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I am very interested in developing a firewall mounted hood hinge for my '76 standard cab. I believe that such a thing would fit all dent side trucks and possibly bump sides as well.
So, has anyone worked on laying out the geometry of a dent side firewall mounted hood hinge that uses the standard attachment point on the hood or perhaps replaces that with something new? Springs would be replaced by gas cylinders of course. Where on the firewall to mount this hinge is another question. I have seen at least one attempt to use the mount usually reserved for the inner fender sheet metal which also serves as a major outer fender attachment point. The few examples I've seen are all for slammed trucks where the inner fender is deleted anyway. Although I'm not looking to slam/air bag my truck I would be open to extensively modifying the inner fender sheet metal. Thoughts? Comments? Dew-drops of wisdom?
It's a mighty heavy hood to use barn door hinges on, but might work if find Catapillar grade gas pistons. Just joshin to watch.
Yeah, let's see what folks may have to share. I suppose that gas piston tech has evolved to the point where I'll have to sign up for a class at the local tech school.
Perhaps you could use this gas strut conversion for 87-97 Ford Pickups combined with the new or salvaged hood hinges for the same model pickup.
If I were to do this, I would reinforce the firewall/cowl area and the hood itself. I am thinking the gas struts would mount in the same area as the original hinges. Would need to try a few different locations to figure out where they would fit best.
Thanks for that link to OBS Solutions. I have asked them about what they might have for the '76 dent side. Their 87-97 product looks clean and straightforward.
Like this one on eBay. From the pictures it looks like the ones for the F-100, 150. 250 & 350 without the spring. I see where it attaches to the hood and the other holes look like they attach to the inner fender just like the smaller trucks do.
Perhaps this seller is just misrepresenting the item. I would love to see a series of pictures of the hood hinge you describe.
Flowney,
Interesting idea but just curious,,, what is the problem you have with the original hinges?
lil oil once in a while and they work well.
It;s not like a door where you have to open it every day, just once in a week to check things out..
Flowney,
Interesting idea but just curious,,, what is the problem you have with the original hinges?
lil oil once in a while and they work well.
It;s not like a door where you have to open it every day, just once in a week to check things out..
I've restored the old ones and they work fine so I have a fall back plan. What I'm thinking about doing will eliminate the inner fender where these hinges attach. There are several mods that this will facilitate such as mounting the A/C compressor on the passenger side (neater plumbing), running a Thunderbolt style 4" cold air access tube from the radiator support to an air cleaner that I already have. That air cleaner has two snorkels for incoming air. All of this will probably necessitate fabricating a custom inner fender, probably out of aluminum so the stock hinges won't have a usable mounting surface..
Most of the people who mess with the inner fender do so in order to lower the truck so that the front tires rise up to the fender tops when the air bag suspension is fully deflated and vehicle is parked, rockers about an inch off the ground. This is not my plan but I hope to learn things from them such as relocating the hood hinge.
Like this one on eBay. From the pictures it looks like the ones for the F-100, 150. 250 & 350 without the spring. I see where it attaches to the hood and the other holes look like they attach to the inner fender just like the smaller trucks do.
Perhaps this seller is just misrepresenting the item. I would love to see a series of pictures of the hood hinge you describe.
only pic I had handy was of a bump, but they are very similar if not the same
I see now, wanting to totally move the hinge and mounting surface away from the inner fender apron top. I was gonna suggest removing the spring and configuring heavy lift pistons to help get it up, but that wouldn't help you in your quest.
This is not a truck, it is a Mustang, but my guess is you're looking for a similar deal, but maybe 2X in scale. Pardon the dust.
Much lighter hood, lighter hinges, I only added the lifts in a kit. It originally used just a prop rod.
Thanks tBear853. Still, there has to be some structure that locates and strengthens the radiator core crossmember after removing the inner fender so there might be a usable mounting surface from that.
Just joshin to watch.
