Hood dilema

[77c10]

I have a 77 C10 that the previous owner swapped out the front clip from an later 80's model onto. He went the "easy route" and installed a reverse opening hood kit. When it is open the hook part of the latch rests inside the top of the grille to hold it open. I have never liked the way it is done and this has prevented me from getting a billet grille. I am considering getting the later model hinges and modifying my cab to make them work and installing the hood with it opening like a normal one does. I am looking to y'all for any other ideas you might have to help hold the hood open in it's current state. I am including a picture of it and later on can get some close up shots to explain what I am talking about.

[jimbonice]

I kind of like your current hood.
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[77c10]

I like it too, always get lots of comments on it at cruise ins. I just don't care for the way it latches open. When I get home tonight I will take some close up photos of what I am talking about and post them.

[bigsj]

I would like to see the pics because i am thanking about doing my hood that way.

[cory d]

i grabbed a reagal hinge from the pick n pull then the dude starts naming all the parts on it adn charged my for like 5 different things and it was like $70 so i just walked out. buick regal hinges work though

[77c10]

[cory d]

maybe just remove the latch on the front adn find another way to hold it up

[77c10]

Originally Posted by cory d

maybe just remove the latch on the front adn find another way to hold it up

The only problem with that is the latch actually keeps it shut tight. If it were not there it would bounce up and down at speed. I thought about getting hood pins but I thinkthat would not look right. I dont see where the struts on it serve any real purpose. Maybe they are not heavy enough to hold it up.

[77c10]

I just had an idea... How about getting longer struts that would let the hood move out further and maybe it would stay open by iteself?

[Pop's C-10]

Maybe if you move tha hindge forward a bit...that would change tha pivot point & give you tha clearance you need..but you can 1st pop tha struts off & see if that help tha angle any before buying new ones

[1LowToy]

Originally Posted by cory d

i grabbed a reagal hinge from the pick n pull then the dude starts naming all the parts on it adn charged my for like 5 different things and it was like $70 so i just walked out. buick regal hinges work though

If I only worked at McDonalds and saw that guy from Pic and Pull coming he would not get the combo meal price either. Pic and Pull did the same thing to me for the corner speakers

[77c10]

Originally Posted by Pop's C-10

Maybe if you move tha hindge forward a bit...that would change tha pivot point & give you tha clearance you need..but you can 1st pop tha struts off & see if that help tha angle any before buying new ones

Unfortunately the hinge mount is as far forward as it can go due to the core support. I pulled the struts loose the other night and I think that will work. My struts measure 19" overall, I think if I find some that are are at least 23" I can work with it. I have an 04 Suburban and the struts for the rear hatch on it are 26". I think they will be too long but may try them this weekend and see what happens.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 77c10

The only problem with that is the latch actually keeps it shut tight. If it were not there it would bounce up and down at speed. I thought about getting hood pins but I thinkthat would not look right. I dont see where the struts on it serve any real purpose. Maybe they are not heavy enough to hold it up.

I had a glass bolt on hood (using the center latch) on my street/strip car.

I didn't like the way the front corners of the hood would bow up so, rather than using hood pins, I added Dzus fasteners painted body colored. I thought it was a bit more discreet and did the job.

I don't have a good picture of the bolt on job, but here is my lift off hood, so you can get the idea (it would be just the two Dzus fasterners in the corners:



Here's the bolt on hood but you can't even see the Dzus' in this picture:



K