Hood Fix - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

72BLAZERDUDE · 01-31-2012, 11:22 PM

The hood on my 78 has started to get that typical bow. I am putting new hinges on it but I was wondering if anyone has tried to straighten one out by themselves. It seems to me even if you keep the hinges well lubed I will still need to put some kind if stiffener on it. Anybody added stiffeners to theirs. Pictures please.

maskale · 01-31-2012, 11:42 PM

I have some, not yet installed, but this is for my 76 truck.

LMC had them

bowtiemanchevyman · 01-31-2012, 11:59 PM

yes i have and you do need it. new hinges will not fix the problem. even if u put a new hood on it will happen again.
and no pic of if you can make them your self to

texastruckjunky · 02-01-2012, 12:35 AM

After you put your new hood, always push in when pulling the hood down that will also help from it bending.

**78 Big10 454** · 02-01-2012, 01:09 AM

One of the first things I ever did when I bought my '78 new was to install the hood stiffners.

BLE 'BURBAN · 02-01-2012, 01:33 AM

I learned a trick to help keep this from happening with my old 74 c10.
Instead of pulling straight down on the front of the hood, first push the front of the hood BACK (not up) to pre stretch the springs and get the hinges out of their "locked position."
THEN you can pull down and close the hood with never any problems.
Although your own reach and height of your hood when open are also factors to take into consideration.
Learned this trick from my older brother years ago.

xrcr · 02-01-2012, 08:31 AM

X2 or 3 on the push in then down method and got to keep them lubed. I took and added plug welds on my replacement hood in the vulnerable area prior to paint. Figured it couldn't hurt but still need to be careful

S10Fan · 02-01-2012, 07:16 PM

Brand new aftermarket hood, new hinges (NOS), new springs, hood tried to kink the first time I went to close it. I added the stiffeners, problem solved. I have an NOS hood in my shed, the difference between the NOS hood and a China hood is amazing. I kept the China hood because it's painted, pinstriped and fixed with the stiffeners.

THE "10" SILVERADO · 02-01-2012, 07:59 PM

When I got my new Taiwan hood (dual cowl from LMC) I also got new springs, hinges, and stiffeners. A guy in our car club that does show car quality body work ended up convincing me not to put them on. I don't know if this is true but he said that the crumple in the hood was supposed to be a safety feature in a head on wreck. The hood would crumple instead of flying back into the driver. With the stiffeners, he said that any front on collision would send the hood flying back into me because it wouldn't buckle in the middle (the hood stiffeners are thick).

I'm no expert but that's what I was told and why I didn't put them on. New hinges/springs and a lot of grease keeps mine from warping.

Keith Seymore · 02-02-2012, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE "10" SILVERADO

When I got my new Taiwan hood (dual cowl from LMC) I also got new springs, hinges, and stiffeners. A guy in our car club that does show car quality body work ended up convincing me not to put them on. I don't know if this is true but he said that the crumple in the hood was supposed to be a safety feature in a head on wreck. The hood would crumple instead of flying back into the driver. With the stiffeners, he said that any front on collision would send the hood flying back into me because it wouldn't buckle in the middle (the hood stiffeners are thick).

I'm no expert but that's what I was told and why I didn't put them on. New hinges/springs and a lot of grease keeps mine from warping.

This is true - but it doesn't stop many car guys from defeating safety features like crush zones, adding fiberglass bumpers (or removing bumpers), taking the guard rails out of the doors, removing or replacing seat belts, etc.

Myself included.......

motornut · 02-02-2012, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE "10" SILVERADO

crumple in the hood was supposed to be a safety feature in a head on wreck. The hood would crumple instead of flying back into the driver. With the stiffeners, he said that any front on collision would send the hood flying back into me because it wouldn't buckle in the middle (the hood stiffeners are thick).

I'm no expert but that's what I was told and why I didn't put them on. New hinges/springs and a lot of grease keeps mine from warping.

i thought that cowel post setup was for that,mine is buckled i think from pushing up

**allchevy58** · 02-03-2012, 01:53 AM

Also, spray some WD 40 or lube on hinges. That's why they bend, because hinge gets too stiff.

