[chief455]

I bought the car with a lift off cowl hood. It has Dzus fasteners - so the angle of open/close should not be a problem. The hood has strengthened area where the stock hinge would mount - even looks like bolts are threaded in.
should I use factory hinges, springs removed and a prop rod?
It's a very light hood.
anyone done hinges to a lift off?

[71HOT/A]

If it has provisions for stock hinges I would try that with no springs first. I think Harwood and some of the other glass manufacturers have lighter springs if you didn't want to use a prop rod.

[Vince GTO]

Do you have any pictures of the hood hinge area? Are you running steel fenders?

I have a 72' LeMans with a fiberglass hood and fenders from VFN (GTO style).I was able to use the factory hinges and springs. I tried the lighter springs but the 72' hood is so long and heavy that they would not hold the hood up so I would make you a deal on the hinge lighter springs.

Vince

[chief455]

Originally Posted by Vince GTO

Do you have any pictures of the hood hinge area? Are you running steel fenders?

I have a 72' LeMans with a fiberglass hood and fenders from VFN (GTO style).I was able to use the factory hinges and springs. I tried the lighter springs but the 72' hood is so long and heavy that they would not hold the hood up so I would make you a deal on the hinge lighter springs.

Vince

I will try and get some pics up.
Looks like a stock hinge area to me. Very light hood. I have not figured out hinge interchange yet - but need them also.
PM what you're thinking for the light springs - I don't even know the cost new.
thanks, Geoff

[Matt Meaney]

what kind of car? got some hindges laying around from a 72 lemans.

[chief455]

Originally Posted by Matt Meaney

what kind of car? got some hindges laying around from a 72 lemans.

thanks Matt!
76 T/A with a 4 or 5" cowl hood.
I have to think 70-81 f-body will interchange, others I have no clue....

[Keith Seymore]

I mounted my lift off hood to the hinges on my Chevelle. I did it for a couple reasons:

a) I wanted the lift off for the weight savings (20 lbs lift off vs 40 lbs bolt on)

b) I wanted to be able to operate the hood by myself, in the staging lanes (this hood is huge and it doesn't have a good "handle". I takes two people to lift it off).

c) I wanted to be able to go back and forth between my bolt on glass hood and this one.

I made an adapter to take up the space between the bolt on thickness in that area and the thinner lift off. The lift off hood Dzus fasteners go into this adapter.

It's probably a bit unsightly (the adapter) but it did allow me to do all of the above. I already had light springs on the hinges because of the bolt on glass hood.

K

[69Customs]

Kool ideal Keith!!

Do you use the front dzus fasteners to hold the front of the hood down? How do you hold the front down? I didn't see any hood pins and don't think you could use the latch?

Nice ride !!! Love that BLACK

[chief455]

It is sweet!
Mine is fastend via Dzus all the way around so no pins to line up when opening/closing or leaning over the car.
I'll measure the hood hinge area and see if it's the same as a stock hinge pattern - looks to be. Just no front latch provision, too thin anyway.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 69Customs

Kool ideal Keith!!

Do you use the front dzus fasteners to hold the front of the hood down? How do you hold the front down? I didn't see any hood pins and don't think you could use the latch?

Nice ride !!! Love that BLACK

Thanks!

Yes - Dzus across the front of the hood. You can see the brackets in the third pic above, the last pic above (full vehicle shot with the hood up) and can see one of the brackets in the pic below. There are four total (two in the corners and two in the middle). Incidently, I need to add about two more: strange things happen at the front of the car when you are pushing 140 mph!

One other comment: the Dzus fasteners on the hood are powder coated black, so that makes them a bit more discreet.

K