Hood Bra
 

I have an Mk4 Jetta TDI with a damaged hood. It is next to impossible to find one in my vehicle's color and I hate paint work....especially on hoods. The damaged area can be cut out and then covered by a hood bra.

I was wondering if the 2 protrusions on the top of the bra might hurt mpg.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Can we see the damage, pleez? Does the hood open and close?

If the metal isn't torn, cutting and welding seems a little extreme. Why do you hate painting, especially... Is it a custom color?

Hood doesn't open and close. I will try to grab some pictures. I have enough experience painting to know that I am no good at it, lol.

Visible damage? I used this search https://duckduckgo.com/?q=jetta%2Fgolf+with+no+hood

Lots of Youtube videos on how to get it open.

https://external-content.duckduckgo....by_mrhonda.jpg

I was rattle-canning my Type III notchback when an Hispanic kid about 6 or 7 came across the street and asked if he could help. I learned a lot watching him. :)

What color is it; maybe you could find a hood with a complementary color. ....cheaper than a vinyl bra.

You are going to need to open that hood sooner or later! :)

Have you heard of paintless dent removal? My adult brother walked on my hood and roof. I pulled the dents out of the hood enough that you barely notice, but the roof still looks bad.

https://ecomodder.com/forum/attachme...1&d=1684218317
These are car forums, you bot! :D

I don't remember the last time I saw a car fitted with hood bras, but Argentinians used to resort to it in order to protect from road debris. Some were built with a material similar to a beefed-up insect screen also covering the headlamps, grille and front bumper.

'protrusions'
 

Are they the sewn-on bug deflectors?
If so, while they would cause a local flow separation, they would be embedded within a favorable pressure gradient, the flow would reattach, and you'd just be dragging two little separation bubbles around wherever you went.
The cost of feeding the turbulence would be weighed against the cost of replacing the windshield, should a small pebble tossed up from a vehicle ahead of you not be deflected.