Hood Hinge Questions
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 823
Likes: 4
From: Calais, Vermont
Hood Hinge Questions
I'm working on getting all the front end sheet metal on my 53 F-100 lined up and fitting right before I begin painting. For as long as I've owned the truck, closing the hood completely meant pushing down on the hood at the hinges to completely close it. I'd like to fix this.
Is this a function of week springs? There is some wear in the hinges that makes them a little loose, but this is in the lateral movement of the hinge arms relative to the plate part. The hinge arms don't seem to have excessive play within their pivot points to explain why the thing won't close.
I have observed that the hinge arms work in a such a way that the same spring both holds the hood open and, when in the closed position, puts a downward force to shut the hood tight at the corners. Is there a certain position for the plate that insures that I'm taking full advantage of the spring? I don't really want to spend the 100 bucks for a new pair of hinges if the problem is simply that I haven't properly installed them.
Is this a function of week springs? There is some wear in the hinges that makes them a little loose, but this is in the lateral movement of the hinge arms relative to the plate part. The hinge arms don't seem to have excessive play within their pivot points to explain why the thing won't close.
I have observed that the hinge arms work in a such a way that the same spring both holds the hood open and, when in the closed position, puts a downward force to shut the hood tight at the corners. Is there a certain position for the plate that insures that I'm taking full advantage of the spring? I don't really want to spend the 100 bucks for a new pair of hinges if the problem is simply that I haven't properly installed them.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 432
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From: West London, England
I bought new hinges and springs and I still have to push the corners down 
I think this is a intrinsic feature (fault) of the design. I would be happy if someone can prove me wrong and tell me how to make them work
A front tilt hood seems to be the way to go if you are not looking for originality
When fitting your springs you need to almost make a complete turn on the spring. I bolted my hinges to the bench and used a piece of 3" pipe with a slot to hook the end of the spring and holes for a T bar
You may loose some fingers while doing this
Stephen
I think this is a intrinsic feature (fault) of the design. I would be happy if someone can prove me wrong and tell me how to make them work
A front tilt hood seems to be the way to go if you are not looking for originality
When fitting your springs you need to almost make a complete turn on the spring. I bolted my hinges to the bench and used a piece of 3" pipe with a slot to hook the end of the spring and holes for a T bar
You may loose some fingers while doing this
Stephen
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,002
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From: Midland, Texas
If you do a search for "hokey pokey" you will find the tune that goes with the hood situation. Steve has it right, though... just learn the song and it will ease the pain.
reminiscing, himmelberg
reminiscing, himmelberg
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 823
Likes: 4
From: Calais, Vermont
After thinking about this hinge question I went out to the truck and tried this:I loosened up the bolts that attach the hinge plates to the cab and I rotated the plate clockwise on the driver's side and ccw on the passenger side. This is the opposite of what I'd done in the past, which was to rotate the other way. It had always seemed intuitively like that was the best way to "tighten" up the whole closing sequence. The result was encouraging. It seems that there is a point where the hinges kinda pass over a hump and the springs work to push the corners into place. Both corners went down better than they ever have. I think I may still have weak springs. Give me a couple of days to figure this out and I'll write another reply to my own question.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,150
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From: Waynesboro, Virginia
My hood used to buckle up at the hinges when closed; I eliminated 90% of it by moving the front center mechanism forward.
Visualize a side view of the truck...in effect you are slightly lengthing the hood "footprint" by moving the center lock forward.
Or, think of your truck having an imaginary, flexible "rubber hood" in the up position, with the front closing point 1 inch too far back, and you closed it. What would it do? I would buckle up at the rear hinges. How would you fix this? You would move the front lock forward. Same logic; hope this makes sense.
Visualize a side view of the truck...in effect you are slightly lengthing the hood "footprint" by moving the center lock forward.
Or, think of your truck having an imaginary, flexible "rubber hood" in the up position, with the front closing point 1 inch too far back, and you closed it. What would it do? I would buckle up at the rear hinges. How would you fix this? You would move the front lock forward. Same logic; hope this makes sense.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,906
Likes: 82
From: Oregon
I've always been fine with pushing down the corners. I thought it was an old Ford truck thing. It sure beats having to hold the middle of a GM hood so it won't bend. Always thought it kinda a neat old quirk of a great old truck (the Ford hood, not GM). At least it only takes one person to close the hood of the Ford, instead of two or three for the GM.
Last edited by wmjoe1953; Aug 2, 2005 at 01:52 AM. Reason: typo
