hood raised up in the back.

[Rick Payton]

Has anyone made the adjustment to the hinges to lower the back of the hood in front of the windshield? If so do you have any directions of words of wisdom?

[newmexicomatt]

it is a very common problem....and it isn't an adjustment problem. The hinges need to be rebuilt. Unfortunately, I can't remember where I sent mine to get rebuilt, but it did solve the problem. I'm sure someone here knows where to send them!

[Barry Wolk]

That is correct. The rivets that act as hinge points wear elongated holes in the metal. They have to be drilled out to a larger size or welded shut and a new hole drilled.

However, if they are not worn too badly there is some adjustment in the hinge mount. You should observe the hinge action as you open and close the hood. If there's visible movement other than rotation the hinges must be rebuilt.

Removal of the hood is a 4 man job. Three to hold it and one to remove the bolts. It is enormously heavy. Drill two 1/8" holes in the hinge flange and into the hood interior support to act as locating holes for reinstallation. You don't want to try and readjust the hood without them.

[Nick DeSpirito]

I had mine rebuilt here. http://www.smsmopar.com/public/choosing.htm They said it would be a 4 to 6 week turnaround, but it took around 3 months to get them back. They claimed they had to wait for the correct sized rivets to come in. (You will have to repaint them body color when you get them back).

I don't know how bad yours is sticking up. I recall (I think Mad mentioned it?) about removing the under dash panels on the inside of the car and being able to adjust it. Anyone else remember that post?

[Chuck Lutz]

I went through this with a friend's car and it's not any picnic.
First the replacements that Jack sells are specifically modified with a strengthening weld in the most vulnerable place of the angle part that bolts to the unside of the hood eliminating most of the flex that speeds the wear of the plates. (speeds? 54 years? OK maybe not speeds)
I first took the old hinges back to my shop and replace and welded in new rivits but the hinges were distorted so much that they still needed replacement. The Mark II Ent ones worked well and Jack wants the old ones back to rebuild.
One trick that we found helpful upon re-assembly were the little trap doors on the inside of the engine compartment to the backside of the front wheel wells. With these doors off (and the tires removed) you can reach in to tighten the hinges to the firewall after the hood is properly aligned.

[Rick Payton]

OK to say that this is not a picnic is a massive understatement. I just finished and man this is a job.... No wonder the things bend the hood is soooo heavy!:eek: I have attached some photos of the hinge project and the interior project new dash leather and padding as well as the recovered seats

[Nick DeSpirito]

Looking good, Rick! I like the seat color combo.

[Don Keller]

Rick,

Looks great! Do you know those seats look superior to anything you can get in any new luxoury car today. I can almost smell the new leather.

Don

[Pat Marshall]

The carpet in the picture is medium to dark brown not light brown. The true color can be seen at the corners of the passenger's foot carpet panel. Also please notice that this is not the original carpet as you can see the stitching along the edges of this panel. No stiching is visible anywhere in original carpeting.

Original brown Mark II carpeting was called "Deep Bronze" it was cut pile. Cut pile is made by making loop carpet and then cutting the loop. It is commonly called "plush".

[Rick Payton]

The original carpet in my car was loop not plush. It matches the same carpet in the trunk... I guess they had both styles.... I think the loop looks more period correct.... Just my opinion as I am not an authority by any stretch of the imagination.:D

[Pat Marshall]

All Continental Press Releases referring to Carpet call it Cut Pile
Buddy Holidays Ask Buddy book specifies cut pile
The Mark II Encyclopedia specifies cut pile
The LCOC Authenticity Manual Specifies Cut Pile
All reproduction carpeting (Narraagansett, Jack Pugmire, Jack Rosen and others) use cut pile.
I have four original carpet sets (2) red, dark green and Deep Bronze (brown) and they are cut pile.

A forum member who was involved of restoring Henry Ford II and Benson Fords car posted this.

An earlier post claimed that the trunk carpet should be loop?? That's not my understanding.

When we restored Benson and Henry II's cars, the original interior in Benson's was still in quite nice condition, which meant the carpeting under the seats and in the trunk were excellent for benchmarking... Upon receiving samples from all of the known sources, we deemed none of them to be truly "exact", so my dad set-out to have the carpet yardage for our restorations custom-made to spec in wool.

After three failed attempts, we finally found a mill that was willing and able to hit the bullseye.

They turned out perfect, and we've got a good amount remaining in black and dark green. I don't know if he wishes to keep the left-over yardage for insurance, or if he'd be willing to sell it. I can find out if there's any interest. The trunk carpeting is a very short cut-pile, tufted in a technique that creates a subtle "corn-row" effect.

I once thought that the trunk carpet was loop because of the "corn-row" effect referred too previously, but found on very close inspection that it is indeed cut pile.

[crystal59]

Gary I should have the carpet on Monday. the picture you have posted is wrong in sooooo many ways... the carpet from what I understand and is what I ordered a dark chocolate color loop style. This picture is a plush.

Hi Rick. Following Pats latest post, is your carpet cut pile? Gary

[Rick Payton]

This is what my original carpet is.... you tell me I would call it loop. pat calls it cut pile

[Rick Payton]

I am positive it is the original... that is the part of the front seat... I am sure no one replaced it... I do have newer plush carpet in the car with I think looks wrong

[Barry Wolk]

I do not want to drive you crazy

Why drive when it's such a short walk?:D

[Pat Marshall]

Rick, I didn't say your carpet wasn't cut pile, The second picture that you posted is obviously loop.

I'm just saying, that according to all known documentation, original carpet was cut pile.

Would you mind posting a copy of the backside of you carpeting?

[Rick Payton]

OK to put this thread back on subject.... I was reinstalling the hood and of course one of the nuts in the hood spins. Off comes the hood and I had to weld the top nut so it would no longer spin and of course repaint:eek:... I guess this is a common problem because someone else did the other side. So tomorrow is hood reinstall "take II":confused:

[Mad Scientist]

I've had similar problems and it is frustrating.:mad: The real problem is that many guys have no idea of what is an appropriate amount of torque to use when tightening a screw or bolt and seem to think that when in doubt just tighten it a little more. Which is way we have things called torque wrenches. :D That way the next person to work on it doesn't have to deal with half striped out hardware.

I remember the time a used a torque wrench to put in the bolts for an oil pan and thinking I could almost get them correctly tightened by just using my fingers. :eek: