bellaireroad

Was there a change in the hood hinge mount to the surround between 68 and 69? I recall reading somewhere that the 69 was reinforced due to stress cracks in the 68 fender where the hinge mounts. Looking for photos of the difference if this is the case. Thanks

Easy Mike

Hood hinges do not mount to the surround. They mount on the hood and on each inner fender skirt. Both locations (skirts and hood) have reinforced mounting points.

bellaireroad

My bad, thanks for pointing that out. Was there a difference in the inner fender skirt hinge mount between 68 and 69?

c69vete

I think the hinges were the same, but the hood prop was changed in 69 to include a 3rd bolt to reinforce it. That might be what you heard refered to.

Easy Mike

Not that I am aware. What have you run into?

Alan 71

Hi belaire,
While it appears the hinges mount to the inner skirts they actually bolt through the skirt fiberglass to a steel reinforcement that's riveted to the skirt, and bolts directly to the sides of the core support.
I'd look at that brace in the front of the wheel well to see if something is amiss.
Check UPC 11, Sheet A11, for the detail
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

bellaireroad

Looking at the wheel well, there are some obvious repairs....where the control arm dust shield is attached, there are staples... And also rivets (or push pins). I think they used staples in 68...and moved to pins in 69... Thought this might be a 68 fenderwell

loup68

Bellaireroad, I think that you are referring to the cracks in the 68 hood surround by the hood "corners". These severe cracks were caused by the weight of the very heavy headlight assemblies. GM added two triangle gussets to the ends of the metal headlight support bonded to the hood surround. Also two "Twist brackets" were added to the ends of the forward headlight metal reinforcement behind the metal front bumper, and go to the bolt holding the ends of the front bumper. They also added a metal rod from the nose to the radiator support to hold up the nose. Lou.

bellaireroad

Thanks Lou, good to know

bellaireroad

I think that is what I heard referred to. Did the 68 hood support have a bolt that went through the drip rail, or just the lower two bolts through the fender well?

Was there a difference in the drip rail between 68 and 69 where the hood support is located?

Easy Mike

Yes.

And two bolts on the lower mount

Alan 71

Hi,
I believe the hood support for 68 cars DIDN'T have the additional bracket that required the third bolt, plate, and hole in the hood surround gutter.
Regards,
Alan

LT-1 kid

68s did not have the drip rail bolt on top.