74-Roadster

I know there are one or two members here with a custom full tilt front end. Questions:

1. Do they make the car any less rigid? If so, too much?

2. And can you get to the engine and components a lot easier?

I've got all of the info from Ecklers on their kit and allignment of the hinge and supports looks pretty involved. Considering trying to make my own . . . just time and money (and more money to fix all of the mistakes on the way)

And if you want to flame me for even thinking about a full-tilt end, then go ahead. . . Have fun, I'll still do what I want anyway. :D :D I'm just not sure if I have the guts to try this mod. Sure wish I would've grown up living next to Daryl Starbird.

ZD75blue

dont know about them, but i do like the way they look, so good luck on your project

ZD :cheers:

mrvette

I been thinking of a full tilt front bonnet for a LONG time, allways thought those were the way to build a car, steel bumpers and all.....
maybe next year.....;-))) lemme know what it takes.....besides bucks....

GENE

74-Roadster

Wow, no flames :confused: :confused:

The hinge support and latching mechanisms are the key. I think I could use my front clip and make my own front, but custom fabing then hinge, supports and installing some type of latch that works well could be difficult. Eckler's nose has the recessed head lights :U and a stock style hood. I think it'd be cool with new lights in a custom grill up front (no center section) and the light covers glassed smooth with an L88 style hood.

Someone here has the Mako shark replica car . . . Hope he spots this topic.

1979toy

I sure hate to see you customize such a nice looking Corvette (does it show that I'm looking around at verts?). But if ya gotta, ya gotta.
These people have a fiberglass one piece front end but I don't know if they have a hinge kit or not.
http://www.hairyglass.com/pricelist.html

Good luck with it.

Nomad78SA

I could also go with one myself. I will have to look into it myself later one. Sure would be nice to get to everything.
Neil in Tenn

redvetracr

74-roadster,
WHY ?? A tilt front is for someone who wants a "custom" or for someone who doesn`t want to spend the $$$$$$$$ after a crash.
...redvetracr

Tom454

A friend of mine in the Raleigh Corvette Club (Corvettes International) is currently having a local shop build a tilt front that has some special features-
it retains all of the factory headlight stuff, and can be either tilted up, or the center (standard) hood opens to just check the oil. There are two sets of hood latches, using some latches from a C4 (I believe). When they finish it (soon), they are going to market it. The guy doing the work has been building rods since the early 60's and has a lot of experience. There were some issues with hood rigity, but these have been resolved. It's a 1981 donor car.

flynhi

The ones I've seen don't open full up like a C4 due to the long nose overhang. They only open about 40 degrees from horizontal. Be sure you know what you're getting.

Tom454

The one I was referring to, does open all the way- they fabricated a hinge that addresses that issue (so they say). I haven't seen it yet though. I think the car is in the paint shop now.

Edit: As this front end opens, it also raises the nose so that the nose has plenty of ground clearance. These guys covered all of the issues from what I have been told. The car owner is a "lunch buddy" of mine.


[Modified by Tom454, 9:29 AM 12/15/2001]

ZD75blue

could you make a hood flip up infront of the bumper, kindof like a c4... so you can open it all the way, instead of dealling with the point on the front touching the ground...

just thinking out loud

ZD

74-Roadster

That sounds very interesting!!! I can do almost anything in glass, but th hinge, supports, allignment and latching is something I'm not sure I can do by myself and a one of a kind set up will take lots of $$$$. Put me in touch with them when they're getting into the marketing, I'd like to know the details and the cost.

redvetracr,

Yes, I want custom . . . a show car that I can drive! :cool:

bhays

Even though I am pretty far along with the body work on the front of my project, an '81, I would consider going with this as well. Perhaps you could tell your friend who's working on this about the Forum and ask him to post some pictures and tell us more about it?

74-Roadster

ttt

Tom?????

Alwyn678

It would LOOK AWESOME ON THE 74 ROADSTER :D :cheers: ...I say Go for it

Tom454

Sorry... I was out in the shop rebuilding my sandblasting box for the last two days.
Can't live without that accessory.

I will copy this "shortcut" and send it to him... maybe he will respond... we just exchanged emails a few minutes ago and our families are getting together over the holidays.

Tom

Injected

Either Vette or Corvette Fever did a tilt front on a customized Mako C3 a few years ago, the whole project was spread out over a few months. If you can't track them down let me know, I'm sure I have the issues around here somewhere. I was looking into putting a tilt front end on another vehicle and from what I remember the article showed exactly how to do it.

Greg

Easy Mike

I would not make the swap on undamaged Corvette sheet metal, but the choice is yours. The major complaint I have heard about the tilt kits is the tendancy for the nose to hit the ground when the thing is opened up. :)

SmokedTires

I'd love to have my engine compartment as open as a C4 :yesnod: . I say if you can do it then go for it :D !

Brutus

Here's the car that CF did the article on a few years ago. Hope this helps a little.
http://cpts-test.com/shark/