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Horseplay: 1965 Fastback Restomod

I also found (ouch!) out that the Ring Bros hinges and their gas shocks have a tendency to allow the hood to drop unexpectantly. Rather than rely on them and risk injury (lawsuit) at a car show, etc. I also made a prop rod set-up for the car. Stainless rod, a bushing, a clamp and bracket and some shrink tubing and voila! it works!
prop bushing.jpg prop clip.jpg propped up.jpg
 
That awesome! I especially like the hood latch idea. Wonder if it would work the same on a '67/'68 with a different latch/catch.
I am shocked that based on what you pay for those RB hinges that there is even the remote chance they'd fall. Not cool.
 
70 StangMan said:
Terry, I was going to make some smart ass remark about you actually taking that car to a show but I can't. Your car and your work deserves better than that. Awesome ride !!.
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I really appreciate that, Dale, but feel free to let the comments fly. What would the Fix be without us smart asses?!
 
blu67 said:
That awesome! I especially like the hood latch idea. Wonder if it would work the same on a '67/'68 with a different latch/catch.
I am shocked that based on what you pay for those RB hinges that there is even the remote chance they'd fall. Not cool.
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You can certainly do something similar with those years as well. Over the winter one "maybe" project for me will be to get something off a modern car or create something all new with what I have to incorporate a double-acting release to act more as a lock to prevent forced activation of the latch opening. In other words, when pulled it pivots a first catch that once opened allows the primary to move and release the main catch. This would prevent someone with brains and a long narrow tool from possibly being able to pop open the current set-up. You know me, never satisfied and always changing.

As far as the hinges go, I agree, it should not be an issue but the leverage built into the design requires a lot of effort from the cylinders. They have to be fairly narrow and short to fit within the stock confines which is where the real problem lies. They did function for quite a while and I suppose a new set would too but its a matter of when, not if, they will fail too.
 
The question needs to be asked.....where in the hell do you plan to park this thing that breaking into the engine compartment is a concern? I know the midwest can be a tough crowd, but after all this work and the amazing finished product, are you ever going to leave it unattended? Or is this hood latch system solely to keep big eared guys from messing with your engine?
 
kb3 said:
The question needs to be asked.....where in the hell do you plan to park this thing that breaking into the engine compartment is a concern? I know the midwest can be a tough crowd, but after all this work and the amazing finished product, are you ever going to leave it unattended? Or is this hood latch system solely to keep big eared guys from messing with your engine?
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I don't PLAN on leaving it unattended but you never know what situations might arise. And keeping ole floppy ears out of there is an added bonus.
 
msell66 said:
What a kiss ass
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Been called a whole lot worse by a whole lot better.
 
Mach1 Driver said:
Very nice Terry. Where did you get the spring thing-a-ma-jig to make it pop up and clear the latch?
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Conglomeration of a number of different parts. Pin itself is a SS unit made for a '65. The spring took a fair amount of trial and error to find just the right one as I.D./O.D. and length and compression force rating all were fairly critical. I think I tried no less than 6 before settling on the one I used. Sourced them from McMaster Carr. Each application will vary slightly depending on hood weight and such. The cup washer working against the spring that contacts the modified lower latch plate area was from an old Bronco set-up I bought. Eventually I want to make something a bit different as the O.D. on the washer is a bit larger than necessary but that can wait.

All told I have a stupid amount of money in the thing for what it is. A big part of that is the trial and error of working out the design and determining exactly what parts would perform the task. BUT...it works really well and appears to be stock. I'd bet 90% of people seeing it would never think twice about it being a modification.
 
So in my haste to not miss yet another summer with the car, I have been driving around with naked doors for a while. Found the time this week to at least get the stock deluxe panels reworked more to my liking. Stitched up new center sections with material matching the seats and finally got them glued up last night. Pretty happy with the way they turned out. I had toyed with the idea of a chrome emblem of some type toward the front end of the stitched section but held off. Less is more, right? With any luck I can install the panels on the doors this weekend and will be able to get a final assessment of how it all looks together.

Adding a pic of the seats so you can see how these are meant to mimic the seat insets

dpanel1.jpg dpanel2.jpg dpanel3.jpgseats.jpg
 
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