Hood prop

[tmadden]

Any of the vendors sell or make hood prop locks for a 69 with Ring Brothers hinges? I had my hood up at body shop today and it dropped on its own. Scared the heck outa my daughter. I've seen locks to secure hood open for just that scenario at a show? Suggestions?

[Firebirdsteve]

That is an issue with RB hinges! I had the gas struts beefed up on mine...didn't turn out well!
The strut tabs are not very strong at all. Snapped like a twig. I added metal to my second gen hood so it's heavier than stock.

What I did was build a prop rod in the end.

Not crazy about it, but I spent big money on the hinges and I like the looks of them...

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee503/westcansteve/Firebird%20Build/IMG_0908_zpswsfzqvjy.jpg (http://s1231.photobucket.com/user/westcansteve/media/Firebird%20Build/IMG_0908_zpswsfzqvjy.jpg.html)

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee503/westcansteve/Firebird%20Build/IMG_0909_zpspxa88nof.jpg (http://s1231.photobucket.com/user/westcansteve/media/Firebird%20Build/IMG_0909_zpspxa88nof.jpg.html)

[Firebirdsteve]

This?

http://www.lokar.com/product-pgs/exterior-products/exterior-pages/hood-trunk-prop.html

[raustinss]

I'm thinking it's dragon plate...maybe Google it but they sell carbon fiber tubing, fittings,epoxy etc,you might be able to fab up something cool and lightweight

[69hugger]

Couldn't you just drill a small hole through 2 of the hinge pieces when the hood is raised, and insert a pin (nail?) through the holes to hold it up? Pull the pin when you want to close it?
Seems to me at worst the hinge struts do 90% of the work, and you are just needing a little insurance.
FWIW, I bought new struts from RB for my RB hinges last year, and they now hold my hood up very well. I presume they need to be replaced every x years.