Iowa born

I just purchased reproduction hood hinges and they are so stiff I can't physically open and close by hand. Have to put in a vise and use a long pry bar to open and then it's a struggle. Contacted vendor and he said they'd be fine in time. Anyone ever installed hinges that were this stiff and didn't have any consequences? Thanks,

65hihp

suggest you return them for refund or replacement with another pair that move more freely. Let this pair loosen up over time back in the vendor's inventory or on someone else's car.

MOXIE62

I purchased a pair from long island and they move as they should. If you did not want to fool with returns, I would think you could put a screwdriver between the 2 halfs and free them up.

corvettekent

Use some WD 40 on them.

Frankie the Fink

Mine came from Long Island and they are the same. Firm movement, no play, but doesn't take an elephant to work them...

rfn026

There's a reason most of us buy stuff from Long Island and Paragon.

Richard Newton
The '58 Project

65silververt

I'm sure they will move fine once installed. Put some lithium grease on them. I bet it won't take long at all for them to break in.

65hihp

"Have to put in a vise and use a long pry bar to open and then it's a struggle."

If his description above is accurate, I would not use my hood as the long pry bar. And I don't recommend using his hood either.

65tripleblack

+1

Iowa born

Thanks to all that responded. Vendor has agreed to replace hinge.

JackTripper

What are your thoughts on Corvette Central?

65silververt

I missed the pry bar part, but i don't see how that is possible considering how the two pieces are attached to one other. Those little tabs on the side should flare out if the hinges were that tight and you used a long pry bar as stated. Weird.

DUB

Knowing that the part is being changed out....and not that my opinion on this matters to those who are looking for a part that is a specific way.

I PREFER the hood hinge being tight. I like the hinges being tight and hard to move SO I KNOW when I set the hood alignment...it STAYS PUT.....and this is because I have dealt with enough worn out hood hinges....I am glad to put tight hinges in place,

And YES.....they will loosen in time. And when they are installed....due to the leverage you have with the hood being so far away from the hings...TRUST ME...you will not know it at all.

It is kinda like tie-rod ends...new ones are TIGHT and hard to move by hand..but free up in time.

And not meaning to step on any 'toes'...but altering the hinge to free it up ....seems to be a pointless act.

I recently put a set of hinges from Paragon in that were really tight...and TRUST ME...if you lifted up on the 1967 big block hood...you would NOT know it....and the hood still pops up when you pull the release handle. Just 'saying'.

But do as you see fit to whatever you want to do it to.

DUB

Frankie the Fink

And having hinges that tight will make installing the hood a pure-T b!tch. You have to work those hinges some to put the hood on the car to at least get the bolts started to clamp the plates down..

IMO - something is wrong with the hinges under discussion..

MikeM

Ditto!

Yellow6t7

Who was the vendor?

DUB

I do not understand why a person would have to 'work' the hinges. Having them UP so they sty put and the hood can go on..so the hood can be bolted in place and adjusted...I still can not grasp WHY if they are tight is a problem.

Evidently no one here had put new GM hinges on a 1984-1996 and see that they were tight also and were not an issue.

But ..to each his/her own.

DUB

Frankie the Fink

You have to get them UP in the first place - that's 'working them'. My repro LICS hinges were tight, but having to force them to move with a long pry bar in a vice ? I question if that's how they should be

65silververt

I can break a lot of things with a long pry bar. I just don't think it's physically possible for our hinges to be that tight!

65hihp

I don't question that. That is screwed up. Something is wrong with those hinges.
Why mess with them? Send them back for others that work, like OP said he is doing.
Is this horse dead enough?