[Model51]

The Ford engineering parts drawing for the hood hinge for 1935 and 1936 truck and pickups specifies chromium plating, so if you want a correct finish, it should be chromium plated. The "silver" finish this provides is close to the polished stainless steel hinge brackets (one on the radiator and one on the cowl) so it all matches and looks good.

I was reluctant to spot weld my hinge back onto the hood hinges because of the chance of messing up the plating finish with the spot welding heat.

I welded up the holes I drilled to remove the hinge from the hood tops. I decided to use short small diameter stainless steel flat head machine screws in new holes I drilled in the hood top flange and through the hinge. I'm using a small nut on the other side with anti-lock. With a counter sunk hole, the screw top isn't very noticeable. The nut on the hinge side protrudes a bit, but life is all about compromises. This way I can paint the hood tops and then assemble the hinge on each side.

I had no issues with the thickness of the plating interfering with the hinge sliding together and operating smoothly with one exception. I have to be very careful with one end which binds slightly unless the curl of the two parts of the hinge at the radiator end are not in perfect alignment. With a bit of tweaking, it works perfectly.

With regard to the plating cost, I spent a long time polishing my hinge so that it was without any imperfection and mirror smooth. Paying to have the plater to this for you can be 75% of the "plating" cost. I got mine plated locally for $180 last year. The plater looked at the finish and said that the price reflected the good condition on the hinge so all he had to do was the plating part, no metal finishing.