Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F wrote:
Nice looking rolled edge on the cowl. May want to keep that removable until you fit a wiper linkage/"transmission". A protruding lip out of the cowl is useful to support (through a glued rubber strip or push-on weather stripping bulb) and maintain alignment the hood edge, but you could make the hood rigid with ribs spot welded or riveted if there is enough rib-engine clearance.
As I'm using a Fiat engine, it's not a true book build. A bit of freehand design. Different engine height, but pretty close to book. I enclosed the scuttle so I can better use a straight edge for the proper contour, slope and curvature for the nose frame and hood shape. The hood support lip will be 19 gauge 3/4" wide "L" shaped sheet metal spot welded to the firewall and nose cone end. This can then be covered with some edge molding to cut down on any rattling noise and to protect any paint. I was even debating putting a bar down the middle of the hood, between scuttle and nose cone, and mount two hood halves. I could make it removable if I need to get the engine out. As you said, I could run some beads down the side to give the hood some stiffness. Until I get my distributor relocated, I may put a "power" bulge in the hood above it anyway. If I did it to the top on both the left and right side, it would also significantly strengthen the hood. Ironically my Spider had them. It may even look nice. Will have to see where to go with all that.
Hood support cross section, nose cone end would be similar.