Hood support
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,005
Likes: 2
From: Santa Clarita
Hood support
I know others have this problem also. I still have the original hood hinges and springs on my truck which are most likely old and worn. Being that the springs won't hold the hood up any longer, I'm using a piece of PVC pipe to hold the hood open. I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas of holding the hood open that look better than a PVC pipe? I already know about the cut broomstick routines. LOL...
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,190
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, So Cal
Ed -
How about a couple of gas struts? They come in many different lengths and strengths. You'd have to do some measuring and noodling, then go to your local auto parts store (I used Pep Boys) and find a pair. Attaching them should be simple enough. I've used them on my hood and tailgate.
Of course, you could just replace those worn out hinges...and be done with it.
How about a couple of gas struts? They come in many different lengths and strengths. You'd have to do some measuring and noodling, then go to your local auto parts store (I used Pep Boys) and find a pair. Attaching them should be simple enough. I've used them on my hood and tailgate.
Of course, you could just replace those worn out hinges...and be done with it.
Elder User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 736
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From: Owasso Oklahoma USA
How about new hood hinge springs from Sacramento Vintage Ford, $25 ea. Or go all out and buy rebuilt hood hinges for $150 a pair exchange. Just a thought.
Last edited by rogerf100; Jun 15, 2005 at 11:46 PM.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,190
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, So Cal
Starfox -
I agree that these hoods are heavy. My hood is front-tilt that uses gas struts to support it. I have had the hood up in one of our Santa Ana winds (40-50 mph) and they supported it just fine. Pics in my gallery.
I agree that these hoods are heavy. My hood is front-tilt that uses gas struts to support it. I have had the hood up in one of our Santa Ana winds (40-50 mph) and they supported it just fine. Pics in my gallery.
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Santa Clarita
I've noticed several street rods and older trucks always use a support bar mostly placed by the hood lock mechanism to prop the hood up. I've also noticed that the guys doing this usually remove the coil spring and use only the hinges. My guess is that they do this to avoid wearing out the hinges. I'd like to do the same, but the angle on the hood lock and hood pin makes it difficult to put a bar there and the risk of the bar falling out is high. As someone mentioned before, these hoods are heavy. Hate to have that hit me or someone in the head. I've noticed that the hood aligns better without stiff springs too. I was thinking about using a support bar similar to those on Japanese vehicles that snap in and just fit into a hole to hold the hood up. I was wondering if anyone did something similar.
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Mid Fifty has repro hinges, springs and I've seen several sets of repro and NOS on ebay. Have you tried tightening the springs you have? Gas struts of the right size will easily hold the hood weight, the tailgate on my Taurus station wagon is significantly heavier than a hood (I can barely hold it up with the struts disconnected) and they have no problem, the hatch opens with just a couple fingers. I'll be adding gas struts to my front hinged hood as well to make opening easy.
A swing up prop rod could easily be fabricated, it would be best if made of heavier stock than those used on imports, their hoods are very light. It could be hinged so it laid across the radiator support or along the fender. You could also design a "captive" one with a toothed track along the edge of the hood to catch into similar to the mechanism used on some sunloungers.
If you do use a simple swing up rod or even a broomstick make sure it has some sort of locking arrangement so a wind gust doesn't suddenly lift the hood and drop it on the end of the rod/pole putting an ugly pimple in the hood.
A swing up prop rod could easily be fabricated, it would be best if made of heavier stock than those used on imports, their hoods are very light. It could be hinged so it laid across the radiator support or along the fender. You could also design a "captive" one with a toothed track along the edge of the hood to catch into similar to the mechanism used on some sunloungers.
If you do use a simple swing up rod or even a broomstick make sure it has some sort of locking arrangement so a wind gust doesn't suddenly lift the hood and drop it on the end of the rod/pole putting an ugly pimple in the hood.
Last edited by AXracer; Jun 16, 2005 at 11:57 AM.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,297
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From: NM
Check a Fox-body Mustang; they have a simple one-bolt arrangement with a cheap clip to hold it when not in use.
I saw an electric hood/trunk deal somewhere, sort of a linear ball-screw arrangement. Wouldn't that be cool to punch a button from inside and have it come up?!
I had a '78 F-150 and the rear right hand edge of the hood would never lay down because of something in the springs/hinges, no amount of screwing around with it helped. Made it hard to release, too.
I saw an electric hood/trunk deal somewhere, sort of a linear ball-screw arrangement. Wouldn't that be cool to punch a button from inside and have it come up?!
I had a '78 F-150 and the rear right hand edge of the hood would never lay down because of something in the springs/hinges, no amount of screwing around with it helped. Made it hard to release, too.