Does anybody have a tech article on how to make a full metal tilt front end for 55-59 chevy trucks? I have looked around and can not find one. Thanks,
you have to weld all the front sheetmetal together on the truck making sure it lines up, then you have to cut the lower part of the front fenders apart so they don't drag the doors when opened. we used to use convertable top cyclinders and pumps to operate it . making the hinge or swing bracket will be difficult also. Really for all the work I don't think the effect is worth it. I don't know of any articles on doing this so it is usually back yard engineering. hope all goes well if you want it do it. RED
Ive done it twice, helped a buddy do it to a 55 chevy pu about 30 years ago and did it to my own 58 GMC about 20 years ago. Sorry no pics of either. we bolted the hood and fenders together with a bunch of 1/4 inch bolts. Used some hood pins to hold it to the cab at the bottom. Took two people to open it. One on each side to spread the fenders a bit when opening it to get it off the pins and keep it from scratching the cab on the way up. We cut the frame right behind the bumper mounts and used leaf spring rubbers for the hinges. That way the bumper tilted with the front end. It was a poor boy way to do it but we are poor boys.
Seeing as how I have two front ends one in better condition then the other I was thinking about using the rougher front body clip as the test subject. I think I can handle the splitting of the fenders and bolting/welding the front body clip together. I think the hard part will be making the hinges and figuring out if the bumpers tilt or stay and or making the front tilt and clear the bumpers.
Check out Ebay 260150615532 tilt hinge plans. I bought a set as well as the straight axle set awhile back. I'm happy with what's there, haven't built anything from them yet, but that's coming. Rob
You may also want to look at Saab 900 tilt hood hinges at a junkyard to see if they will work or adapt to your application - those cars have tilt fronts and the hinges are fairly stout - They may make a good starting point for you either way
Plus--the good thing about those hinges is that they pull forward about 6" before they swing up...so no worries about dragging the front end against the cowl or having to spread the fenders.
I will for sure look for a saab 900. We have a lot of wrecking yards around here but I never seem to have any luck at them. If I was looking for honda parts I would be in heaven.
I did a '48 Chevy sedan delivery about 30 years ago. Bolted everything together. If you make sure the front pivot point is slightly lower than the lowest part of the backof the fender then it won't swing over more sheet metal than necessary. I made aluminun guides that followed the inside contour of the fender so that as the fender rose is was guided away from the door. I used a GM top motor and cylinders to raise and lower it. No articles, just figured it out, the old way. Sorry, no pics. Hell, there was no way to publish home shop work anyway back in those days. Charlie Charlie
Have you considered just tilting the hood? I occ***ionally build a system for the F100's which just tilts the hood. Some guys think they're easier to install and operate than the full tilt units. Below is a web address for the hood-only units that is being done on a mid-50's Chevy truck. Check it out - no obligations - Good luck whichever way you decide. http://www.customcl***ictrucks.com/techarticles/0705cct_forward_tilt_hood/
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