cab swap blues

[jcchevy1]

Hey guys, I have a 77 swb stepside and a 86 lwb that I bought just for the cab. After taking a hard long look and doing some measuring the wind was let out of my sails I noticed the difference in wiper cowls. After finding you guys through another forum I was pleasantly surprised to find several threads regarding this subject. Thanks for kicking the breeze back up. I do have one question though ,on each side of the 77 cab there are two bolts approx 5/8 shank that stick up approx 1.25 inches and recess into the hood when it is closed. Are they supposed to keep the rear of the hood down ? Are they for safety in case of an accident? The 86 does not have them and this was an area of concern for me. Great site ! Thanks for the help

[zieg85]

Good question, I have always thought they were for safety but someone will chime in who knows for sure.  Glad you found us and welcome from NW Indiana

[Lt.Del]

Welcome from VA.  You near JAX?
i always thought it was for hood adjustment....keeping it from coming down too much in the rear, or raising the back of the hood if it is too low in the back...this is a pic i found in my archives when i switched engines years ago and i think you are talking about the peg in the top left of this pic?






Here's another pic i found in my endless bank of picstures....

[jcchevy1]

You nailed it SGTDEL. I wasnt sure if i need to refab this area to accomadate these bolts or not. I was thinkin (and with me thats dangerous) that they may keep the hood from bouncing against the fenders as well as keeping the rear of the hood up. If they are not needed I sure hate to do all that extra work but I want it right. Thanks for the replies. Oh, and I am right here next to kings Bay sub-base about 30 min to jax.

[bake74]

     From my experience and understanding, the "peg" is to keep the hood up as you say in the back so it does not sag from spring wear over time.  Welcome to the site from California.

[1979C20]

It is also a saftey item. If you are in a front end crash, those pegs cause the hood to stop and crumple upward instead of sliding backwards through the windshield. The crumple point is in the middle of the hood, where the hood usually benda over time. And, you cab use those pegs to chain the transmission up when you remove the engine.

[Lt.Del]

after looking at my truck, it is indeed a safety feature and not an alignment tool like I thought.  There is a square hole in the hood itself that lines up directly over the peg and I think the hole fits down over the peg, so, as mentioned previously, the ped prevents the hood from flying through the windshield. Pretty nefty.