetmetal manufacturer. Just my opinion about the problem you have experienced as stated by you in your initial post.

[TheJDMan]

IMO, At this point in time your only choice is to fix the hood yourself.

[Rod]

keep it, fix it, lesson learned inspect the crap outta everything...and sometimes be willing to work with what you get.....its hot rodding my friend, I have bought plenty of **** that didn't fit worth a damn and then I had to massage it into place...only to tell the manufacture about it and get the standard answer...."wow.never had that problem before"......I have heard that from many different manufactures...many VERY well respected ones..... how many real choices do you have in a chevelle hood? really? one or two dynacorn and maybe golden legion...after that your paying and arm and a leg to redoing someones old crap or pay an arm and leg for a NOS hood(if you can find one)

[WallaceMFG]

Looking back, I know we should have looked closer at the hood when we got it, lesson learned. The only reason we bought the hood when we did is because it was on sale, and with mine and my brothers tuition going up every semester we have to save all the money we can at my house. If the hood had not been on sale, we wouldn't have bought it until we needed it.




Just to be clear I understand the problem you experienced was NOT "Damage" but rather a "Manufacturing Defect".

You yourself state that the hood was on and off the car "Occasionally" and the manufacturing defect was only NOW noted 1 1/2 years LATER after your original purchase. WHY only NOW does this "Manufacturing Defect" become an alignment issue? Why not the first time you "Occasionally" mounted the hood for alignment purposes? Apparently the hood fit the other times when you "Occasionally" installed the hood on the car since hood alignment was not an issue at those times. How long a manufacturing defect warranty do you expect? Virtually any item sold on a retail basis in the good ole USA that has a "Manufacturer's Warranty" that starts at the time of purchase by the retail buyer and limits that warranty period either by product use and/or time (warranty period). It is then the responsibility of the purchaser to bring this defect issue to the attention of the seller/manufacturer within a reasonable amount of time or within the stated warranty period.

The defect was never noticed because up until a week ago we had never had the hood latch installed in the car. We've been trying to sort out all of the bent and broken parts (this car had a front end collision at some point) and other various issues. We finally had all of those issues sorted out and were ready to put the hood on the car and give it a good alignment. This is when we found the issue. For comparison, we put the stock hood on and without changing anything it closed and latched perfectly.

I guess the thing we're more upset with is the customer service. I don't own a business, but I know when somebody is asking for help you can't stop answering calls or emails, that's not professional to me.

[ICrombie]

I've found that buying replacement sheetmetal from manufacturers like Dynacorn and Goodmark almost always requires at least a little work to get a good fit, which is to be expected given that it is extremely difficult to match the production capabilities of GM. And it seems from the replies above that everyone experiences the same thing with non-NOS parts, so I don't think its fair to blame Dynacorn for the defect when it is pretty well known that the parts simply don't fit like the originals did.

I'm just happy that the replacements even exist, because having to spend a couple hours finessing them in certainly beats paying up to 4x more for an original.

There's still no excuse for them refusing to answer your calls, but asking them to replace the part when a good portion of the parts have similar issues is a bit much imho.

[killer69]

I agree too long to send back. just put your effort into fixing it. on the other hand we had issues with dynacorn as well. we were a dealer and bought parts all the time. one time we placed an order and they shipped it directly to Canada it was some front spring cups if I remember the freight was like 400.00 so we refused it. ..... they closed out account with no explanation. wouldn't credit our CC and had to end up paying the ups bill because they would not accept the return.