front hood hinges sucess!
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Durham NC
front hood hinges sucess!
It took a couple trys and some reworking, but I finally got my front hinges working without needing to roll the hood forward! 
There were some interference points to deal with, the major one being the center of the original latch panel where it juts out hit the bottom edge of the hood limiting it's swing. I reworked the panel to eliminate that bump out and all is good! Tomorrow I'll take it all apart, trim up the parts pretty, and shoot some paint on them. While they are apart I'll also take pictures. I need to get a set of gas lifts and a latch for the firewall to finish it out. 
There were some interference points to deal with, the major one being the center of the original latch panel where it juts out hit the bottom edge of the hood limiting it's swing. I reworked the panel to eliminate that bump out and all is good! Tomorrow I'll take it all apart, trim up the parts pretty, and shoot some paint on them. While they are apart I'll also take pictures. I need to get a set of gas lifts and a latch for the firewall to finish it out.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,074
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From: Northwestern PA
AX,
I'm in the process of doing the same myself. I know I already built the BMW style forward tilt, but I was not happy with the two stage open. So its a redo, But I belive I'm in good company as far as doing things over and over.
I have a spare latch panel just in case my cutting get carried away.
Can't wait to see your Pics.
Mike
I'm in the process of doing the same myself. I know I already built the BMW style forward tilt, but I was not happy with the two stage open. So its a redo, But I belive I'm in good company as far as doing things over and over.
I have a spare latch panel just in case my cutting get carried away.
Can't wait to see your Pics.
Mike
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 240
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From: Redsox Nation, Mass
The hood of my "yet to arrive home" 54 has bad hinges that allow the hood to come slamming down with the utmost of fury. I have a new set of hinges to install in good time. What is this tilt forward stuff? I presume a compression tool of some type is required to change the hinge, no?
FTN, (forgive the newbie)
Jack
EDIT -- my bad, I misssed "front" in the 1st post so I presume this is a dark side mod?
FTN, (forgive the newbie)
Jack
EDIT -- my bad, I misssed "front" in the 1st post so I presume this is a dark side mod?
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Durham NC
Just need someone (or two) to hold up the hood while you take the hinges off, it's danged heavy! The springs aren't that strong if you want to try adjusting the tension, I just clamped a pair of vice grips on the end and unhooked them. Tried different amounts of tension, but always had to push the back of the hood down.
Yes the flip forward hood hinging is a darkside mod, hinged so the hood opens from the rear.
Yes the flip forward hood hinging is a darkside mod, hinged so the hood opens from the rear.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,489
Likes: 5
From: Valley Center, CA
Jack71, You have two choices:
Choise #1 Install new springs and then get frusrated because the hood still doesn't close like you want it to; so you chuck them and install forward tilt kit. Live happily ever after.
Choice #2 Install forward tilt kit first and save yourself the hassle. Yes it's darkside, but it is a safety measure. Look at my gallery. It's easy to open, safe and it it will not come down in the wind like a stock hood. Good luck, Jag
Choise #1 Install new springs and then get frusrated because the hood still doesn't close like you want it to; so you chuck them and install forward tilt kit. Live happily ever after.
Choice #2 Install forward tilt kit first and save yourself the hassle. Yes it's darkside, but it is a safety measure. Look at my gallery. It's easy to open, safe and it it will not come down in the wind like a stock hood. Good luck, Jag
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,190
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, So Cal
Jack71 -
I have a front-tilt hood. I really like it. I especially like that I can remove the hood easily, which gives best access to everything in the engine bay. (Pics in my gallery: "Front Tilt Hood").
As a reference point, I know many folks who use stock hinges on their Effies. Most of them also add a prop to make sure the hood stays up. It is either a stick that they carry loose or a swing-down rod they custom install. In any event, the hood usually doesn't raise very far and working on the engine (especially toward the rear or firewall) is tougher. Also, the stock hinges are notorious for getting sloppy and requiring the rear hood corners to be pushed down after the hood is closed.
At the recent F100 Western Nationals, the vast majority of 53-56 trucks there had forward tilt hoods or foward tilt front clips.
FWIW.
I have a front-tilt hood. I really like it. I especially like that I can remove the hood easily, which gives best access to everything in the engine bay. (Pics in my gallery: "Front Tilt Hood").
As a reference point, I know many folks who use stock hinges on their Effies. Most of them also add a prop to make sure the hood stays up. It is either a stick that they carry loose or a swing-down rod they custom install. In any event, the hood usually doesn't raise very far and working on the engine (especially toward the rear or firewall) is tougher. Also, the stock hinges are notorious for getting sloppy and requiring the rear hood corners to be pushed down after the hood is closed.
At the recent F100 Western Nationals, the vast majority of 53-56 trucks there had forward tilt hoods or foward tilt front clips.
FWIW.
Last edited by Randy Jack; Aug 16, 2005 at 12:34 PM.
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Durham NC
LOL! Anything worth doing is worth doing over until you get it right. I bought a set of the struts RJ used today @ Pep Boys, 24.95 each. I hope to install them tomorrow. I have a vacation day today and tomorrow due to the wife having two wisdom teeth and a molar extracted this AM. Surgeon want her off her feet for 48 hrs, so I'm playing the caregiver role.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Tucson AZ
Originally Posted by AXracer
LOL! Anything worth doing is worth doing over until you get it right. I bought a set of the struts RJ used today @ Pep Boys, 24.95 each. I hope to install them tomorrow. I have a vacation day today and tomorrow due to the wife having two wisdom teeth and a molar extracted this AM. Surgeon want her off her feet for 48 hrs, so I'm playing the caregiver role.
Is she comfortable in the shop?
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,497
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From: Tucson AZ
Randy is right about the access thing, my darkside, homemade front flip kit will go up much as 90 degrees (that's vertical for the math challenged) without hitting the grille, you can even reach the radiator filler. Wouldn't have it any other way !
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,074
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From: Northwestern PA
Originally Posted by jniolon
hey Mike..... wait a minute !!! I resemble that remark 
john
I was trying to be very subtle, apparently you were able to see right though me. I didn't even name names...
Mike
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Durham NC
Originally Posted by fatfenders56
Is she comfortable in the shop?
) I work outside in the heat and the rain and the bugs and... !
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,955
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From: Rio Rancho, NM
Originally Posted by AXracer
Shop? what shop? I don't have no steenkin shop (no thanks to contractors who still haven't started on our garage... ) I work outside in the heat and the rain and the bugs and... !
) I work outside in the heat and the rain and the bugs and... !WHAT!?!?!?! they still haven't started your shop?? and I thought I was having a tough summer. Any chance of getting it finished before winter hits?
Good luck with it
Bobby