Hood Liner Cut-Out

[Smokie]

The S/C pulley was rubbing the liner a little bit. I thought a cut out would be a good idea, in retrospect I wish I had left it alone. Anyway my cutout looked horrible, the liner in that area is 3/4" thick and it is mostly loosely woven fiberglass.

I used velcro to line the edges of the cut-out and personally I feel I ruined my liner, so if you think it looks like crap, feel free to speak up, 'cause so do I. I am posting because maybe I can help someone avoid my mistake.

The one positive that came from this is that I removed the crappy retainers that held the liner in place rather loosely ( I never liked them)and replaced them with the ones they sell at the auto parts, they are larger in diameter, they are slightly convex and they push in tightly all the way and hold the liner tightly against hood, you gain about 1/8' in liner height just by replacing the retainers, which by the way may be enough to clear the pulley without a cut-out...too late for me.:(

Picture: CLICK (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6384&cat=500&page=1)

[Joe Walsh]

The one positive that came from this is that I removed the crappy retainers that held the liner in place rather loosely ( I never liked them)and replaced them with the ones they sell at the auto parts, they are larger in diameter, they are slightly convex and they push in tightly all the way and hold the liner tightly against hood, you gain about 1/8' in liner height just by replacing the retainers, which by the way may be enough to clear the pulley without a cut-out...too late for me.:(

Picture: CLICK (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6384&cat=500&page=1)

What brand of retainers did you buy?
'HELP' in the red package??

[Smokie]

What brand of retainers did you buy?
'HELP' in the red package??Joe I bought them at Advanced Auto Parts, package of 3 for $1.49

Picture:CLICK (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6388&cat=500&page=1tp://)

[fastblackmerc]

Joe I bought them at Advanced Auto Parts, package of 3 for $1.49

Picture:CLICK (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6388&cat=500&page=1tp://)
Doesn't look too bad. Maybe you can get one of those embroidered hood liners?

[Joe Walsh]

Joe I bought them at Advanced Auto Parts, package of 3 for $1.49

Picture:CLICK (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6388&cat=500&page=1tp://)


Cool!! Thanks for the picture...I'll check them out next trip to Advance Auto.

That, WITHOUT A DOUBT, is the cheapest mod I'll ever make on my Marauder!! :lol:

[Smokie]

Doesn't look too bad. Maybe you can get one of those embroidered hood liners?I may later on, its not like like I have to look at it at all times. It is functional and the pulley no longers rubs. I don't hate it, but I don't like it either.

My main reason for posting is that I think changing the OEM retainers to the ones I bought may prevent the rubbing in some cars, maybe not all. Without cutting anything out.

[BillyGman]

Yeah, I agree Javier. You should've just left it alone. I have the same 9.5 PSI Trilogy pulley as you do, and it made a small mark in the hood liner after several hundred miles, and I left it alone, and it never got any worse since then. And I now have 29,000 total miles on my Marauder, 18,000 of which are supercharged miles.

[Smokie]

Yeah, I agree Javier. You should've just left it alone. I have the same 9.5 PSI Trilogy pulley as you do, and it made a small mark in the hood liner after several hundred miles, and I left it alone, and it never got any worse since then. And I now have 29,000 total miles on my Marauder, 18,000 of which are supercharged miles.I should have left it alone, the rubbing in my car was more than just a little bit, I have custom exhaust that requires a shim on the driver's side engine mount to clear the steering shaft.
Liner rubbed the paint off the leading edge of my pulley and my liner was cut by the pulley and you could see the entire width of the belt also rubbed and gave the liner a melted look. I will be looking with keen interest at the custom liners soon to come out.

I do wish my first effort had been to replace the retainers, the new ones fit so tightly against hood you gain about an 1/8" in height.

[MikesMerc]

Doesn't really look too bad. If it was rubbing more than you were comfortable with, then the cut out had to be done.

BTW, you could always make a jump to a smaller pulley....11 PSI is a nice number and the pulley will no longer rub:D

[AzMarauder]

The S/C pulley was rubbing the liner a little bit. I thought a cut out would be a good idea, in retrospect I wish I had left it alone. Anyway my cutout looked horrible, the liner in that area is 3/4" thick and it is mostly loosely woven fiberglass.

I used velcro to line the edges of the cut-out and personally I feel I ruined my liner, so if you think it looks like crap, feel free to speak up, 'cause so do I. I am posting because maybe I can help someone avoid my mistake.

The one positive that came from this is that I removed the crappy retainers that held the liner in place rather loosely ( I never liked them)and replaced them with the ones they sell at the auto parts, they are larger in diameter, they are slightly convex and they push in tightly all the way and hold the liner tightly against hood, you gain about 1/8' in liner height just by replacing the retainers, which by the way may be enough to clear the pulley without a cut-out...too late for me.:(

Picture: CLICK (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6384&cat=500&page=1)
Here is an idea....

Cut out the bad area (are enough to clear S/C pulley etc)
Use the crimp on edging ( I can't think of the name of the stuff) but you get it at RV or Marine places. They use it on the edge of fiberglass panels in boats etc. I used that to trim my hood liner of my Cobra after I opened up the heat extractors. Perhaps you could even put something concave behind the liner.... painted etc. So the edge would be trimmed... and you wouldn't see the underside of the hood because of the trick concave piece you put in there?

Any of this make sense... I am VERy tired this evening.

[Captain Steve]

My idea to make it neater is to make a clean cutout.

Take your liner out.
Cut two pieces of 3/4 plywood a bit bigger than the hole you want.
Put one piece under the liner and the other on top.
Screw the top piece of plywood into the bottom one on four corners.

The liner will now be compressed between the two pieces of wood.

Take a hole saw and cut through the top piece of wood and the liner. Use high speed and very little pressure. The idea is to let the holesaw get nice and hot so that it melts the edges of the cut in the liner.

Pull the screws and throw away the plywood.

Re-install the liner.


If the liner still has a fuzzy edge because the bit didn't get hot enough, then you still have the option of dressing the edge with something, whether it's boat trim or just some paint is up to you.

[Smokie]

I didn't like the velcro thing, so I went to this. It will have to do for now until the embroidered liners are for sale AND they don't rub the pulley, I added a sticker that is guaranteed to add 10 rwhp...right?:D

Picture:CLICK (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6402&cat=500&page=1)

[MikesMerc]

I like it :2thumbs:

[Smokie]

I like it :2thumbs:Thanks, I can live with what I have now without being ashamed to open the hood, the picture does not do it justice.
The polished aluminun and stainless steel acorn nuts actually look nice when you open the hood.

[Captain Steve]

Looks good Smokie :beer:


Glad you found a way to dress it up to your (almost) satisfaction.

[Smokie]

Looks good Smokie :beer:


Glad you found a way to dress it up to your (almost) satisfaction.
Your idea inspired me, Thanks.