My 02 rangers power dome hood seems heavyier than my 93 f-150s hood ?

[Gary DuBois]

Has anyone noticed this too that a power dome hood seems like there is more weight to the hood than a full size trucks hood

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

IIRC your '93 has springs in the hinges to help you lift it.

 

[sgtsandman]

The steel or fiberglass Ranger hoods are on the heavy side but like 85 said, the F-150 has assist springs. So that makes a big difference.

 

[gw33gp]

The fiberglass power dome is very heavy in my opinion. I don't know how heavy an F-150 hood is. My 89 STX Ranger hood was much lighter in comparison to the power dome hood.

 

[Gary DuBois]

The fiberglass power dome is very heavy in my opinion. I don't know how heavy an F-150 hood is. My 89 STX Ranger hood was much lighter in comparison to the power dome hood.

How many pounds do you think your power dome hood weighs and why do you say the hood is fiberglass i thought fiberglass was only on the flareside rangers.

How many lbs lighter do you think your 89 stx ranger was compared to your power dome hood.

Why does ford call that hood style power dome hoods

 

[gw33gp]

I can only answer one question. On the others, your guess is as good as mine.

It is well known that the power dome hood is fiberglass. I have also drilled into it when I mounted my bug deflector. It for sure went through fiberglass. You can also put a magnet on it, and it will not stick. You can also tap it and it has the thud sound of fiberglass, not the sound of sheet metal. You may not be able to tell the difference between sheet metal, aluminum and fiberglass, but after dealing with composites (including fiberglass) and various metals in the Aerospace industry for over 47 years, I can tell the difference.

So, in other words, I don't think the power dome hood is fiberglass, I know it is.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

IIRC your '93 has springs in the hinges to help you lift it.

Exactly. Try unbolting those springs assists and lifting it.

(joking to make a point)

92-96 hoods are pretty damn heavy. Not 73-79 heavy...but heavy.

 

[JoshT]

The steel or fiberglass Ranger hoods are on the heavy side but like 85 said, the F-150 has assist springs. So that makes a big difference.

That makes sense. Been so long since I messed with that generation of f-series I forgot it had good springs. I was thinking that it would be a fair bit heavier than my rangers original hood, but unsure about it being heavier than the current power dome.

My 68 has hood springs too. I'd rather lift the power dome without the assist. Those spring assisted hinges are great until the hinges get rusty, gets difficult to open in a hurry. Then add the hood being flimsy from half the support structure bing rusted out...

So, in other words, I don't think the power dome hood is fiberglass, I know it is.

Yep, definitely fiberglass.

If you think the power dome has more weight than the F-150, you should compare both to a stock non power dome Ranger hood.

The non powerdome from the late '90s -early '00s Ranger was aluminum and light weight. The F-150 hood is steel IIRC, but feels lighter dlthanks to the spring assist. The power dome hood is full fiberglass and heavy.

Some aftermarket fiberglass hoods do save weight, but they are designed to be light weight race components, not a full strength body panel. The OEM hood is built to be as strong as the aluminum or steel hood that it replaced. Adding the strength means more material and weight.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

That makes sense. Been so long since I messed with that generation of f-series I forgot it had good springs. I was thinking that it would be a fair bit heavier than my rangers original hood, but unsure about it being heavier than the current power dome.

My 68 has hood springs too. I'd rather lift the power dome without the assist. Those spring assisted hinges are great until the hinges get rusty, gets difficult to open in a hurry. Then add the hood being flimsy from half the support structure bing rusted out...



Yep, definitely fiberglass.

If you think the power dome has more weight than the F-150, you should compare both to a stock non power dome Ranger hood.

The non powerdome from the late '90s -early '00s Ranger was aluminum and light weight. The F-150 hood is steel IIRC, but feels lighter dlthanks to the spring assist. The power dome hood is full fiberglass and heavy.

Some aftermarket fiberglass hoods do save weight, but they are designed to be light weight race components, not a full strength body panel. The OEM hood is built to be as strong as the aluminum or steel hood that it replaced. Adding the strength means more material and weight.

I think 97+ 150's had an aluminum hood, and IIRC gas shock assist

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I think 97+ 150's had an aluminum hood, and IIRC gas shock assist

Yup.

You can get steel aftermarket but then the gas shocks struggle.

 

[Curious Hound]

Yup.

You can get steel aftermarket but then the gas shocks struggle.

Gas shocks stink. Wooden sticks rule!

 

[stmitch]

Technically, the Powerdome hood is made of Sheet Material Compound or SMC. It is a composite, and can be worked in the same way that fiberglass can, but it's much less fibrous.

 

[gw33gp]

I consider anything with fiberglass in it, fiberglass. Yes, there are many kinds of fiberglass. Some have cloth fiber, some have unidirectional fiber, and some have chopped fiber like the fiber in most SMC. There are many types of resins that can be used with fiberglass and many ways to form fiberglass. SMC is usually compression molded in a closed heated mold. Much easier and less expensive than many other ways in high volume production.

The fiber content in the SMC I usually work with is around 63 percent fiber by weight with 1/2 to 1" long chopped fiber.

 

[JoshT]

I think 97+ 150's had an aluminum hood, and IIRC gas shock assist

What 97 F-150? That abomination shouldn't be called an F-series.

I was specifically talking about the Aero nose (92-96) trucks because dad had a 94 for several years. That was the newest F-150 I've opened the hood on. I guess it is technically the only F-150 since my 68 is an F-100. Haven't opened the hood on dad's '21 F-150 yet and he's only opened it a few times. I've seen under it, but not opened it. The F-250 hood is like the 97+ F-150 hoods, aluminum (I think) and has gas struts.

I consider anything with fiberglass in it, fiberglass. Yes, there are many kinds of fiberglass. Some have cloth fiber, some have unidirectional fiber, and some have chopped fiber like the fiber in most SMC. There are many types of resins that can be used with fiberglass and many ways to form fiberglass. SMC is usually compression molded in a closed heated mold. Much easier and less expensive than many other ways in high volume production.

The fiber content in the SMC I usually work with is around 63 percent fiber by weight with 1/2 to 1" long chopped fiber.

Same here. As a former avaition maintenance technician I'm familiar with different types of composites. I almost referred to it as a composite hood instead of fiberglass. I've found that when talking to most people, it's easier to just refer to most composites as fiberglass unless it's something that is recognizable to the masses. IE: Carbon Fiber and Kevlar.

I am a guy that gets annoied by people calling stuff the wrong things, but I still find it easier. A big one for me at work is phenolic blocks, you have no idea how many times I've had to correct people calling them wood. C-130s do contain some wood, but they ain't talking about the cockpit floorboards. I've never seen any on an F-15, but they call phenolic clamp blocks wood all the time. I usually have to stare at them for a minute trying to figure out WTH they are talking about. It was bad when I was a mechanic, now that I'm actually ordering parts for them...

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Gas shocks stink. Wooden sticks rule!
View attachment 105439

I had a few of those broken over my butt in grade school. Palms too.