01-31-2012, 11:22 PM	#1
72BLAZERDUDE Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: WATAUGA,TX Posts: 675	Hood Fix The hood on my 78 has started to get that typical bow. I am putting new hinges on it but I was wondering if anyone has tried to straighten one out by themselves. It seems to me even if you keep the hinges well lubed I will still need to put some kind if stiffener on it. Anybody added stiffeners to theirs. Pictures please. __________________ 72 2wd 307/AT/AC/TILT WHEEL 78 JIMMY HIGH SIERRA

01-31-2012, 11:42 PM	#2
maskale Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 159	Re: Hood Fix I have some, not yet installed, but this is for my 76 truck. LMC had them

01-31-2012, 11:59 PM	#3
bowtiemanchevyman Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: rock springs wyoming Posts: 182	Re: Hood Fix yes i have and you do need it. new hinges will not fix the problem. even if u put a new hood on it will happen again. and no pic of if you can make them your self to

02-01-2012, 12:35 AM	#4
texastruckjunky Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: San Antonio,Texas Posts: 220	Re: Hood Fix After you put your new hood, always push in when pulling the hood down that will also help from it bending. __________________ Life is to short to drive anything else

02-01-2012, 01:09 AM	#5
78 Big10 454 78 Big10 454 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Pismo Beach, CA Posts: 839	Re: Hood Fix One of the first things I ever did when I bought my '78 new was to install the hood stiffners. __________________ 1978 Chevy SWB C-10 2WD 454/400

02-01-2012, 01:33 AM	#6
BLE 'BURBAN In the Forgotten far North. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 2,627	Re: Hood Fix I learned a trick to help keep this from happening with my old 74 c10. Instead of pulling straight down on the front of the hood, first push the front of the hood BACK (not up) to pre stretch the springs and get the hinges out of their "locked position." THEN you can pull down and close the hood with never any problems. Although your own reach and height of your hood when open are also factors to take into consideration. Learned this trick from my older brother years ago. __________________ 1987 R3500 CREW CAB DUALLY (BIG RED)Acquired 06/12/2015 1990 chevy suburban V2500 5.7L My cluster Mods-Nov 2007 overhead console Stereo install Round 2 Aug 2009 Heated/turn signal mirror upgrade

02-01-2012, 08:31 AM	#7
xrcr Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Foristell, MO Posts: 418	Re: Hood Fix X2 or 3 on the push in then down method and got to keep them lubed. I took and added plug welds on my replacement hood in the vulnerable area prior to paint. Figured it couldn't hurt but still need to be careful

02-01-2012, 07:16 PM	#8
S10Fan Old Heap Driver Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Newport News, Va Posts: 2,642	Re: Hood Fix Brand new aftermarket hood, new hinges (NOS), new springs, hood tried to kink the first time I went to close it. I added the stiffeners, problem solved. I have an NOS hood in my shed, the difference between the NOS hood and a China hood is amazing. I kept the China hood because it's painted, pinstriped and fixed with the stiffeners. __________________ _____________________________ Bryan '99 Silverado 1500, 4.3, 5-speed, reg cab, short bed '50 Chevy 2DR Hard Top, 350/350, M2 Front End, 3:08 gear, cruiser. '40 F**d Sedan, all Chevy power, Heidt's front end, TCI rear, nice driver.

02-01-2012, 07:59 PM	#9
THE "10" SILVERADO Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Marble Falls, TX Posts: 1,575	Re: Hood Fix When I got my new Taiwan hood (dual cowl from LMC) I also got new springs, hinges, and stiffeners. A guy in our car club that does show car quality body work ended up convincing me not to put them on. I don't know if this is true but he said that the crumple in the hood was supposed to be a safety feature in a head on wreck. The hood would crumple instead of flying back into the driver. With the stiffeners, he said that any front on collision would send the hood flying back into me because it wouldn't buckle in the middle (the hood stiffeners are thick). I'm no expert but that's what I was told and why I didn't put them on. New hinges/springs and a lot of grease keeps mine from warping. __________________ Michael Re-starting the neglected '77...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=425464&page=9

02-03-2012, 01:53 AM	#12
allchevy58 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Reno, Nv. Posts: 1,440	Re: Hood Fix Also, spray some WD 40 or lube on hinges. That's why they bend, because hinge gets too stiff. __________________ 1927 Willy's Knight 24,000 original miles, 1958 Impala 283/Powerglide, 1971 Monte Carlo 350/350, 1972 GMC K2500 350/350, 1976 Chev. K10 350/350, 2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD LBZ Duramax/Allison, 2006 Chev. Silverado K3500 LBZ Duramax/Allison

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