Hood Hinge Problems
 

If anyone has read this thread, you already know that I am having hood hinge issues. Because of this the corner of my hood is chipped and the driver side fender has a slight dimple in it.:(

https://mustangforums.com/forum/clas...ng-pics-4.html

In my opinion the hood hinge springs are too stiff and put too much tension on the hood hinges.

I have had my Mustang for about 15 years and never had a problem with the hinges.

One of the original hinges collapsed the other day. I installed new hood hinges and now the hinge on the other side collapsed.

I have a replacement hinge on its way. I am going to try springs for a fiberglass hood, since they are not as stiff.

Will this work?

Also, Has anyone used this?

http://www.mustangsunlimited.com/ite...asp?T1=HLK4+01

:confused:

I didn't like the springs so I removed them and installed a prop rod.

lots of old fords have a dimple at the end of the hinge from the mechanism getting rusty and dirty and becoming stiff. :rolleyes: not sure why they made it so stiff. one-size-fits-all maybe?

A couple years ago I put new hinges and springs on my '67 coupe. They were so stiff I thought I was going to bend the hood. Then I sprayed WD-40 on the hinges' pivot points. That made a HUGE difference on how the hinges moved.

I noticed the same thing about the hinges before I installed them. I put some 3 in 1 oil on the hinges and it did help them.

I had thought about the prop rod or those hydraulic shocks, but I'm concerned because with out springs installed on the hinges the hood actually sits lower and hits the cowel when going up and down. It is adjusted all the way up.


Does anyone have any thoughts about the softer springs for fiberglass hoods?

You will need to really lubricate the hinges. I am running a fiberglass good and I was told by the owner of Maier Racing to not use springs at all. This is what I use on a lot of my parts as a lubricant:

http://www.aaaindustrialsupply.com/i...ROD&ProdID=307

When moving the hood up and down with out springs installed everything was working fine.

The spring has too much tension and pulled the hinge inward and basically bent it it half. The hinge was not strong enough to over come and pull the spring.

Also, It hasn't been answered yet, Is it normal for the rear of the hood to sit low when springs are not installed on it?

When you removed the springs, did you have to readjust your hood or the hinges?

Well the Shelby/Fiberglass hood springs are indeed too soft to hold up the hood.

I am thinking now about leaving them as helpers and to avoid the hood crashing down and add a hood prop.

I have seen a couple of different styles of them.

Does anyone have one of the hood props?

Yes. I removed my springs as well. had to adjust the hinge height to get the hood to sit properly when closed.

My hinges are so fubar i don't even need a prop rod to hold the hood open.
Waiting for a new hood before i put the new hinge/spring combo's on.