thinking about doing a tilt front end on my 76, i searched but the terms are too short and common so nothing comes up. ive seen the fiberglass ones, but they come at a premium and thats just not in the cards. just googling pics ive seen some home made ones from the stock metal parts, does anyone have any experience doing this or know anything about it? the access it grants to work on things is super nice to have.

 

Basically unbolt the entire front clip from the fire wall and put hinges on the front. An Overly simplified explanation but that's the basics

 

Go here 'slayer :https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post13602294

It piqued my curiosity and asked for some detailed pics. Perhaps contact the OP for more pics if ya like.

 

Wasn't there someone in the bump forum who had a prototype and was fishing for interest in buying the kit ?

Might be worth a search.

 

http://www.usbody.com/__Photo-Galler.../73-fe-001.htm

http://www.usbody.com/

 

I did one on a 70. it wasn't all that hard. locate a point on your fenders for your new joint, just like in the above pic. You will also have to cut your hood at the back corners. You then "fill in" the back side of each side to solidify the sheet metal (angle or thicker metal bracing)

Move all of the fixed wiring and operational gear to the now shorter sides. ie. Battery box, voltage regulator, washer reservoir (finding places to put it all was a bear for me. I remember I used a battery tray from a slick and ditched the washer reservoir all together) You will have to build a radiator mount as you won't be able to use the core support to hold it any more.
With the radiator free standing, your fender cut marks all laid out and prepped, you mark alignment points from the hood to the front fenders, pull the hood, cut the fenders, and remove the fronts.

The core support gets unbolted and (Using something as simple as strap hinges) you mount the "hinged" support to the frame. I used an additional angle iron "frame" to keep everything lined up and square and support the rear edge of the hood.

I had an issue with the front end being higher than original due to the hinges, and had to throw in some spacers at the front of the cab to bring the body lines all back. Then bolt / weld the hood to the fenders, and the fenders / grill back to the core support.

Just like in the above pic I ditched the inner fenders. I couldn't think of a way to make them sturdier, without adding a ton of weight.

I wound up putting some bent tabs on the truck side to hold the tilting portion in place when it was closed, (it was a bit disconcerting to see the entire front end shift from side to side on a bumpy road! )

It was a long time ago, and I've probably forgotten some of the things done to make it work. I didn't keep it long before I put it back to normal. It was cool, but I'll never do it again. It always seemed too flimsy. Of course I was just a goggle eyed retard at the time

 

It was cool, but I'll never do it again. It always seemed too flimsy. Of course I was just a goggle eyed retard at the time.

I've seen this guy in person....he ain't retarded or google eyed, at least that I could tell.

 

My wife would disagree Mark, although I usually Bribe my way out of "truck" trouble with Home remodel or Horses " title="Evil Grin" class="inlineimg" border="0">

 

thanks for the info, i pmed the OP of that other tread but no reply yet. i wanted to see how the fenders attached to the hood and how the fender edges were finished off.

 

I had a 79 that was dun like runnind explained. mine still had most of the inner fenders tho. it also had a body lift so the hight of the hindges were not a big deal. mine had a homemaid battery tray on the fire wall simlier to a cj jeep. it worked really good but it was heavy as hell. it hard for one person to open. But it made it a breeze to work on a truck with 6'' of lift and 38's. I look of sum pics of it tonite to post if i still have them.

 

ImpalaSlayer, sorry for the delay, I took a week of Vacation for corn harvest and haven't checked in for a while.

I drilled the top edges of the fenders and the bottom of the hood and bolted them together. I've seen where a guy used a piece of tube as a spacer, and then used the original inner/ outer fender bolt locations to mount the hood to the fender. For me to make the alignment work, I just drilled four holes per side.

The edges of the fenders and hood were a PITA. I originally left them alone and used some of the car door edge trim, but they were so floppy that I wound up making backing pieces out of scrap for both sides, and then welding in and finishing them. That's when I found out that there are multiple shades of light grey primer!

I never finished the hood, although it would have been the same as the fenders. I meant to, but..... and then it all went away.

Still haven't found any of the pics of the truck of course back then I rarely managed to keep one for more than a year before my stupidity would destroy it or put me in the hospital and force a quick sale.