Hello everyone. I am a newbie on posting but have been a member of the site for sometime.
My question is in regards to reverse tilt hoods for the 48-52. Has anyone done this on the site successfully? I have seen the kits online for sale but not specifically for my year of truck. Any help would be appreciated.

 

HI JEFF!

Welcome to FTE!

Has anyone ever done this....You mean THIS????



No, why?

Ok I'm just being a smart butt.

I have done it, I have tons of pictures, and a MS Word write up on how it was done and lessons learned.

You don't have enough posts to send PMs yet (you need 25) so write me an e-mail at babbiebuddie@***.net and I'll send you the whole kit and kaboodle!

PS It's all the original steel btw.

 

Welcome to the forum, Jeff.
I have never seen a reverse open kit for the 48-52 Ford truck hoods, and if you did, I think you'd have some fundamental problems with them. Unlike the later trucks, the early effies have a very narrow hood front, and the hood is set well back of the header panel. This would have serious stability issues with a narrow hinge in the front, and a whole bunch of weight up top trying to tip over, one way or the other. Problem number two would be devising a hinge that would lift up the front and carry the hood over, and in front of, the header panel. All while trying to keep the hood from tipping over sideways. A difficult proposition, at best.
After typing all this and thinking about it, I suppose it may be possible to incorporate the header into the hinge design, attach it to the hood and build a structure underneath to support the whole deal off the fenders. But it's late, and now I'll have to sleep on this. Hmmmm, I may be on to something. ;-)

 

Julie,

That is way more than I was thinking. Pretty cool though and I am interested in how you got that accomplished. I will be emailing for more info.


Wayne,
Great points that I did not think of. The kit I saw was from Sac Vintage. Right now it was a thought because I like the look of the hood tilt, but your point of clearing the header is a good one on our year of trucks.

 

Is this more in line of what you are asking, it's just a picture I got off the net and not sure how much different it is to the ones used on the 53-56's but the picture proves it has been done.

 

Exactly....... thats what I would like to do.

 

Jeff,
The latest catalog from Sacramento Ford has a kit for the '48 and up Pickups. I live about 40 minutes from them and know one of the counter guys fairly well if you need any information I would be glad to get it for you. I also am redoing a '48 and have thought about doing a tilt hood but until now there haven't been any kits on the market. Last week I bought a '54 F 100 with a tilt hood and it seems to work smooth. It's listed in the Dec. issue of Cruising News for N. California.I go up to Sac a lot so don't be afraid to ask if there is anything you want to check on.
Jim

 

Jim,

If you are in the area and think of it I would appreciate knowing what they think of their kit (Honestly). I figure over the phone not knowing anyone they would give the standard anwsers. Again thanks for the offer.

 

Jeff,
I'll give James a call tomorrow and see if I can get names of any or all of the orders they have shipped. I don't even know James' last name but I've been buying from him for about 5 years or longer. I bought an AirRide system from him and when they changed models a few years later he was able to get me an upgrade. He has been working all through his college years. He finally graduated and now can't find an engineering job so is still working there. I was just up there about two weeks ago to show him a '54 F-100 I picked up at a GoodGuys show in November. If you ever do contact them ask for James and mention my name.
Jim Emerson
Stockton,CA

 

Hey Jeff,

Jim is having log on problems and wants you to contact him. You are not set up to recieve e-mails and don't have enough posts for Private Messages yet. So if you could write to him please do at:

jmrson@caldsl.net

 

Will do. Thanks Julie.

 

Jeff,
I've been having a hell of a time logging on to this site and I'm not sure why. I had a little brain f--t and hooked up my laptop and was able to get through. Don't know why I didn't think of this sooner. Anyway now that Julie was so kind as to relay my messages to you I'll try to get up there Monday or Tuesday for sure and check out the kit. I wanted to be able to give you a call if need be for any information when I'm up there. James is a really good young man. Freshly graduated, newly married and working two jobs until he can land an engineering job. With all of this privacy BS I don't know how much information he can give you about the customers but maybe he can call them and have them get in contace with you.
Well something will be getting done soon.
jim

 

This is awesome. I sent a email. Hope you still have the same email address.

 

Here's mine.





_______________________________________________
48 Ford F1 - Darkside
46 Ford Tudor - Street Rod

:Happiness - 3 pedals and a 5 speed"

 

Julie is no longer on this site and doubtful that the email works. 48 Steel has a great reverse tilt hood. I did mine a totally different way but it only works on a '51 or a '52 because of the grill.