Tilt Front

[Stinson Pilot]

Thought you guys might like to see this. I've found some interest in it in my searches. This is on a FFR, but could probably be done on others.

It's coming along.

I made the initial cut with a very thin cutoff wheel and cut the two corners with a jig saw. Layout for the cuts wasn't too hard. Did as much measuring as I could and stood back and eyeballed it till it looked right.

I'll use prop rods to hold it open. They'll clip onto the sides of the upper 3/4" tubes when the hood is closed.

I used structural epoxy for all bonding.

I haven't settled just yet on the latch. I've got several ideas I'm kicking around.

Open:






I made the hinges from 1/4" aluminum and bolted them through the 3/4" tubes with 3/16" bolts. The other half of the hinge was some airplane parts that I had laying around, but could be made from a couple angle aluminum pieces just as easy. I bonded them to the body with HSRF. Make sure you scuff up things real good with 80 grit before bonding. The hinge bolts are 1/4" bolts.






I wasn't totally comfortable with just bonding these hinges, so I put two 3/16" bolts through the body and will use Rage Gold to blend them into the body on the front side.





I bonded 1/8"x3/4" aluminum angles to the cut areas. Drilled and tapped for 3/16" bolts ground down to a point. This also strengthens this fiberglass piece.

[Stinson Pilot]

This is the matching angles on the body drilled to accept the 3/16" tapered bolts for alingnment.



I bonded a small aluminum piece to the flare to capture the upper half as it is lowered into place. It's bent back just a bit to allow the upper half some leeway in aligning itself.





I bonded some plastic lattice material to the aft body section to make a lip for the hood to lay on. I found it at Home Depot. I was going to lay up some fiberglass strips for this, but I ran across this and it's flexible enough to go around the sharp corners, but strong once bonded onto the body. I'll probably put a layer of glass cloth over this. The lattice is 1 1/2"x1/8". I left 1/2" for the lip.


The finished product:

[Stinson Pilot]

An inside pic showing how things line up:



I needed something to guide the sides into place when the hood is lowered. The coupe uses some rollers, I found these at Ace Hardware, and they just happened to be the perfect size:





Prop rods. 1/4x28 heim joints bolted into the upper 3/4" frame rails. 90 degree 1/8" aluminum bonded to front clip.

[Stinson Pilot]

Latches coming along:





Bonding the hood.





I used spacers to get the hood to match the level of the front clip so I don't have to use so much Rage Gold (read less sanding!) I used the same structural epoxy that I bonded everything else with. (linked in an earlier post on this thread)

I drilled a lot of #40 holes about 1/16" deep around the edge of the hood, and a bunch of #20 holes around the edge of the hood opening about 1/16" deep. This thing isn't coming off.

I'll also use some glass cloth and resin underneath as well.

Time to break out the Rage again...

[Stinson Pilot]

Hood bonded and blended...

moving on:



Hope you guys enjoy. Makes working on the car so much easier.

[thudmaster]

I think it looks great. You might consider the hood latches from a triumph spitfire or triumph gt6. They were made for that kind of hood.

[Gunner]

Perhaps use the standard twist handles, but run them to a cable latch of some kind?

[COBRANIP]

Looks great! Thank you for sharing and inspiring!

[Silverback51]

Looks great Doug. Congratulations.

So, what did you do with the rest of your day when you were done with this?

[mr bruce]

Very nice precise work, however, you're going to have a hard time keeping paint on the edges if you start driving around du to road vibes and chassis/body flex. Get some scotch tape and tape over the joints and drive a few miles for a preview.

[furvedere]

Doug, You've done some fabulous work there. It's obvious that you've done a extremely professional job. Thanks for sharing all your fine work with us. I'm sure it will help others to do the same to their rides. Enjoy!...you deserve it!

Bob

[ratsnst1]

I have a number of a guy who sells every kind of body molding you can think of, anywhere that hood touches, needs a rubber insulator of some kind.I think it looks very nice, It would look very nice if you paint the underside of hood same as car, I am sure it will be a stand out.

[tcrist]

Here are a couple of pictures of a Cobra with a tilt front end from a car show that I went to a while back. Don't know the manufacture but the guy did one heck of a job.

[Stinson Pilot]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

Looks great Doug. Congratulations.

So, what did you do with the rest of your day when you were done with this?

Cut the scoop off!

Thanks for the comments and suggestions guys.

[RICK LAKE]

Stinson Pilot Doug real nice job. Where the fenders meet you have 3 studs to locate the hood assembly A piece of foam tape to help vibration would be a thought. The other thing is using a spring clip to put a little tension to hold the piece together with driving. I like it. May have to think about this with a cammer motor. All the room in the world with this setup. Can pull the starter without getting under the car. Real Nice Rick L. Ps nose blankets may be an option.

[Double Venom]

STINSON,

Especially well done! Hope you don't mind If I copy some of your ideas for my next one?
Flattery and all that!

Again, very nice!

The 'Old - DV II' :


(The hood also opened separately and as originally designed.)

DV

[Stinson Pilot]

Originally Posted by Double Venom

STINSON,

Especially well done! Hope you don't mind If I copy some of your ideas for my next one?
Flattery and all that!

Again, very nice!

The 'Old - DV II' :


(The hood also opened separately and as originally designed.)

DV

Nope, don't mind at all.