tilt front end? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

lotik · 10-28-2002, 08:19 PM

does anyone make a kit to do this? if not, how could i make it tilt and latch? i already have metal fenders, and hood, so a fiberglass one is out of the question.

GMC71k20 · 10-28-2002, 08:49 PM

you can spend 1k and get a fiberglass tilt front end from classicchevroletparts.com some come with or without cowl hoods

lotik · 10-28-2002, 09:43 PM

i've been thinking.. the tilt isn't gonna work for me. i was thinking maybe forward tilting hood hinges? which model cars had these? and also, what about those hood pin latches? can you use four of those, and just remove the whole hood when you need to or do you have to use the hinges still?

lofly'a · 10-28-2002, 09:57 PM

late 80's big buick is one that comes to mind on the reverse tilt. i think the la sabre is one. you could pin your hood in four places if you make stationary rests for the hood in the rear for proper spacing. would require some fabrication, but is very do-able. good luck, go for it.

chevy2racr · 10-28-2002, 10:08 PM

talk to crazy longhorn, he did an all steel tilt front

crazy longhorn · 10-29-2002, 12:24 AM

the steel tilt clip was a quite a bit of work, but very little cash outlay......I dont have more than $100 in materials. I wish i had some build up pics,but that roll didnt turn out. Everything including the hinges were fabricated. I love all that space when working on the eng ......just pull up a tire & sit down! here are a few shots of the truck... http://community.webshots.com/user/hotrodhorn

70c10 · 10-29-2002, 10:24 AM

I have seen this done with a SAAB 900 front hardware. Looks pretty slick.

chevyracing · 10-29-2002, 01:24 PM

I think one of the tricks to an all steel front end is to make it slide forward then tilt. It has to go forward about 6 or 8 inches. Something like a very heavy duty drawer slider and mount the hinges to that. I saw one at a show the guy used a van door latch in the glove box to secure the front end shut.. Pretty slick. I am going to put a tilt front end on my 70 this Spring. I will do a write up with photos if anyone is interested. I plan on doing the slide forward and tilt thing so I don't have to cut my lower fenders.

John

DeepPurple · 10-29-2002, 01:34 PM

Quote:

I think one of the tricks to an all steel front end is to make it slide forward then tilt. It has to go forward about 6 or 8 inches. Something like a very heavy duty drawer slider and mount the hinges to that.

Right you are.
And about 10-15 years ago there was an article in hot rod about a guy who did something similar with a Studebaker. Although he did it totally the right way and used hydraulics. IIRC essentially it was a ram going horizontal and then 2 more in a 45 degree angle that pushed it up. Quite unobtrusive and reliable I believe it was. That's on the list of things to do in the future.

Benrs86 · 01-29-2003, 06:35 PM

last night i woke up at 3 for some reason and must have had a dream cuz i decided that i was gonna make my 69 gmcs hood tilt forward. i drew it out and before school today looked and after school i checked it out again and all i need is to talk my dad into buying a welder which he has been close to doing for quite a while. im pretty excited. i think im gonna make the hood/grill together with the hinge right inside the bottom of the grill. hopefully with electric actuators to lift it. maybe thats dreamin a little since i have no money, but im pumped about it. later, Ben

smokekiki · 01-30-2003, 10:45 AM

Tilt would be cool.As far as lift off hood unless you have someone with you all the time,it would be hard to get off.Just think a small carb fire and you can't get the hood off! Another subject..if you don't have a fire extinguisher please get one.

chevy2racr · 01-30-2003, 11:07 AM

smokekiki, if u do a lif off hood u'll use a fiberglass one. VERY light! I grab the one on and off our 72 nova drag car all the time...

smokekiki · 01-30-2003, 12:55 PM

How heavy is the truck hoods? I know that USBODY sells a light wieght race hood and a heavier street hood that has more bracing.My uncle has a 70 AAR cuda that he bought new.That glass hood is heavy and a 2 person job to lift off without damage.

fatfords · 01-30-2003, 01:40 PM

If you just want to make the hood reverse tilt (not fenders or grill), it is a pretty easy fabrication/installation. I built my own for my '56 F-100, and it was not that difficult.

Since the hood is wider at the back than at the front, when it moves forward it must also "lift out" from betwen the fenders. This is accomplished with a "pivoting hinge" at the radiator cross member and rollers and guides at the firewall.

I have written the instructions for a generic "how to" on the old Ford trucks, but with a little imagination and tailoring, it could be done on these trucks too.

If you want a copy of the old truck install plans, send me an e-mail. It is in .pdf format and about 200k.

Good Luck,

10-28-2002, 08:19 PM	#1
lotik drag it like you stole it Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 542	tilt front end? does anyone make a kit to do this? if not, how could i make it tilt and latch? i already have metal fenders, and hood, so a fiberglass one is out of the question. __________________ negative camber //LA\\

10-28-2002, 09:43 PM	#3
lotik drag it like you stole it Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 542	i've been thinking.. the tilt isn't gonna work for me. i was thinking maybe forward tilting hood hinges? which model cars had these? and also, what about those hood pin latches? can you use four of those, and just remove the whole hood when you need to or do you have to use the hinges still? __________________ negative camber //LA\\

