My Hood became a sail in the Kansas wind

I can't even talk about it.....I need a pair of hood hinges for a 64 Cadillac hearse. End of story and don't even ask. ugh
 
I can vouch for Wilson Antique Auto's hood hinge rebuilding. I sent the hinges off of my '68 there to be rebuilt. They are super nice and very fast. I had them back in a week. They looked awesome when I got them back. I will say that they do not do any plating there, only painting. So, if yours would need to be plated, you will need to do what I did--send them to www.brakeboosters.com If they are going to be plated, make sure that they do not sand blast them to clean them at Wilson's, as the plating guy told me it makes the plated surface look grainy. Good luck!
 
Oh, no. Sounds like some good recommendations for repair of the hinge. And didn't that happen to Darren recently, too? What's up with hoods?

I had that happen to me many years ago with my '63 Studebaker Cruiser sedan (not an ambulance) while I was in college. My hood flew open on the interstate. Didn't damage the hood but scratched the paint on the cowl, and broke one of the hood hinges. When I got back to campus, one of the college maintenance guys saw me and asked what happened. I showed him the damaged hinge and mentioned I'd have to look for a new one. He said, "give me the hinge, and come find me at the end of the day." I did, and he presented me with a newly-machined hood hinge that looked good as new. I thanked him profusely. Nice to have friends. It's still on the car to this day, you'd never know it wasn't the original factory hinge.

Anyway, my point is, do you have a good friend with machine tools?
 
that style has to be adjust for the safety catch to work. there is no reason for the hood to come clear up if the safety latch is working properly.
 
UGH! (talking with a paper bag over my face)....I had removed the hood latch BECAUSE I had taken out the air conditioner condenser to have it repaired for the St. Patricks Day Parade, TOMORROW. I was concentrating detailing the car and getting it ready. So when I took off to turn it around in the cemetery, IT happened. It was a slow motion nightmare. The second I saw it fly up and come towards me, my life flashed in front of me, especially the part of my life that remined me I had just the day before REMOVED the hood latch. I had no idea a hood could flip back so far, or with such force, or with such a loud bang. So with my ball of twine, I headed for the body shop, with my Groucho Marx glasses on so nobody would recognize me. When I arrived, there was a pall of silence. Then, one by one, they did it. I saw each one of them turn around and start giggling. Oh, I'll be in the parade tomorrow, even with the hood strapped down with a tie-down. Green hat and all, minus the glasses. After all, The show AND life must go on.
 
I am sure Darren can surely attest to how frightening this is, especially at highway speed and alot of other cars around. I had this happen to me in a 1956 Ford and a 1985 full-sized Ford Bronco. Since that time, whenever I close the hood on ANY car, I then try to lift up on it to make sure it is latched. Just something I got into the habit of doing since then. At least you didn't hurt your windshield or anything else. Good luck getting your hinges fixed, I am sure someone should be able to help you out.
 
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I'm a member too

Count me in as a member of the "Sailing Hoods Chapter". Had that happen in 1997 with a 1974 M-M Criterion. I had recently installed two Grimes Ful-Vu lights on the hood, just as our (former) '74 Lifeliner was ordered with when new. In fact, they were the same lights that came off of that car. Luck was with me because the lights were not damaged at all.

I feel your pain, Doug!
 
I did it one time in a 1962 Studebaker Hawk. Well known for having finicky hood latches and a secondary latch that didn't do it's job. Heavy grille came up and smashed down the roof enough to cause the roof to hit me in the head at the same time. Managed to come to a controlled stop. What a day.
 
the worse part is how froggie you get after it happens. you tend to duck every time you hit a bump with the car again. those people who don't live in wind may not realise how far around a door will go caught in it also. but I have seen them laid agents the fender.
 
I am sure Darren can surely attest to how frightening this is, especially at highway speed and alot of other cars around. I had this happen to me in a 1956 Ford and a 1985 full-sized Ford Bronco. Since that time, whenever I close the hood on ANY car, I then try to lift up on it to make sure it is latched. Just something I got into the habit of doing since then. At least you didn't hurt your windshield or anything else. Good luck getting your hinges fixed, I am sure someone should be able to help you out.

Not to hijack this thread, but your post on lifting the hood to make sure it is closed makes me think of something I always do. On cars with suicide doors, before I drive it I always give the doors a tug to make sure they are fully closed. It has never happened to me yet but I have seen suicide doors come open on the road, that makes a mess of the body!!
I have had a hood open going about 70 once, and it wrapped over the roof, then tore one of the hinges. right off the fender.
 
I can vouch for Wilson Antique Auto's hood hinge rebuilding. I sent the hinges off of my '68 there to be rebuilt. They are super nice and very fast. I had them back in a week. They looked awesome when I got them back. I will say that they do not do any plating there, only painting. So, if yours would need to be plated, you will need to do what I did--send them to www.brakeboosters.com If they are going to be plated, make sure that they do not sand blast them to clean them at Wilson's, as the plating guy told me it makes the plated surface look grainy. Good luck!

And here is what they look like rebuilt and re-plated. I only unwrapped one for the pic. I had the bolts and the hood straps done too.
 

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