Hood Hinge Solution? (Bent Hood)
 

Hello everyone.

My 74' C10 has the square body bent hood. I'm sure this problem has been talked to death, but I couldn't find a permeant fix. When I bought the truck the hinges bearly moved up and down. Iv'e lubed them up good multiple times. The hood fly's up, but is very difficult to close. I am going to replace the hood at some point and the way the hinges are now, I fear they will just bend the new hood. What is the best course of action? New reproduction hinges, hinges from a different year? Any input would be much appreciated.

Just my luck, the guy I bought it from said the hood was perfect and It bent the day before I went to purchase it. Oh well.

Thanks

-Gavin

Re: Hood Hinge Solution? (Bent Hood)
 

Lmc has hood brackets they say stop the hood bending but not sure if they really work.

Re: Hood Hinge Solution? (Bent Hood)
 

Hood stiffeners work but some people don't want them because of what might happen if involved in a wreck..other than that the common fix is a lot of consistent lubrication

Re: Hood Hinge Solution? (Bent Hood)
 

There are about 5 lube points (maybe more?), some below and some above. It's easy to miss a couple. It should open and close with one hand.

Re: Hood Hinge Solution? (Bent Hood)
 

Don't pull your hood down from the underside. Push it down and back from the topside

Re: Hood Hinge Solution? (Bent Hood)
 

I don't know if this has ever been done, but is it possible to use an 81-87 hood on an older square? The springs are a lot smaller on the newer squares but the entire hood arrangement is better on the newer squares - no bending problem with the 81-87 hoods.

Re: Hood Hinge Solution? (Bent Hood)
 

I think once your hood is kinked or bent the only fix is to replace the hood. A hood from a 73-78 would be correct for your 74. The 79-80 hoods are stamped a little different in the front but would work just fine.
As long as you lubricate the hood hinges you shouldn't have a problem with kinking. If you add the braces to your bent hood it will close easier. just my two cents.

Re: Hood Hinge Solution? (Bent Hood)
 

The hood is shaped different, it slopes different, the entire front end is different, it's not a simple swap.

It CAN be done, but it generally requires swapping the entire front end, fenders, radiator support, grill, hood, all of it.

Re: Hood Hinge Solution? (Bent Hood)
 

Maybe that is why I see 73-80 squares with 81-87 entire front ends. Actually, if you went with aftermarket parts it wouldn't be that expensive. Or, find a $1000 craigslist find and take the parts you need, and sell the rest.

Re: Hood Hinge Solution? (Bent Hood)
 

As stated ...early and late hoods won't interchange..earlys are flat and lates are sloped off on nose...and I'm pretty sure there's a difference where the top back of the fender meets the door post

Re: Hood Hinge Solution? (Bent Hood)
 

they make hood braces just for this

Re: Hood Hinge Solution? (Bent Hood)
 

My 79 has the Mr. Gasket hood brace kit on it. Although the previous owner didn't put the front 2 screws in the driver side so the hood still bent to hell. I'll be installing them on the other hood I picked up locally. Here is the kit that Brothers sells & LMC Truck. Same concept.

https://www.brotherstrucks.com/73-91...tinfo/HBK7387/

http://www.lmctruck.com/features/cc/CCHBK.htm

There are nicer billet hood hinges etc. on the market but as others have stated.. i'm convinced if you keep the stock hinges lubricated and have the braces installed you should be good.