Hood hinge problems

[MT1972cheyenne]

I have had quite a few of these pickups, and have figured out how to deal with quite a few quirks of this body style, but one I haven't figured out is the hood hinges. What is the best way to adjust them? I can never get the rear of the hood to sit down flush with the cowl or back of the fenders. Are my hinges just worn out?

[PanelDeland]

They may be.I have had good luck with getting them better by loosening the bolts to the fender,leave them snug enough to stay in place.Open the hood and lift up on the frontpush it up until the hinges slide as far as they will.Tighten the bolts and close the hood slowly making sure it doesn't hit at the cowl.I usually use a 2X4 cut to length to hold some tension while tightening the bolts.This will usually help the rear of the hood set down closer to even with the cowl.Someone else may chime in with more insight than I have.

[Bob B.]

I think you are right on the money. Usually, if the back of the hood sticks up above the cowl, and the hinge to fender adjustment is down all the way, it is because the hinge pivots are worn out.

[Shock_Me]

I've used the method described by PanelDeland, and it works great. There is a post by "Huck" somewhere that gives you all the steps required to do the job. Try this first before you order new hinges.

Good luck,
Pete

[71MUTT]

One time ,about 10 years ago, I was driving down I-4 in the Orlando area and my hood popped up!!!!!! Thank god I was in the slow lane. Cars were bumper to bumper. The hood was down, but evidently it didn't latch. The wind caught the bug deflector and up she went.
Needless to say, ever since then the huge looking rivets in the hinges have been sloppy and the hood stays up at the cowel only on the left side. I bought a couple of used ones from the junk yard a couple of weeks ago, but haven't installed them yet in fear that I might need new fenders also. One job always leads to two more.

[Aarons72s]

71mutt you can change the hinges by your self. You need a couple of 2x4's to make it quick. Take 1 2x4and place on the cowl under the hood and the other end onthe engine. Having the hood rest on the 2x4 after you remove the hinge. Then remove 1 hinge at a time and replace. Then just adjust the hood. I have mainly done this as a down adn dirty way to replace fenders on trucks.

[RedZ71]

huh, i thought you were just supposed to just sqwush it down after you lower the hood

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by RedZ71

huh, i thought you were just supposed to just sqwush it down after you lower the hood

Posted at the same time, but you beat me to it

[71MUTT]

Originally Posted by RedZ71

huh, i thought you were just supposed to just sqwush it down after you lower the hood

That's what I used to do, but guess what, now it pops back up. You think it's trying to tell me something? (the old bastard )

Thanks for the tip, Aaron.

[Classic Heartbeat]

I would replace the hinges and springs. I have done that to a few trucks and the hoods even pop up a few inches when you depress the latch. (like they did when new) Don't buy the repop hinges though, because they are only 1/2 the thickness of original GM. We have them for $69.95 each and $9.95 for the springs if interested. WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

[powell72]

Originally Posted by WES

Don't buy the repop hinges though, because they are only 1/2 the thickness of original GM.

That's good to know, thanks Wes. I've been tempted to buy the cheap ones before.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by WES

I would replace the hinges and springs..... We have them for $69.95 each and $9.95 for the springs if interested. WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

Wes, do you have them for 73-80 trucks too? My 77 Cheyenne is doing this now. Even when I push the back down it still pops up again.

[sevt_chevelle]

This place will rebuild your hinges to better then new condition
http://www.hoodhingerepair.com/index.html

[67ChevyRedneck]

Now that my truck is done, I only pop the hood a couple times a month. I use the "push it down" method.

1.Close hood
2.Push down on rear driver side of hood
3.Push down on rear passenger side of hood

Hood is now flush Steps 2 and 3 can be done in reverse order.

I tried the methods described above but could not get my hood down in the back. It helped some, but not enough. I think my 40 year old hinges are shot

If you don't get the other methods to work, mine works great until you pop the hood again

[ChevyDude]

GM Parts Direct has brand new Hood Hinges...just got some. Springs are not made anymore.

[19673ontree]

I just went thru this with my 67 but had prior knowledge of this and by that I mean that this problem is a problem that affect's most anything on a car or truck that open's and close's , the other day I used the above mentioned way of aligning the hood and got it near perfect , after that I installed my new hood to cowl rubber seal and the seal being fresh and stiff made the back of the hood stick up , I took the other day off work and it was nice out so I backed my truck out in the hot sun and kept the hood closed while I was doing some other work and by the end of the day it was back down almost flush so I figure when I drive it a little it will level out ,
I learned this also on 1967 1968 1969 camaro trunk lid's align them first then put on a new seal , my 67 camaro trunk lid last time I painted the car and put on a new seal took a month to go back down flush ,,

[LONGHAIR]

I know it sounds backward.............but believe me, if you need the back of your hood to go down, you need to raise the back of the hinges. By dropping them down, you are stopping the hinges from reaching their total travel. If you raise them a bit the hood will actually sit lower.