Is there a way to "fix" worn hood hinges?
 

On my 69 Goat, I finally got to reinstall the hood, once all bolted down and tight and the hood is closed, the rear of the hood sticks up a good 3/4", possibly more....it does it more on the pass side than the drivers side. You can push down slightly on the hood and it goes back to the proper position......are these hinges just worn out or am I missing something?

Seems I read somewhere when I was building my 69 Camaro that you could "fix" hood hinges by "smashing" the rivets, or pivot points while they are heated up red hot with a torch, thus expanding the pin and creating less overall slop in the hinge assy.

Anyone heard of this? I'm trying to avoid buying new hinges....I've got more in this thing than I really want.

Thanks for your time guys,

~Joe

you can peen the rivets but its tricky getting them not too tight
Ive never heated them just used a 20 ton press.
The problem could be eggshaped holes and worn rivets, re-crimping,is only a bandaid if thats the case.

SMS in New Hampshire rebuilds them with new rivets.

They also re-phosphate them as well.

Great work!

Cammer, your prolly right, I didn't think about eggshaped....I guess I'll just get new hinges.

442...what is SMS? More info please...link possibly?

Thanks gentlemen,

~Joe

Check the April 2012 issue of Smoke Signals. Detailed article in there on hinge problems and repair. Also, the author can repair/restore yours, if so desired.

Alan

http://www.sms-auto.com/

They have done a few sets for me.

Just read this yesterday, Great article. I just joined and rcvd a few back issues :)

On the Home page they state "Hinge Restoration", I think that they should claim rebuild not restoration.

They look great other than the generic rivets. They need to use correctly marked rivets to really be a restoration. I am currently working on the fault.

circles in them?

More pictures.....

are those painted when they come back?

Ive done a few sets and have always phosphated them as the factory did

That's what I am looking for also

The hinges in my pictures are phospated, not painted.

Pet peeve, cant stand painted hood hinges!!!!

X2. Roland did the hinges on my '64 GTO and they came out awesome. He's a mechanical engineer by trade and hand makes each rivet in his shop. Very impressive operation. He's a Pontiac guy too with a very nice '65 GTO (original owner).

So if the hinge is a little bent does it stay straight after the repair and not bend there again?

Great information, I just sent a request for a quote on my hinges.