Reinforced hood

[Grit dog]

Yep, that's what I had to explain to all of them. I always hold a rag under our work truck's hinges, douse it good and catch the drippings. Then do a gentle wipe of the outside surfaces and she's good

Of course. Sounds plausible and common sense. I and anyone else with common sense would do the same.
But if you read the flavor of my recent rant about the boat, it becomes clear that there is not near enough common sense or smarts to go around for everyone so I’m just thankful I scooped up my share somewhere along the way!

 

[Grit dog]

Well, call me a rebel, I just put the hood braces on the 77 and go to sleep at night knowing the hood isn’t gonna crinkle and that it’s not in the top 100 most dangerous things I do or have done intentionally.

 

[Ricko1966]

Well, call me a rebel, I just put the hood braces on the 77 and go to sleep at night knowing the hood isn’t gonna crinkle and that it’s not in the top 100 most dangerous things I do or have done intentionally.

I believe the premade braces still allow the hood to buckle.

 

[Grit dog]

I believe the premade braces still allow the hood to buckle.

Oh good. Yeah I mean they aren’t very beefy. And I didn’t install steel angle iron. Also makes 2 pages of speculation of horrific events to come pretty irrelevant if you’re right. (I believe you)

 

[Dejure]

Reminds me of my first car, back around 68. A 48 Merc coup. My boss charged me $25.00 for it because he'd just put a new set of FIRESTONE 500 WIDE OVALS on it. [For those unaware, many thought of a Pinto, that had tanks that exploded on rear impacts, equipped with Firestone 500's as their dream car, for their ex. The 500's were blowout specials.]

It had about 5" of steering slop. Maybe the king pins needed penning That wasn't bad, because, once you got up over 45, there was always tension on the pins so it stayed where you'd last pointed it.

The missing (rusted out) floorboard would have been an issue in the winter, were it not for the bad exhaust, which kept you from being frozen. The monoxide thing wasn't bad because the missing driver's window created a slight vacuum that pulled the leaking exhaust out, but only after the heat dumped in the passenger compartment.

"4 wheel drums,no seat belts, plate glass, steel pipe steering column. Let's go real old school."

 

[Dejure]

Yep, the ones I keep seeing are, at most, 14 gauge. That explains why some say their addition didn't take all the minor bend from their hoods.

 

[Dejure]

The crushed hood photos bring to mind the issue of engines crawling inside of cabs.

 

[JBswth]

Does anybody make a reinforced hood that won’t buckle at the indented weak spot?

Your help is appreciated.

Just buy a pair of reinforcing braces, or, weld steel pieces across the weak spots.

 

[AuroraGirl]

The hoods are suppose to buckle at that spot,so they don't come through the windshield like a gullitene in a crash. The problem is dirty unlubricated hood hinges. They make repair kits for the hood. Take care of your hinges,or take the springs off and use a prop rod. These hoods are heavy. Also I would think any manufacturer that deliberately made a hood to bypass that safety feature,would be setting themselves up for a lawsuit

they may be worn too the hinges will bind if worn

 

[Ricko1966]

they may be worn too the hinges will bind if worn

They will also buckle if it is in the upright position and an asteroid lands on it at just the right angle.

 

[Sad Sack]

Probably a silly question, but oh well, questions are free. Since my '85 uses the "bi-metal looking" spring / hinges (easier to shut by the way) - can these be swapped to late 70's squares like the OPs?

 

[YakkoWarner]

Probably a silly question, but oh well, questions are free. Since my '85 uses the "bi-metal looking" hinges (easier to shut by the way) - can these be swapped to late 70's squares like the OPs?

I'm not sure because the earlier hoods do seem to be heaver - I don't know that the later hinges would keep an older one open. If someone has one of each might be a useful experiment but I don't have access to multiple year hoods.

 

[Ricko1966]

I'm not sure because the earlier hoods do seem to be heaver - I don't know that the later hinges would keep an older one open. If someone has one of each might be a useful experiment but I don't have access to multiple year hoods.

I have no springs on my 75 and it is a heavy SOB. I might try newer hinges and a prop rod.

 

[Radiohead]

The will also buckle if it is in the upright position and an asteroid lands on it at just the right angle.

Does this hurt the asteroid?

 

[AuroraGirl]

Probably a silly question, but oh well, questions are free. Since my '85 uses the "bi-metal looking" hinges (easier to shut by the way) - can these be swapped to late 70's squares like the OPs?

80s hinges also need gaskets https://newboyzsquarebodyrescue.com/products/hood-hinge-gasket-set-1981-1991

I have no springs on my 75 and it is a heavy SOB. I might try newer hinges and a prop rod.

do you mean the ones with the gas struts? i dont know if 81+ hinges can be used on a 73-80 , because the hood and cowl geometry and probably locations on the hood itself
From what i can tell 81+ use a simple hinge with a coil that assists opening that is separate so its less susceptible to the side-to-side wear on the pivots of the old hinges

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