How to check for space *before* denting hood?

A car accessory should tell you what car it fits on. If not you just eyeball it. Is this for those holes you were talking about making? Anyway, unless you know how to do it, don't. If you do, close the hood slowly when you done.

--Vic

Cut some foam or something else that won't damage the hood to the same size as your "accessory".

Sprinkle baby powder on the top of it and close the hood.

I'll let you figure out the rest on your own.

micky wrote in alt.home.repair:

Ok, take a long broom or something else with straight wood. Place this over the open hood. Measure under it to see how much free room there is for the item. Now lift it and make sure you measure to same spot on the hood, measure above it and add the 2 to see if it fits.

Cut styrofoam to size (comes with new electronic stuff) and coat with titanium dioxide (sun block stuff).

A good idea. I have some baby powder too!

I have to think about it.

I like this too. I will try it tomorrow. Even if there are other ways for this situation, I want to practice for when yours is the only way.

I think this is best today. I have some near-styrofoam that I saved from the trash just in case, and it's been in the way and getting on my nerves. This must be the reason I saved it.

It was 5 feet long and an 3/4 inch thick, until it broke in half. Couldn't figure out how I would use it but didn't want to throw it away.

Thanks, Paul, Cs, Derby, and Vic

Get a blob of modeling clay, or just make a still water-flour dough, put it inside a plastic baggie (unsealed) and then do the squeeze test to capture the representation of the clearance.

Use a little kid or a drunk friend, the sounds they make will let you know how much clearance you have. ^_^

TDD

I knew that eventually, we'd have a winner.

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

Use a little kid or a drunk friend, the sounds they make will let you know how much clearance you have. ^_^

TDD

Also good ideas. I had thought of the modeling clay,, but didn't want to buy new and then get it dirty with car dirt. I even thought of dough, but again, the dirt. A baggie is a great idea.

Put both your wife and your dog under the hood and then close it. Come back in 20 minutes and open it and see which one is the happiest to see you.

Don

Try modeling clay, play-doh, etc.

nate

Find a child who is roughly the size of the item you are trying to determine the clearance. Place the child under the hood, and close the hood.

If you hear a "clunk" when you close the hood, followed by a loud screaming sound, you do not have sufficient clearance for your accessory item.

Jon

micky wrote in alt.home.repair:

Yup, dont always have a block of styrofoam you can cut to fit. This requires only a broom handle and a small kids ruler or in my case, the simple sewers measuring tape. You can use a bit of string too for measuring.Just mark it then put the marked ends together over the item and see if it fits. Takes about 2 minutes.

micky wrote in alt.home.repair:

LOL! If you enjoy cutting styrofoam for 10 mins or so to fit the device then adding babypower and all that, you must be a guy! I'd be done in 2 mins flat (snicker).

Leave hood closed. Drive immediately to doctor's office for treatment of injuries.

NOT!!!! FAIL!!!!

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

Find a child who is roughly the size of the item you are trying to determine the clearance. Place the child under the hood, and close the hood.

If you hear a "clunk" when you close the hood, followed by a loud screaming sound, you do not have sufficient clearance for your accessory item.

Jon

Nobody else said it, so I will- go to nearest craft store, and buy some of the crushable foam they sell for putting in the bottom of big vases, etc, to keep dry flower arrangements and such from rattling. Basically the same stuff you see them use on CSI on TV, to take footprint impressions of suspects. Mock up your accessory, tape in place, and close hood. Open hood, and see if your mockup is intact.

I was wondering how long it would take before somebody gave the right answer.