VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 hood hinge pins

I want to take my hood apart. so what is the best way to start this project. do the pins come out easy ? I wouldn't think so but I haven't tried anything yet. the first thing would probably be to stand on end and pour the penetrating oil to it. thanks you guys have been a lot of help
Jay D

Actually they do come out fairly easily. Spray pentrating oil.

Then place it on some wood (2x4s) and lightly tap a long needle-nose punch into one end. Don't try to push too far.

Once you get an inch or two, then flip the hood over and try to turn the rod little by little. Pull it out while doing this.

yes spray the hood hinge pins with wd 40 or rust buster or whatever and leave sit for hours. Like Bill says.

Use a sharp pointed drift in center of hinge rod and tap with hammer. Might have to slug it to get moving. Switch to regular drift same size as rod...3/16. Make sure you do not start mushrooming end of rod !!!! Careful.

Once you get it moving grab far end with vice grips and really tighten on rod and try to get it to spin the rod. You can also use the vice grips and hammer to pull it out more. A good combination of tapping rod and twisting and pulling rod will get it out. keep spraying the rust buster as you go along.

Replace factory 3/16 rods with stainless steel.

mike lynch

Actually the best method to remove and install the rods is an electric drill. Once you get the rod far enough out to clamp in in the drill chuck, do so. If you turn the rod toward the open space in the hinge it opens the hinge fingers slightly, which helps get the rod to spin out.

One side of my hood came apart real good,not the other. What I ended up doing was taking a piece of pvc pipe 2" and split it in half length ways and glued a cap on each end andput the hood,folded in half in the trough and filled with blaster for about 3 or 4 days And it worked good

Great idea. One of the 3 pins on mine is also not prepared to move in spite of several attempts, so I will try your suggestion.

GOOD IDEA WITH THE SOAKING AND ESPECIALLY THE AMOUNT OF TIME INVOLVED. WOULD ONLY TAKE A FULL SPRAY BOMB. ONCE YOU GET IT MOVING TRY THE DRILL TRICK, CHIPPER MENTIONED . SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD METHOD ALSO.

HERE IN CANADA I WAS ABLE TO ACQUIRE NEW 3/16 STAINLESS STEEL RODS FROM A PLACE CALLED METAL SUPERMARKET. NO IDEA HOW PREVALENT THIS TYPE OF BUSINESS IS IN USA.

MIKE LYNCH

all good ideas the pvc pipe thing is a good one, and I suppose diesel or phosphoric acid would work also. the drill thing now there's an idea, and to turn it the correct way as to open the hinge a little. PRICELESS !
thanks guys jay d

And... in case you didn't think this far ahead yet -- When you go to insert the NEW rod, have a buddy help you by holding the two hood panels together --- and SLOWLY turn the new rod with a drill and SLOWLY press it into place.

The reason why this is different than taking it apart, is that when you're inserting the new rod, you want to go really slow and not chip the paint off the end of each of the hinge pieces.

As they say in "Two and a Half Men", use lots of devils lube.