[68 Ragtop]

Has anyone successfully rebuilt their hood hinges?
How are the reproduction hinges compared to original GM?

[Mark .L.W.]

You can still get the GM ones , just get them .
Mark .

[68 Ragtop]

This is not for a "cost is no object" restoration where I end up having 50K in a 25K car. I am simply maintaining a weekend driver.
My hood hinges are a little loose, can they be easily repaired?
GM hinges are triple the price of reproductions, is the difference in quality worth the price difference?

[Guest174]

the difference in both quality and fit is definitely worth the additional
in cost of the gm parts

[HwyStarJoe]

$70 ea. for new hood hinges from GM Parts Direct.
$99 ea. for same GM hinge from Ricks.
$35 ea. for imports from GroundUp. $95 ea. for GM hinge from GroundUp.

Get the GM made hinges.

[Mark .L.W.]

Get the GM hinges you will be glad you did , and just use your old but still good hood springs .
Mark .

[HwyStarJoe]

I totally understand about the "This is not for a "cost is no object" restoration" feelings when it comes to spending money on your Camaro.
Believe me, I do. But some things are better off with good quality parts.
It's taken me 7 years to get as far as I have, and it's not for a lack of time, if you get my drift.

[Fred Ficarra]

My Gawd! Get the GM's! And try to score the 396 springs. Mine are. I lube them once every ten years or so with LPS3. Just like new. No wear. Caution; with my set-up when opening the hood, have your other hand ready to CATCH IT! It flies up so fast that it's scary. I'm not brave enough to let hood go just to see what happens. And a remote hood release is out of the question.

[68 Ragtop]

Originally Posted by johnnysalami

the difference in both quality and fit is definitely worth the additional
in cost of the gm parts

So you have tried the repro hinges and they fit poorly?

[68 Ragtop]

Originally Posted by HwyStarJoe

$70 ea. for new hood hinges from GM Parts Direct.
$99 ea. for same GM hinge from Ricks.
$35 ea. for imports from GroundUp. $95 ea. for GM hinge from GroundUp.

Get the GM made hinges.

Thanks for the parts sources, much better than Classic at $112 each

[Guest174]

ragtop,

you could make them fit but that's not what we were looking for. went thru 2 sets, year one and classic. repros were light weight and poorly made. hey, but they looked pretty!
comparing the repros to the gm.......
do you wanna buy nice fresh clean oats or are you willing to settle for the oats that have been thru the horse?

[Unreal]

There are two sets of springs, one for the SS hood (350 and 396), and one for both the cowl hood and standard hood. Sounds like you have the springs for the heavier SS hood, on the lighter cowl or standard.

[Fred Ficarra]

Unreal, I guess you're talking to me. My hinge setup came with the car. Original equipment. I always thought the strong springs came with the BB. Just assuming,,,

[68 Ragtop]

Fred, count the coils. 26 for flat and cowl hoods, 28 for the heavier SS hood.
Did you put the cowl hood on? if so you should change to the 26 coil springs.

[68 Ragtop]

Ok, looks like I should get the GM hinges from GM parts direct.
I don't have a problem using aftermarket or non original parts as long as the fit and function are there.
As an engineer, it's frustrating to me that 40 years after the original part was made, new reproduction part quality is lower, even with modern technology and quality standards.