Custom Hood Ornaments

[scrap--metal]

Anybody running a custom hood ornament on their truck?

If I remember right @Catbox might have a Mack ornament on his? Let's see some pictures if you got 'em.

The other night I found a pretty sweet looking eagle in my pile of scrap metal. I forgot I had it, and it was too cool to recycle, so I'm thinking of making a hood ornament out of it. I think it's die cast, but I didn't look too hard at it. I'm hoping its a good solid casting that I can drill and tap without issue. I'll post up a picture of it later.

If this is a bad/lame/fairy idea, please advise before I waste my time.

 

[CheemsK1500]

I'd suggest basing your design around the OEM style hood ornament base mounting hole location, that way if you regret your decision you can easily hide your modification.

Invest in a 3D printer and and a plating kit (If you use the right kind of plastic, it can be plated easily.) if you really want to try some fun ideas.

 

[bucket]

@78C10BigTen

 

[Catbox]

Yes sir!
My truck came to us with the Mack dog affixed to the hood, albeit poorly.

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The PO drilled a hole in the hood enough for the stud to come through and into the base.
There is a circular mounting register on the bottom of the ornament, that is why it is raised off the hood in the photo above.

Here I have taken a unibit to cut the hole big enough for the register to fit snuggly and let the base flatten to the hood.

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Much better and sturdier to boot.
I locked him on there with some red Loctite so it will hopefully make wood bee thieves think twice about taking him.
I also had to form a pair of washers to the inside of the hood ridge for a tight fit.
The washer touching the hood allows the base register to come through and the top washer holds it all together.

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Now he stands tall as we motor down the road to what ever awaits us.

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Many people have tried to buy him from us, as they all love him.
The answer is always no.
Search Ebay as they are on there quite a bit and not super expensive either....

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[Catbox]

This is another favorite hood ornament of mine.
I will need to find a car for it before I buy one, as all of the cars we have now are covered....

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[scrap--metal]

Search Ebay as they are on there quite a bit and not super expensive either....

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F****n' SWEET!

It's good to know they can be had on eBay, but I can't copy your style. That's not my style.

Thanks for sharing the pictures and the attachment details.

 

[scrap--metal]

This is another favorite hood ornament of mine.
I will need to find a car for it before I buy one, as all of the cars we have now are covered....

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Never seen anything like that... Is that something an aftermarket shop is producing?

Like the Rubber duck ornaments

Amazon.com: Chrome Convoy Duck Hood Ornament - Made in USA - Authentic : Automotive

Buy Chrome Convoy Duck Hood Ornament - Made in USA - Authentic: Hood Ornaments - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[scrap--metal]

I'd suggest basing your design around the OEM style hood ornament base mounting hole location, that way if you regret your decision you can easily hide your modification.

Invest in a 3D printer and and a plating kit (If you use the right kind of plastic, it can be plated easily.) if you really want to try some fun ideas.

I do intend to utilize the OEM hole location. I have a spare hood at home with a hole I can reference and a hood ornament base, but no ornament. I may try to utilize that original hood ornament base with my eagle if I can figure out a good way to do it. I'd probably need the machinist at work to mill a slot/groove in the base of the eagle for me. IDK about that yet.

We have 3D printers at work, but unique and/or animal designs would be nearly impossible to model in CAD. I know it can be done, and free/cheap files can likely be had online, but I don't really want a plastic ornament riding on my metal truck. Seems un-American to me.

There's direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) for "printing" metal parts, but that's more messing around. I'm liking the idea of making my ornament from my scrap pile.

I'll post up a picture of the eagle I'm considering later tonight.

 

[Catbox]

Never seen anything like that... Is that something an aftermarket shop is producing?

Like the Rubber duck ornaments

Amazon.com: Chrome Convoy Duck Hood Ornament - Made in USA - Authentic : Automotive

Buy Chrome Convoy Duck Hood Ornament - Made in USA - Authentic: Hood Ornaments - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Yes sir.
It is currently produced item.
Just google "devil hood ornament" and there will be many places to choose from.

 

[78C10BigTen]

@scrap--metal as Andy @bucket mentioned my daily driver s10 has a repop of the 1930 cadillac style goddess. I saw the original in an old mans scrap collection and fell in love with it so i dug around till i found the repop.

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[scrap--metal]

@scrap--metal as Andy @bucket mentioned my daily driver s10 has a repop of the 1930 cadillac style goddess. I saw the original in an old mans scrap collection and fell in love with it so i dug around till i found the repop.

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Very nice! Beautiful touch on the S10.

 

[scrap--metal]

This is the eagle that I'm currently admiring. As I picked it up this afternoon, I'm thinking it's heavier than die cast zinc or aluminum. It might be solid brass.

I'll find out when I work up the courage to cut/mill/drill/file/grind into it.

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[scrap--metal]

Yes sir.
It is currently produced item.
Just google "devil hood ornament" and there will be many places to choose from.

Found a cool lookin' one on eBay for less than $50. It'd look awesome on my Monte Carlo. Unfortunately I have so many projects on the to do list, I can't justify spending $50 to line up another eventual project.

A free project originating from the scrap pile...

That's something I can make time for.

 

[Gross707]

I have this on my wagon...

 

[scrap--metal]

I have this on my wagon...

That's awesome! And a very fitting ornament for a Roadmaster wagon. Very nice touch.

I haven't done anything with my eagle yet. I need to talk to the machinist at work next week before I start and work by hand, or with hand powered tools.