Full body restoration...

[blazer74]

Not only that but do you really want to have to constantly walk around pressing each corner of the hood down? Definitely replace them if they're giving the issues because now is the time to do it!

Yes

[philo_beddoe]

Not only that but do you really want to have to constantly walk around pressing each corner of the hood down? Definitely replace them if they're giving the issues because now is the time to do it!

Well, i'm not sure they are giving the issues. I always thought the hood was easy to close. I believe someone before me perhaps closed it once a little too quickly. Only one side has a small begining of a kink. However i did get some quality heavy duty white lithium grease, which i intend to work in heavily.

[Irish_Alley]

i know on my truck after it stated to bend and was bent i lubed the hinges just with wd and it allowed it to close with no issues but once the hinges started to get harder it would just bend the hood again

[blazer74]

If you keep them lubed you'll be fine in unless they are worn out at the hinge points they will pop up  at the hinges as was mentioned.

[bd]

The way the hinges were designed on these trucks, the hinge pins are not large enough, they possess insufficient load bearing surface area, to accommodate the high tension of the springs, so the pivot points wear rapidly.  Due to high spring tension operating through the fixed location of hinge levers, the brunt of spring force is always applied to only one side of the pins and their associated journals.  The pins and journals are where the gross wear occurs.  Keeping the hinges lubed will slow the process, but not arrest wear.  With increasing wear, the load bearing surfaces of the pins and journals become semicircular and non-concentric allowing the levers to gradually shift, causing the hinges to bind more and more until the hood buckles. 

Excluding collisions, hood buckling is evidence for poor maintenance and accumulated wear of the hinges.  As previously stated, pushing the hood toward the base of the windshield while pulling down to close the hood will help compensate for minor wear and even increase hinge life if accompanied by regular maintenance.  But once the hood buckles, typically, the hinges should be replaced as part of the repair.  Adding braces after-the-fact without replacing the hinges is applying a band-aid.  And, installing weaker springs is dicey with a heavy steel hood.  Hence, I recommend hinges and braces together, followed by regular maintenance.

Philo, with all of the attention, effort and money you have invested in your truck to have a proud vehicle, it appears illogical to disregard the evidence and avoid such a simple and relatively inexpensive solution.  ...Just trying to look out for your best interest.

[philo_beddoe]

Thanks bd. I guess i'll go with new hinges.

Does the site store have hood hinges? I couldnt find them.

[Captkaos]

Yes we sell hood hinges.  The 73-80 versions are about $50 per side.  Email me if you don't see them and I will add them.

Chris Lucas
73-87chevytrucks.com
squarebody.biz

[philo_beddoe]

[philo_beddoe]

Is the gas cap supposed to be the same color as the bed?

Didnt know the part you grab to turn was plastic, the grinding wheel sure did a job on it while getting off the old paint. May have to get a new one and paint.

[VileZambonie]

You can either have it stainless in color or paint it. You can take it apart and paint the cap cover.

[philo_beddoe]

At $9.99 i think i'll get a new one. I may swap the center piece out, or just buff the new one and paint it. The old one is all ready to paint.

[blazer74]

You have the correct hood without the raised front section, which is good.

[philo_beddoe]

You have the correct hood without the raised front section, which is good.

I do? Not sure what you mean. Show me an incorrect one.

[blazer74]

You have the correct hood without the raised front section, which is good.

I do? Not sure what you mean. Show me an incorrect one.

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?PHPSESSID=7c471ef9809564907282a376bd6c32a7&topic=11847.0

Look at post #9

[philo_beddoe]

What am i missing here? My hood and the one on post #9 in that thread look the same.