I have to fix or replace one of the hinges on my car. They are almost impossible to find and the place that I found that will fix them is asking 350 to do the pair (it includes reinforcing them so I would have him do both). The question I want to know has anyone retrofitted another kind of hinge on these? Done a tilt hood? Looking to see what my options are before I have them fixed.
What hinges are you talking? Hood? Deck? Doors? I'm not familiar with 'em, but I have an old '54 Crestline Fordor that I'll be parting out but not till sometime next spring or summer depending on work and other projects. It's been sitting for 30-some years and is on my hunting land in northern Michigan, about 200 miles north of where I live. I have no idea what shape any of the hinges are in but I know the rest of the car is far beyond reasonable repair, no floors, B-pillars nearly gone and about the only thing left of the 1/4s is some old old bondo held together by rust. . . Front clip is missing except the hood. The front frame section is already tagged to fab up a Yblock engine test stand, rear seat and some of the dash pieces are gone (clock, horn ring, & I can't recollect what else). But it has a 239 & Fordomatic in it, along with original power windows, power seats, and power steering (no pump or lines). I can't remember what else is there or gone. I may be going up there within a month or so but only a brief stopover on my way to the UP. If interested I can take a few pics of any part of the car as it now sits. Just let me know? Ron
There is company called Auto-Loc that has a tilt hood kit,I saw one on a '55 F-100 real slick! If that is the rebuilder from 1954ford.com posts, He does real good quality work,there is a place in New York that gets $600 a pair so $350 is a good deal.If any one has a 52-54 LUBE THEM MONTHLY!! if they bust going down the highway it can take out your windshield,found out the hard way.As a side note 52-54 Ford and Mercs are the same,they do show up on ebay sometimes but can run as much used as a rebuilt does,unless you get lucky.
I notice that Dennis Carpenter has just the hinge spring. I'm going to have to cross this particular bridge sometime soon, so I'm interested in any wisdom that this group has.
hey, found this link while searching ebay. it might help http://stores.shop.ebay.com/SMS-AUTO-Restoration__W0QQ_armrsZ1
"I'm going to have to cross this particular bridge sometime soon, so I'm interested in any wisdom that this group has." - rustyfords I am in the wrong freakin' business!!!!!
Thanks for the link, unfortunately no one makes these hinges new so you have to cough up your first born to get them used or fixed. If someone could come up with a way to reproduce these cheaply they would make a fortune.
There's a reason these hinges are not reproduced. Their design (which is a poor one) depends largely upon the integrity of the steel to keep them from failing. Reproduction parts of all types from all vendors are made of much softer metal than were the original parts. This is done for one reason: to keep manufacturing cost down to allow short production runs to be profitable. Softer metal allows the parts to be made on smaller machines and allows inexpensive tooling to last longer. Reproduction hinges of "our" design made with soft metal would very quickly fail. A bad reputation would kill the market for these hinges and prevent the manufacturer from earning a return on his investment. He would suffer an unrecoverable loss. So... The proper repair of original hinges is probably the only solution which makes sense...and that will cost money, and lots of it, because it's all done by hand. Like I've said, I'm in the wrong freakin' business. I've repaired lots of worn and damaged hood hinges in my time, but never considered doing it for money. Maybe I'll give it another thought...
That ebay post above $979! The guy must wear a gun and a mask as his work attire! Anyway check this ebay number in search:250517424693,also for rebuilt hinges check this guy out He has been recommended on 1954ford.com:Rowland Hall, phone# (818)845-3574 I recently sold him some cores,was great to deal with too.
LOL, I am currently bidding on those. Yea Rowland is the guy I am going to send my hinges to if I don't get a replacement set. It sounds like he also reinforces them as well.
Has any one ditched the hinges and used hood pins instead? Mulling over my options. I want the final look of the car to be a retro hot rod. I think the pins would look OK for what I am going for just want to see if any one as done this before and the feasibility of it.
ok....forgive me for asking the obvious.... but what part of the hinge specifically is it that breaks? And, shouldn't the catch at the front of the hood stop it from popping up in the wind?
Well the arms that hold up the hood arent built well enough and to top it off they are riveted to the clean air box so you have to replace both. Trying to find these in good shape on ebay will cost you an arm and a leg. To have them fixed is just as expensive. So trying to look into another option. Since the design is bad to begin with seems fruitless to continue with it. So was throwing the idea out other of using 4 hood pins instead. I agree it will be a pain to remove it to check anything. Not saying it is what I am going to go with just exploring other options.
I am also looking at tilt hood kits as well. http://www.thehoffmangroup.com/autoloc/product.l***o?prodinc=tilthood
I have had them break at the lower pivot rivet where the arm connects and also the arms themselves bend,you may get the hood closed and latched but air pressure can cause the hood to shift and unlatch itself without spring pressure,that happened to me in my first car the next day I went to get a hood and hood hinge at a wrecking yard in Urbana,Il when I came up with my parts to pay for them the announcement was on the radio that JFK had been shot in Dallas,so it was an unforgetable day.
I finally got a hood hinge at a decent price. I was able to pick up a 52 drivers side for $56 including shipping on ebay. I am going to use the coming holiday to remove the current one I have. What do you guys use to grease your hinges with?
Before you grease them to rid them of rust that may have settled in them work some PB Blaster into all the pivot points them spray white grease in those pivot points,relube on a quarterly basis.Also keep the hood latches lubed too.
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