[kk68]

Refinished my hood hinges and installed the springs today. I doubt that these were the original factory hinges from 1968 since they were in pretty good shape when removed. They have stamped part# 9794024 & 9794025. Anyone know if these are original part numbers or replacements?

They were definitely coated with a gray phosphate type plating, not natural metal or black. They had a few lightly rusted areas so I decided to give them a light coat of Eastwood’s Spray Gray paint which closely matched the gray phosphate plating. The springs were non-coated rusty natural metal so I cleaned and sprayed with Eastwood’s Diamond Clear.

[Scott Thelander]

those look nos gm to me .....

lucky you

[68ragtop]

Wow, those are Nice,

I made a thread on the same thing about a year ago. My originals had rust, but the backside that was against the fender was black. Crazy thing was I could pressure wash it off with high pressure and extremely close. Must have been some sort of paint & the hinges had never been off before. Thinking there were a few suppliers, or something? I painted mine black, because they were black but I am sure I will be told they are wrong

I'll see if I can find the thread, I think I posted pictures.

[dataway]

Always surprising to me that there weren't a lot more NOS hinges out there ... had to be millions of them made for the various A bodies from 68-72 ... and I bet of ton of them needed to be replaced.

Yeah, NOS hinges are a very hard thing to find now.

[kk68]

Originally Posted by 68ragtop

Wow, those are Nice,

I made a thread on the same thing about a year ago. My originals had rust, but the backside that was against the fender was black. Crazy thing was I could pressure wash it off with high pressure and extremely close. Must have been some sort of paint & the hinges had never been off before. Thinking there were a few suppliers, or something? I painted mine black, because they were black but I am sure I will be told they are wrong

I'll see if I can find the thread, I think I posted pictures.

Not wrong. I found your thread and also this one from 2009.....
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...41#post3580141

Black also correct. As this old thread shows, many seem to have been plated with black phosphate. If Scott and dataway are right, mine appear to be NOS replacements from 70s or 80s (pre my purchase in 1987) and were gray phosphate coated, not black.

So maybe there was a difference in color finish/plating between factory originals and later parts counter replacements.

Of course, also might be different color finishes between suppliers for different assembly plants.

[dataway]

I can easily see there being a difference in coating between the production part and spares. Hinges were probably not boxed or sealed, just had a sticker on them, phosphate or some coating would probably be easier for the supplier than painting them prior to delivery.

[68ragtop]

So does Hood Hinge install mean you found some nice Fenders?

[1968GTO421]

Originally Posted by dataway

I can easily see there being a difference in coating between the production part and spares. Hinges were probably not boxed or sealed, just had a sticker on them, phosphate or some coating would probably be easier for the supplier than painting them prior to delivery.

Is the coating the best way to determine whether the GTO has original or GM replacement hinges? What abut discerning between Pontiac hinges and hinges from the aftermarket?

(Post 1 show some beautiful hinges, luck guy.)

[Scott Thelander]

I have several sets of original 68-9 hinges

1 NOS set also .... GM rubber stamped/Inked part numbers on some parts...
I have many corvette NOS parts that are labeled like the above hinges...
the GM hinges have numbers stamped on the rivets '2' or '3' '4' or '5'
is the easiest way to tell real from repop ,,,,, super easy when the hood is open
or a combo of the numbers on each rivet
hard to find pairs with all the same rivet stamps ... even on original cars ... theycould be stamped diff
so I collect em and make pairs
these shown were refinished incorrectly by the previous owner
he went to billet hinges....

Scott

[68ragtop]

Dang Scott, I restored my hinges & never noticed numbers on the rivets. I'll be checking that out when I get home.

EDIT: here was my thread from a while back. I do see a "2" on the rivets. Going to guess the other hinge has the same as
they were always on the car since new in April of 68 I Didn't know there was a significance to the stamping.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...ghlight=hinges

[kk68]

Interesting. So my gray phosphate hinges rubber stamped with PN 9794024 & 9794025, have 3 different heads to the rivets. Most are marked with small 5, one is marked A2, and two show no number.

Photos below show locations of different rivets and closeups of different heads.

I’m sure more details and information than anyone needs to know or should worry about! 🤪

[68ragtop]

both L&R hinges I have have large 2's on bottom four rivets, (the ones that are hidden when installed) the rest have small 3's except one rivet is an odd duck with a large 3. Never noticed before & don't have a clue what it means

[68gtoMN]

All of my original hinges are black phosphate, not grey. I can't tell you that Grey was not offered, just that my 54K car (never disassembled) has black phosphate and my stash is all black

[dataway]

A picture of my original 68 GTO hinges .. appear to be black phosphate.

Larger rivets are stamped "2", smaller rivets stamped "3"

[kk68]

One more note on hood hinges. Wondered how to safely install the springs on the hinges. Ran a search and found this thread....

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...16#post4537016

Several mentioned using a jack with nails or washers as spacers. I used a jack and wooden popsicle-type sticks. Worked like a charm.

[Scott Thelander]

cherry picker and a chain or good strap

hook one end on the picker hook

the other end to a link in the middle of the chain .... the chain wraps around the legs in a circle

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by kk68

One more note on hood hinges. Wondered how to safely install the springs on the hinges. Ran a search and found this thread....

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...16#post4537016

Several mentioned using a jack with nails or washers as spacers. I used a jack and wooden popsicle-type sticks. Worked like a charm.

GREAT idea!

[ParkMan]

For all concours restorations and "proper" restorations, never paint the parts, always phosphate coat the parts. This is how every single car rolled out of the factory, so why settle for painting. It just won't last! I should know, I've been in business for almost 50 years as Palmetto Enterprises, and I've seen it all. When your restoring a classic muscle car, go the extra steps and phosphate coat your parts. If you;re ever thinking of having it judged at a car show, the judges will knock off points for not having your parts phosphate coated. They know Palmetto Enterprises, and they will know you did your parts with the right stuff!

[dataway]

ParkMan ... I've used your products, always worked well for me for both car parts and gun parts.
Probably about time for me to order some more stuff

[dataway]

By the way, are you still in business? I don't see an online store anymore.