Funkwagon455

I have been struggling for some time trying to get the left aft corner of my hood to close flush with the fender when closing the hood. The hood will simply push down into place, but when shutting the hood it always tends to be elevated on the drivers aft side. I have seen other cars on the show field have this problem as well, and it makes me wonder if it is a common problem and if so what is the corrective action. My doors are fitted as near perfect as an A body gets as are the fenders. If anybody can share their situation, I would very much appreciate the insight!

oldzzy

Mine did that to. The body guy said the bushings were shot in the hinge, so i got new hinges, and that fixed the problem.

4speed455

Mine does that too.

oldzzy, did you but repop hinges or original gm?

oldzzy

I'm guessing they were repopped, cuz i got them from Fusick. You can have your originals rebuilt.

Funkwagon455

Thank you for your reply Oldzzy, who can rebush them?

4speed455

Now are you using the "lightweight hood" springs or originals? I found the hood would not stay up with the lightweight ones. My hood is an all fiberglass repop from tamraz btw.

oldzzy

I have never used this company, but someone told me about them. http://www.hoodhingerepair.com/

I am using original springs as my hood is an original hood with the steel frame. There was a thread on here recently about someones hood that wouldn't stay up, and they figured it was because the person greased the hinges.

brddg

Lubing the hinges won't be any reason for the hood not staying up, simply makes it easier to open and close. Use a good sprayable lithium as maintenance. Funkwagon, if your interested I have a very nice set of original hinges that I'd be willing to part with. PM me if interested.

brddg

Funkwagon you may also just try to lube the hinge with the lithium as I described above. If the hinge joints are binding it may result in exactly the way your hood is acting. It is always the drivers side rear that has problems first and lubing the pivot may give it just enough movement to close flush and won't cost you but a couple of bucks for the can.

costpenn

Heath, is it a OE hood or aftermarket?

73aussie455

My Delta88 hood has exacly the same problem as well, I've been looking for a fix. Thanks for the discussion and ideas on a fix and cause

Funkwagon455

It is a Thornton hood, either II or III gen, but I am certain that my OE hood would do the same. The hinges have been cleaned and lubed very well, that should not be an issue but if they are just worn then it would not matter. I'll do some research on the bushing option and reply back later. Thanks for all of the help.

My442

SMS in New Hampshire does great work on hood hinges.


I am very happy with mine.

oldzzy

I forgot about SMS. My buddy has had a few done for his Mopars by them, and is happy with them too.

costpenn

Heath, does it go down further if you remove the cowl weatherstrip? The vert I just did has a Fiberglass Concepts hood on it, and no matter what I did, it rides up in the same place. Read a thread here about those hoods being too thick in the back vs. the OE hood, so I have to leave my weatherstrip off or it looks like ***. Someday I will face up to the error of my ways and get a decent hood. I doubt the Thornton hood has the same issue, but you might want to check that if you are tired of pulling your hair out.

Funkwagon455

No, There are no clearance issues, as mentioned it simply pushes down and stays if you palm it down. I would prefer to fix it right though. I suspect the hinges are just worn after only 44 years of use. I've sent a quote request to SMS and am waiting for a reply.

Funkwagon455

I would like to go the SMS route but am not wanting to make the painter wait the 3 week overhaul turnaround plus shipping time. In the interest of moving forward I called Fusick and ordered new springs and the last right hinge they had. The left side is on backorder until August. My right side combined with weak springs were what was giving fits. So we will soldier on and once the car has been removed from the chassis, I'll send my old hinges out to SMS.