I have the definitive answer. You probably will not like it. I keep up with 49-51 Fords You are in a hole. You are. It’s not your fault that someone has royally screwed up your car. This tends to happen with a car type that’s such a popular model to customize or Kustimize. For every well executed cool customized Merc or Shoebox..... 10 were destroyed or hacked on beyond economically feasible repair. Take the rat-rod, spider web, spikes and tattoo crowd and add that junk into the mix. I keep up with these cars passively. The good news is they made a lot of them. Prices have dropped a good bit on Shoebox Fords. They have been slipping for many years. Here is the definitive answer. Put your tools down. Stop the bleeding. Buy a better car! There’s too many really good ones out there that are complete and well kept to fool around with one that’s been hacked on by a Jesse James wantabe. You may have to travel. It’s going to take some effort. Consider your car a parts car. You can find a really good car that’s not been messed with. Use that one and yours to build up a super nice car. A hacked up car will nickel and dime you to death. In the end thousands can be saved by getting a better car.
Certainly there's something closer. LOL I sent them an email purely for entertainment. I'll update as events warrant
Just to add my 2 cents worth, 49 and 50 hoods do not interchange. They may look alike but don't interchange. I learned this back in the dark ages when I was a teenage apparently Ford had a problem with 49 hoods flying open. So the honge and latch mechanism was changed for 50 and 51. We found that out while working on my best friend's 49 about 60 years ago in high school. He needed a hood and we got one off a 50 and it did not fit. An old Ford mechanic informed us about the 49 problem and for some odd reason, never forgot it.
I think the front lip on a 51 hood is about 1/4 high as the 51 grill goes over the fenders and a 49-50 goes in side the fenders.
As I remember things, the 49 hood was physically the same size and shape as the 50 however the hinges were different, and it wasn't a direct bolt on. You had to use 49 hinges with a 49 hood. 50 and 51 were a direct bolt up if you used the corresponding Hood Latch cross brace. When in doubt call Chris at Shoebox Central at 405-259-9222. He knows the tricks and has a yard full of parts cars. Hoods however have always been the harder Quality piece to come up with. I have always fixed what I have if possible, at all.
Look on Facebook marketplace in Newport. There are some 50's for sale, maybe they will sell you a hood.
Only saw the one in Newport. Wrote her last month said it was her dad's and he'd get in touch, never did, and now she doesn't respond. Did you see another in that area?
Use the '51 hood and put an appropriate grille below it. Always thought the straight across '51 hood looked better than the earlier center bullets.
The Ford design engineers made a huge mistake on the hood hinges and hood interface of the 49 hinges. They corrected their errors on the 50 and 51 hinge design. Adapting the 49 hood to a 50 or 51 hinge The attachment point on the hood has to be modified by welding in an additional support. In addition you have to use the 50 or 51 hood bracket to bolt the hinges to. One of the four bolts on the later model hinges will line up with an existing hole on the firewall, but you have to drill three new holes to bolt the hinges to the firewall. I cannot comment on the latching mechanism since all I did was to keep my old hood and retrofit the later model hinges. This link takes you to my website to a gallery that is one of over 60 where I documented modifications on The Judge. To review all modifications hit the home button in the upper left corner that will take you to the listing of all the galleries. https://www.49fordcoupe.com/Hood-Hinges-Retrofit-49-to-505
In the 50's no one wanted the single bullet grill in their 49 / 50 Ford, they almost always used a 51 hood or filled the bump in and put a 54 Pontiac or Bar grill because they made the car look wider, lower, and cleaner. putting a 49 / 50 grill in a 51 is "Very Square / Lame"
That’s a bold statement that “may be true” to a particular time, place region and culture. Like anything context trumps blanket statements. The “Thunder Road Ford”..... That was a real blockader built in the Asheville area of North Carolina. That car was a 1951 Sedan with a 1950 grille. It had either a ‘49 hood or a ‘50 Hood drilled for the the FORD in the ‘49 style. That car was not built for the movie. That car was found locally and purchased by the production company. Just because the big spinner was not “cool” in one region does not mean it was not cool in other regions, at the same time. Context..... What time What culture What region What purpose..... In my culture, Southern Appalachian, ‘49s and ‘50s have always been favored over ‘51s even though the 1951 Shoebox is the best of the 3 year run. A 51 is the best mechanically. The 1951 Thunder Road sedan in ‘50 trim is the best of both worlds. It must have been somewhat popular because the single spinner returned in 1952-54 with the new body. So, Context.
No Bullet = So Cal, in the 50's, hotrod kids, to look the best it could, low wide and custom. I'm from the epicenter of 50's car culture , grew up there, San Fernando Valley Calif. and was there then, so I'm shure of what I'm saying. Back east and down south were about 10 years behind So Cal in the 50, they didn't catch on to quick. It's funny today ,2024, Texas seems to be leading the old car parade, especially around Austin.
Context - 1950's, hotrod and custom cars, So Cal / San Fernando Valley, To look the best they could - long low and wide customs. Back east and down south always ran behind So Cal about 10 years and movie cars often were selected by property people from a given film. The only film that I remember that had correct customs was "Running Wild" with Mamie Van Dorren and Keenan Wynn.
You need a 54 Pontiac grille, I bet there's on here in "Parts for sale" I'll go look. Couldn't find one, Make or buy a Gene Windfield style Bar Grill, Bingo !
I appreciate the different perspectives. I didn't have the "I'm from California" dick measuring contest on my bingo card though
Don't know if it'd help. But there's a guy on FB needing a 51 hood. Might buy yours for you to put cash towards a 49 hood
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