chevyuser74
1/2 ton status
just bought a nos gm hood for $100 today still sealed in the box, just wondering what your guys thoughts on aftermarket hinges are?
CK5
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73-80 hood hinges
- Thread starter chevyuser74
- Start date
Never used aftermarket ones, however lubrication is critical to those hinges. Sure, you should have some kinda of support along the sides to keep the hood from kinking -- LMC sells a kit, for instance.
But the reason the hoods kink is 'cuz the hinges get crunchy. Lube them every oil change and you'll be golden.
-- A
But the reason the hoods kink is 'cuz the hinges get crunchy. Lube them every oil change and you'll be golden.
-- A
chevyuser74
1/2 ton status
this is my current hood i thought it was sitting like this cus its bent but someone told me its a hinge issue.
^^^^Sticky hinges there.
They bend because of the hinges. My 77 isn't too bad. Keeping them lubed with graphite works wonders for mine. I also pull down on the front corners, kinda working it down side to side.
My friends Blazers hinges froze so bad one time wheeling....we had to have someone jump on the hood to get it flat enough to close.
They bend because of the hinges. My 77 isn't too bad. Keeping them lubed with graphite works wonders for mine. I also pull down on the front corners, kinda working it down side to side.
My friends Blazers hinges froze so bad one time wheeling....we had to have someone jump on the hood to get it flat enough to close.
The other issue is that those hinges do not collapse easily if you just pull straight down on the hood. They're meant to fold as you push the hood back toward the hinges. This takes a lot of load off the hood, but it's not always easy to push that way with a lifted truck.
this is my current hood i thought it was sitting like this cus its bent but someone told me its a hinge issue.
Well, both. The hood gets kinked 'cuz the hinges don't slide evenly.
You can see the kink in the metal that's right in front of where the hinge stops; it's a bit less than halfway across the picture.
When the hinges start to freeze up, you pulling down on the hood bends it right in front of the hinge. The stiffener kits brace from that point forward ... a good idea, but not so useful once you've kinked the hood.
I un-kinked one by carefully bracing it front and back and then pushing down on the bend. But if you have a new one, go with that... brace it, and DEFINITELY fix the hinges.
You might well be able to take off your existing hinges, soak them in penetrating oil to loosen 'em up, and then lube the heck out them -- as said, the graphite stuff works well.
If, once they're moving well, the are too loose, i.e. wiggle side-to-side, then you should replace them. I've replaced soem of my bad ones with "good", i.e. tight, used ones, and when they're clean and lubed they behave just fine.
-- A
blazin_blazer
1/2 ton status
i had a 75 k5 that the hinges were really stiff and i had to be real careful not to bend the hood, i had to close it slowly & push it backwards as i pulled it down. when it was closed the rear would still be up and i had to go to the rear corners and push the hood down to make it flush w/ the fenders. i had that k5 for 6 months & didn't kink the hood.
when i pulled the body off to build my trazer, i had a tough time deciding which front cap to use, the 83 that i was getting the cab & 8 lug axles from or the 75 front cap, i liked the 75 better but went w/the 83 front cap b/c of the hood issue w/the 75. i think the 75 is my favorite front end of the 2nd gens.
i sold the 75 front cap to my cousin and he bent it with in 2 weeks, we put a piece of 3/16'' x 1 1/4'' flat stock from the hinge forward about 2 feet on each side. it really made a huge difference, but he still had to push the rear corners down after shutting the hood...i think if those braces had been put on before the bend, it wouldn't have bent in the 1st place.
when i pulled the body off to build my trazer, i had a tough time deciding which front cap to use, the 83 that i was getting the cab & 8 lug axles from or the 75 front cap, i liked the 75 better but went w/the 83 front cap b/c of the hood issue w/the 75. i think the 75 is my favorite front end of the 2nd gens.
i sold the 75 front cap to my cousin and he bent it with in 2 weeks, we put a piece of 3/16'' x 1 1/4'' flat stock from the hinge forward about 2 feet on each side. it really made a huge difference, but he still had to push the rear corners down after shutting the hood...i think if those braces had been put on before the bend, it wouldn't have bent in the 1st place.
chevyuser74
1/2 ton status
i think i will buy the hood brace kit, right now there is angle iron on my current hood to keep it from bending anymore.
blazin_blazer
1/2 ton status
you can probally make your brace out of some flat stock, cheaper than the kit cost, if you don't have any flat stock, cut 1 side of the angle iron off.
chevyuser74
1/2 ton status
brace kit is only 20bucks and i wouldnt have to mess around then, at least if it is designed well.
Well, it is just stamped steel.
Flat stock can be had from your local hardware store; if you have a drill, you can do your own pretty quick, less than ten bucks.
-- A
blazin_blazer
1/2 ton status
yep-yep, and plus you can make the braces longer, so it doesn't try to bend at the end of the shorter brace.
chevyuser74
1/2 ton status
ok maybe ill go that route, now that i gotta paint the hood thinking about painting the whole truck, what color you guys think? the truck as it is now, cept theres a gas door cover now:
chevyuser74
1/2 ton status
thinking maybe silver
Yellow with pink polka dots, just to be different.
blazin_blazer
1/2 ton status
or leave the blue, repaint the hood & tailgate blue w/siver ''rally stripes''...i like blue and silver in just about any 2-tone configeration.