10-28-2002, 09:57 PM	#4
lofly'a Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Alexandria, LA 71301 Posts: 1,451	late 80's big buick is one that comes to mind on the reverse tilt. i think the la sabre is one. you could pin your hood in four places if you make stationary rests for the hood in the rear for proper spacing. would require some fabrication, but is very do-able. good luck, go for it. __________________ -02 avalanche (daily driver) -66 gto ragtop 389/400 (garage queen, hand-me-down from dad) -72 Tribute Trans Am (6.0LS/T56 6-speed) in progress -2003 YUKON (Wife's) -71 gmc swb fleet (current project, gonna shave everything, bags, stuff w/ 20's, gen III powertrain) -48 3100 SWB - 12/31/23 LONG TERM Project

10-28-2002, 10:08 PM	#5
chevy2racr So Many Ideas, So Little Money Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Marshalltown, IA Posts: 1,610	talk to crazy longhorn, he did an all steel tilt front __________________ 72 Blazer 3/4 ton running gear 4.10s NP205/TH350 350 4in lift half doors 71 C10 with 454 99 S-10 5.1L SBC 700R4 09 Malibu Marshalltown, Iowa

10-29-2002, 10:24 AM	#7
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,857	I have seen this done with a SAAB 900 front hardware. Looks pretty slick. __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

10-28-2002, 08:49 PM	#2
GMC71k20 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: mass Posts: 1,277	you can spend 1k and get a fiberglass tilt front end from classicchevroletparts.com some come with or without cowl hoods

10-29-2002, 12:24 AM	#6
crazy longhorn Fabricate till you "puke" Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ill Posts: 9,403	the steel tilt clip was a quite a bit of work, but very little cash outlay......I dont have more than $100 in materials. I wish i had some build up pics,but that roll didnt turn out. Everything including the hinges were fabricated. I love all that space when working on the eng ......just pull up a tire & sit down! here are a few shots of the truck... http://community.webshots.com/user/hotrodhorn

10-29-2002, 01:24 PM	#8
chevyracing Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Go to the middle of no-where then go another 25 miles East. Posts: 8	I think one of the tricks to an all steel front end is to make it slide forward then tilt. It has to go forward about 6 or 8 inches. Something like a very heavy duty drawer slider and mount the hinges to that. I saw one at a show the guy used a van door latch in the glove box to secure the front end shut.. Pretty slick. I am going to put a tilt front end on my 70 this Spring. I will do a write up with photos if anyone is interested. I plan on doing the slide forward and tilt thing so I don't have to cut my lower fenders. John __________________ Life begins at 100 miles per hour, then just keeps getting better and better the more you mash the gas.....

01-29-2003, 06:35 PM	#10
Benrs86 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Brandon, SD, USA Posts: 1,292	last night i woke up at 3 for some reason and must have had a dream cuz i decided that i was gonna make my 69 gmcs hood tilt forward. i drew it out and before school today looked and after school i checked it out again and all i need is to talk my dad into buying a welder which he has been close to doing for quite a while. im pretty excited. i think im gonna make the hood/grill together with the hinge right inside the bottom of the grill. hopefully with electric actuators to lift it. maybe thats dreamin a little since i have no money, but im pumped about it. later, Ben __________________ Brandon, SD 69 GMC 1/2 ton 2wd wide long bed with wood 3 on the tree 350 engine 4 bolt main rv cam AIM = Alphray04

01-30-2003, 10:45 AM	#11
smokekiki Mike Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: west chester pa Posts: 2,474	Tilt would be cool.As far as lift off hood unless you have someone with you all the time,it would be hard to get off.Just think a small carb fire and you can't get the hood off! Another subject..if you don't have a fire extinguisher please get one. __________________ 70'c/10, 71 suburban4x4 402bb, 72suburban 4/6 drop, 72k/5 4x4 blazer 4" lift 35 tires

01-30-2003, 11:07 AM	#12
chevy2racr So Many Ideas, So Little Money Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Marshalltown, IA Posts: 1,610	smokekiki, if u do a lif off hood u'll use a fiberglass one. VERY light! I grab the one on and off our 72 nova drag car all the time... __________________ 72 Blazer 3/4 ton running gear 4.10s NP205/TH350 350 4in lift half doors 71 C10 with 454 99 S-10 5.1L SBC 700R4 09 Malibu Marshalltown, Iowa

01-30-2003, 12:55 PM	#13
smokekiki Mike Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: west chester pa Posts: 2,474	How heavy is the truck hoods? I know that USBODY sells a light wieght race hood and a heavier street hood that has more bracing.My uncle has a 70 AAR cuda that he bought new.That glass hood is heavy and a 2 person job to lift off without damage. __________________ 70'c/10, 71 suburban4x4 402bb, 72suburban 4/6 drop, 72k/5 4x4 blazer 4" lift 35 tires

01-30-2003, 01:40 PM	#14
fatfords Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 350	If you just want to make the hood reverse tilt (not fenders or grill), it is a pretty easy fabrication/installation. I built my own for my '56 F-100, and it was not that difficult. Since the hood is wider at the back than at the front, when it moves forward it must also "lift out" from betwen the fenders. This is accomplished with a "pivoting hinge" at the radiator cross member and rollers and guides at the firewall. I have written the instructions for a generic "how to" on the old Ford trucks, but with a little imagination and tailoring, it could be done on these trucks too. If you want a copy of the old truck install plans, send me an e-mail. It is in .pdf format and about 200k. Good Luck, __________________ '56 F-100 (w/all GM stuff) Lookin' for another parts chaser! '05 GMC crew cab



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