Back in the '60's I worked at a gas station. A regular customer had a Rambler American sedan and he always wanted his oil checked. It was always a fight to get the hood closed after checking the oil. He complained that we didn't know the correct way and one time he got out of the car to show us how to close the hood. His method bent the hood at the hinges. He was furious but since he did the damage, we weren't responsible. He said he was never coming back and roared off. A few days later he was back with a hammered out hood adorning his Rambler. He never wanted the oil checked after that.

You should open a classroom for young humans to learn ratrod calculations. For real

After all the years, I finally know why most square bodies had kinks in the hood. Keep up the good work 👍

Bob….could I make a suggestion for a T-shirt? Want everybody to know about another Mississippi boy. How about “I support Rat Rod Bob”…?

Well Bob, I am very happy I looked at this video of yours. I learned a couple of very valuable lessons. 1st, I never knew why GM engineered that weak point in the hood and 2nd, I'd never even paid attention to that pin at the back of the engine bay or the holes in the hood. Many thanks fr a very educational video! Keep up the good work sir!

Thanks for explaining the problems of the taco hood. Never to old to learn something.

Every chevy I ever owned kept itself covered in oil.. never had to oil anything

Remember that MGB? There were three accidental bend spots in that design: Both strut locations, one in the hood and one at the trunk lid. But the most fun one is at the mirror location in each door. The doors were designed to minimize body flex so the hinges and the strike pin were both reinforced. Where does the stress go? Well, the body skin takes a bunch of it. But when you drill three holes for the mirror, you weaken it just enough so that, over time, the stress creates a vertical tear right there. Simply welding the skin won’t get it. You must weld in a thicker backing plate about 4” square. Problem solved.

Interesting history on the Taco hood. I never heard of it before this video.

Hmmm? I thought we were going to see Red turn the taco into a tortilla by performing a Mexican hat dance on the SqBod hood. Your method seems a better fix.👍

I’m 68 and knew nothing about the TACO HOOD.

Well it is taco Tuesday!! Thanks for the lesson Professor Bob 🌮🌮

As a retired electrical design engineer, I think you nailed the crash test dummy story!

I was just looking for a quick video because my s10 hood is bent.

Very nicely done. You are one of the few who understands why the hoods TACO! So many people want to blame the hood and not the hinges!

That's some good hood advise.

That’s the funniest vid yet, is this the first time a 3rd person has been filming? Great vid Bob!

You should be Proud of yourself Bob great job on that hood and a good education

Bob! Its me uncle rob! Sure is something us old guys get it done! No one stays 22 forever.

Great video. Remember seeing those taco hoods back in the day. Back in high school I remember the father of a good friend of mine had a Scottsdale and it was loaded, leather, a/c, chrome out the yazoo. Remember watching the gas station attendant closing the hood after checking the oil and the hood just folded in half. That was not a pleasant ride back to my friend's place.