Auto Restoration 101

Here is a fairly simple way to repair the worn out factory hood hinges on the old Fords. Basically most hinges from about 1937 and up to the fifties. You can purchase the correct rivets at several places or you can make them yourself like I did. I used 5/16 bolts with a shank and cut the shank and threads off after I ground the heads of the bolts.The bolts are grade 5.

This photo shows the bolt chucked up in the drill press and grinding the head with a small right angle grinder with the drill spinning.

Use a course file to help shape the head of the bolt into a rivet head.

Finish the head with a fine file to the final shape.

This picture show the bolts finished with rivet heads. If you don’t cut the threads off to make rivets you can use the rivet head bolts for a lot of stuff also.

I welded up the worn out holes in the hinge arms and ground the welds smooth. Before welding I measured to find the center of the holes and wrote it down so I wouldn’t forget. I used an oxy-acetylene welder to gas weld the holes.

I used a Blair cutter to drill the holes as it makes really nice holes and they cut real smooth. Drill bits will work fine too.

The hood end of the hinge arms was a 3/8 hole and the other end for the rivet was 5/16.

The newly drilled out hood arms fit the hood tight.

I assembled the hinge arms to the hinge with the rivet bolts. I used the original brass washers that were on the arms. You might need to install new washers if they are badly worn. I then cut the bolts off about 3/16 longer so I would have enough material to peen. I used a torch to heat the end of the rivet…this makes it real easy to peen. Do not hammer the rivet to much or the arm will be to tight to move.

The hinge is rebuilt and should work great.