I just picked up my '55 F100 today and starting a restoration. One thing I noticed about the hood is that it barely opens up big enough to work on the engine. Anyone converted their hood to open from the windshield outward? I heard you can do it, but wondering for how much and can you do it with an original hood?

 

The hood kits come as modified hinges, and you use the stock hood.
I havent used one, but there are a lot of guys here that have.

Graham

 

Choices are a front tilting hood or acomplete tilting front end, fenders and hood in one unit

 

You can purchase the front tilt hood kits from several of the F100 vendors. Check the site sponsors first and if they don't have what you need then check our Mid-Fifty, Sacramento Vintage Ford, No-Limit, and others. The PO had already installed one on my 56 but I have had it off twice and it is a fairly simple installation. Not sure of its brand.
56FUN

 

CEOhunter - Check out this thread under the search option at the top of the forum:

"Tilt Hood For 56 Ford" dated 7/9/04.

There is some very good info there and a lot of user installation experience. It has recommendations, phone numbers and product sites. I think it is exactly the answer you are asking for.

 

You'll get a bunch of recommends on this one. I have a No Limit Version 2. easy install and very adjustable and I like it. I know somebody else here had a No Limit kit and did not care for it much.

 

Here , click on this for an idea. http://www.classicperform.com/tilthoodford.htm

 

I'm the one I hated that thing.

I bought one from No Limit Engineering (version 2), installed it (or tired too (I had to add a 1/4 to the back)) after screwing around with that thing for what seemed like forever I replaced it with a kit from Classic Performance Products (removed the 1/4) and I think it works great. They had a article on installing this kit in one of the truck mags a few months ago

Chuck

 

The hood on my stock 55 opens plenty wide enough to work on the engine!
Fred K.

 

Chuck

What exactly did you add a 1/4 inch to? I'm curious because mine was a simple install. They may have a QC problem making the units consistent perhaps? The aluminum loop-dee-loos cut it pretty close on my truck, but the thing works very smooth.

 

Have you tried raising it as high as it will go to see if you can live with it? The springs start showing their age and you may be happy with just a set of new springs or hinges. While doing the steering box conversion, I was able to climb right up into the engine bay and stand on the frame just with the duck of my head under the hood, and I'm 6'2", 280# and 57 yrs old!

 

Dewayne;

I had to lengthen the hood at the rear 1/4 inch. I also opened the mounting holes for the alum bracket and the fender mounting holes (at the cab) and modified the front of the hood all in the name of trying to get the hood to line up also had to modifiy the hood support bracket, it wanted to rotate so I added a extension and mounted to both bolts.

The Classic Performance Products kit is not without there own set of problems but they were minor in comparison to the No Limit kit, well at least in my case.

I had to put a groove the the fender mounting bracket (the one that is welded to the cab) so that I could get the wire (rod) bracket the holds the hood rollers to set down correctly and I welded two small braces on the hood to stop the prop rod from trying to bend the hood. I think I may change the prop rod it seems to want to bind, gets kind of interesting when you have to knock it out of place with your fist.

All in all the classic kit seems to me to be the better of the two. By the way I had to remove the 1/4 extension with the classic kit (good deal) only prob with that the rear flange is sort of sharp now from all the sanding.

I just put my truck in primer so I still have some time to play before I paint it this spring.

Chuck

 

I can't take credit for it, but mine has a simple 9/16" rod across the inside front of the hood into the fenders and it works slick. It was done a long time ago before the kits. Right now I have the hood off and I can't believe how simple yet effective the setup is. And no hood latch or the clunky looking catches at the back of the engine bay where the hinges went. Plus the grill doesn't become partially hidden when open (pic in my gallery).

Gravity holds it in place; it can't flip up...and you raise it by grasping the side hood emblems. It's held up with a rod but I'm working on figuring a way to use a power actuater .
Norb

 

I will be ordering both the N/L and the other style as well for the test project, but it looks like I will be better off with something like the one in my gallery under "Body Work" I hope to use one of the 2 mail order types as this is what the test is all about. It must be simple to install and use.
Effie: can you post a pic of your set up??

 

I haven't decided yet which direction to hinge Gracie's hood, but I am not fond of the clockwork stock hinges, or the Rube Goldberg roller mechanisms of the aftermarket front hinges. Either direction I'm going to investigate using the hinges and hydraulic assist cylinders off the rear of a late model station wagon or hatchback (I happen to have one of each sitting in my yard to measure off of.) or else a simple hinge like 56 AE's with the assist cylinders to help raise the weight and hold it closed.