How many opening/closing cycles is a Model-A hood good for??

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

I posted a recent picture of a Fordbarn member's car where the owner had
laid the hood over onto a soft cotton towel (see pix below) which another
Fordbarner discreetly shared some concern with me privately how he felt
this was "...a big NO NO.". He shared with me how he had been mentored
by another hobbyist that the only proper way(s) to prop the hood open was
to either rest the hood side into the clip mounted on the radiator, -or rest
the hood side onto the cowl lacing.

This concerned person shared this would damage the hood seam (loops).
My thoughts on the matter countered his, but as an experiment I decided
to walk around a couple of Model-As that I have in the shop just to see
what happens. On one car that is here for brake work, the hood loops were
actually bending as I was lifting the hood. Upon further inspection I could
see the hood rod was very rusty which was causing the hood to bind as the
loops were trying to rotate around that rusty rod. On a pick-up that is here,
I watched the hood actually 're-form' itself as it was latched. I also have
seen hood sides that will bend slightly when they are latched. Then, when
you prop the hood onto the cowl lacing, it distorts the upper hood top some
which is likely adding some stress to those hood loops.

So, here we go, --those hood loops also are constantly pulling against each
other when the hood is in the closed position, and the hood loop stresses
are not being equally pulled on when the hood side is propped upon the
cowl lacing, and supposedly they are stressed when the hood is laid over,
....so if all of the scenarios are adding undue stress on the hood loops and
the sheetmetal itself, just how many cycles of opening & closing a Model-A
hood can we expect before damage will occur??


.

[DougT]

Good question and one I don't have an answer for. I'd say from your observation that the answer will be directly proportionate to how well the hinges are lubed. I can't recall ever seeing a hinge that had worn through. I have seen wind catch them when propped open on the catch or lacing and do damage. Laying it over would seem safer at that point.

[C26Pinelake]

Whatever the answer given, it won't be accurate! Every vehicle will be different. Wayne

[Patrick L.]

I guess I can't say. I'm a cowl lace propper [ is that a real word] and the paint chips on the ends of the loops. Whether thats the reason why, I don't know, I didn't think so, but,,,,.

But, I just wanted to comment on what a beautiful phaeton that is. I'd be afraid/concerned of where I parked it, its so nice.

[mhsprecher]

Not that it is relevant, but I suspect the designers of the Model A might be surprised at how many are still around after 80 years.

The hood on my Town sedan is worn through the bead at the bottom of the hood where it meets the fenders and the hood hooks go. The paint is cracked near the hinge, but seems okay otherwise.

[Mitch//pa]

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If u prop the hood on the cowl protect the hood ,,I use a sliced open vacuum hose on the hood bottom...the cowl is like a razor blade...

As far as the original question lots of variables, but I found if everything is free / lubed and aligned / no distortion it can fold any direction and not do harm... I already laid the side on a towel as shown in the pic above... I found the towel slips out easily...

[gweilbaker]

It depends on how well it is maintained.

[29er]

Oh Good God! As if global climate change and the current election cycle are not enough to keep me awake at night!

[eagle]

Originally Posted by 29er

Oh Good God! As if global climate change and the current election cycle are not enough to keep me awake at night!

I think if we just deny everything, the problem will go away. Seems to work for politicians.
PS: I'm a hinge/hood layover damage deny'er... Also number of door stams before said door falls off deny'er....

[Mikeinnj]

33,967 cycles ? .......

Is there a prize for the correct answer ?

[2manycars]

At least the towel is green to match the paint.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

If u prop the hood on the cowl protect the hood ,,I use a sliced open vacuum hose on the hood bottom...the cowl is like a razor blade...

As far as the original question lots of variables, but I found if everything is free / lubed and aligned / no distortion it can fold any direction and not do harm... I already laid the side on a towel as shown in the pic above... I found the towel slips out easily...

That phaeton is nice,,

Some may CRINGE, but for hood pins, I use WOOD DOWELS, soaked in Linseed Oil. I got the idea when I was once using my flag dowel, to align the sections. With all the support they have, they're PLENTY STRONG & won't RUST or SQUEEK
"Different" Dad

[tbirdtbird]

FWIW, I had several now-deceased old timers tell me the same thing. These guys grew up with Model As from day 1. I have seen loops that were 'torn' about half-way, and many that were opened up quite a bit making them quite loose, and several loops that were torn right off.

your mileage may vary.

[DougVieyra]

I have been opening and laying my car's hood right on top of the hinge area, without clips, brackets, braces, etc. for over 50 years now. Never have there been any issues. Of course, as has been said, the hinge must be adequately lubricated for all to work well.

Knowing that this can be a sensitive issue with others, whenever I open some else's hood, I always take extra care and use what ever device that presents itself - often resting the hood-side bottom on the top of the cowl.

[Jason in TX]

My indented firewall car sees so much hood action. The paint is cracking a little around the hinge. It's annoying, but driving and enjoying the car is worth it.

[Mitch//pa]

Henry tested the hoods durability with his robotic hood opener / closer

[apbright]

I suppose there will be too wide of a variation in the interpretation of 'good' for a hard, quantitative answer. One extreme clearly would be 'lack of deduction in any fine-judging points,' (preservation of 'Category 1' restoration), and at the other would be 'continuity of hood-function' (i.e. 'does it stay closed?'). I open & close my hood at every fuel stop and for various engine maintenance. That's for 20k miles of driving; with a typical 8 gallons of fuel added per stop, 18 mpg, thus coming to ~140 cycles. Adding another ~30 cycles for maintenance, I'll guess 170 cycles on my hood, with just bit of paint chipping the result.

Were I to lubricate the hinge more often than I do (being uh, never...), be more careful with my hood-handling, and be more diligent in paint-blemish repair, it's hard for me to see why near-perfection wouldn't be achieved within that cycle count. I do have a hood-prop-kit installed, and use it maybe 50% of the time.

Keep in mind I am sometimes opening the hood when it's dark, cold, I am late, and there is an impatient family seated in the car.

[DougVieyra]

Likewise I too have a hood prop bracket (the long fold-out arms) on my '31 Dlx Coupe, but use it only about 10% of the time. For the most part it is a pain in the butt.

[Al 29Tudor]

I had the hood bracket on but removed it. When the hood stands on the lacing you have a little more room to work. And as had been said many times - lube it - remove it - clean it and keep it lubed.
Al

[Dick So. Cal.]

I wrote an article for our club's newsletter about neglected lube points on a Model A.
In it, I included many other locations besides the three hood hinges. Things such as the hood latches, bushings at the top of the steering column where the spark and throttle shafts are, clevis pins on the brake rods, trunk/rumble hinges, throttle and spark rod ends, etc.
Many of these are not in the lube chart. Each body style is a little different. Think about all the moving joints on your car. . . .

Dick