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vega hood hinges

PostPosted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:48 pm
by longears
I am wanting to change hoods this year I have a fiberglass L-88 hood and the hinges are part of the hood. Any ideas on finding a pair? I am not really wanting to use a pin-on. Any help will be great, and then of course my hood will be for sale .

Thanks Tom.

PostPosted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:04 pm
by djv8ga
Cut/grind the hinges off the stock hood and use those. A Vega hood isn't worth enough to worry about it.

PostPosted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:21 pm
by longears
And I have thought about that. but I am alittle leary about reattaching the glass hinges to another hood if they are out at all the hood won't line up.

PostPosted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:37 pm
by djv8ga
Find a stock hood (Yeah, easier said than done) and cut the hinges off. The new hood is a "bolt on" unit...right?

PostPosted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:45 pm
by res0o7eb
Tom,
76 and 77 Vegas came with bolt-on hood hinges. No cutting required.
They aren't real common, but it is one of the things we ask people to save when parting out one of these cars.

Aren't there fiberglass hoods available that use these types of hinges? Bolt-on hoods means just that. I never thought about it before.

Then you could leave the hinges on your existing L-88 hood and sell it as is.

A local guy borrowed the hood off of my 77 Vega to use as a pattern to install bolt on hood hinges(so I thought) on his fiberglass pin-on hood. I'll have to call him and find out.

PostPosted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:57 pm
by peterpan
most bolt on hoods are set up to use the welded on hinges from thr 75 and older hoods the bolt holes are different than on the 76 and up bolt on hinges

bolth my L-88 and my buddies cowl use the early ones you just have to cut them off and clean the holes up

PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:36 am
by norcalace
On my '72 hood I cut the hinge off the hood and cleaned it up. I filled the holes and drilled new slotted holes in the plates. Then I cut a section out of the hood and welded in a plate with two 5/16" flange nuts welded to the inside. I now have a bolt on, adjustable hood that comes on and off very easily. Next up will be gas lift struts this winter.

PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 2:35 pm
by longears
Well guys thanks for the help.... all great ideas .... now just for some hinges. maybe a good time to test my fabracation skills and just build some... I will keep everyone up to date if that works out.

PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 5:29 pm
by vegagtfan
I'm not sure that all 76 Vegas came with the bolt on hoods my 76 Vega Gt hood hinges were weld to the hood and I had to cut them and drill the holes to bolt onto the hood myself but then I did look at a 77 Vega Wagon in a salvage yard and the hinges were bolt to the hood.

Travis
76 Vega Gt Hatchback V6
72 Vega Gt Hatchback V8

PostPosted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 4:27 pm
by res0o7eb
Travis,
Do you have the build date on your 76 Vega? Check the trim tag under the hood.
Mine is one of the last 76 Vega's built - 2nd week in August, 1976. So, maybe this was a mid-year change.
Or maybe I have the only 1976 Vega with bolt-on hood hinges - a super rare, 1 of 1 car. I'll bet I can get some big buck for it then. :)

PostPosted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:19 am
by vegagtfan
I will look and see where on the tag do I look to know I do know the 77 Vega Wagon I looked at had the bolt on hinges on it maybe some came with bolt on hoods and some did not in the last couple of years :think:

Travis
76 Vega Gt Hatchback V6
72 Vega Gt Hatchback V8