Hood Hinge Restoration and Engine Refresh

[Rollaround]

Anyone have a good source for hood hinge restoration/repair. I just removed my hood to freshen up the engine and engine compartment; the hinges really need some work.

Also looking for detailed photos of the under hood AC hose routing. I'd like to build up the hoses and test fit them to their new components before I blow things apart. 

[Mark Ascher]

What do the hood hinges need? I found it easier to scrounge a different set of hinges than try and repair them.
If you get another set, bead blast or media blast them and send them to Steve Gregori at Brakeboosters.com.
They need to be grey phosphate plated and he does that. Or a cast blast, flat dark grey paint would work if you're
not over the edge nuts like me.

Mark

[Rollaround]

Saying the hinges need some work is an under statement, the rivets need to be replaced.  I'm not going to go overboard here but I can't put the hood back on these hinges. I found this shop and have heard good things about them.

http://www.hoodhingerepair.com/

[Rollaround]

Today I started with the AC; when I received the car the AC compressor was in the trunk and the system had not been operable for some time. My objective is to mock up all the components before the engine is removed so I'm not doing it with fresh paint.

Here's the good news, electrically everything checks out so far. I have power to the compressor clutch plug and can turn it off and on at the control panel. There is air flow out the AC and floor vent when selected and all three fan speeds work.  The control lever will not move into the defrost range so I suspect something is binding or amiss under the dash and the compressor clutch appears to be seized, I'll work on that latter as well as the AC box when it's removed.

UPDATE

I was shown the light shortly after posting the diagram below looking for parts, I now understand it is a SB drawing and I simply need a double pulley for the alternator. So please disregard the diagram, MOD feel free to delete the drawing.

Thanks Loren.     

 

[Loren At 65GS]

The brackets you are pointing out are used on small block cars. Wrong for your application.


Unlike on a small block compressor that adjusts, the compressor for the big block is bolted solid. It does not pivot.
On a big block, belt tension is made by moving the alternator outward. It is under the A/C compressor.

In your second picture, you have front and back compressor brackets.  The alternator pulley you have shown in the same picture is incorrect.  It needs to be a double pulley, not the single one. The alternator and the compressor are driven by a matched pair of belts.

  Loren

[Rollaround]

Thank You Loren, you may have saved me from myself. I'll go back and clean up that post so the next guy don't fall in my hole.
Now I'm on the search for a double pulley.

[Loren At 65GS]

Happy to help.

  Keep in mind...  that pulley was used on other models like Riviera, Electra, Wildcat, that had the 401 or 425 engine.  Also other years will cross over.

Loren

[Rollaround]

Boxed up and sent the hinges off today, they should be back in two weeks. They where in very bad shape, one rivet had almost worked it's way out. I'll report back with results and details.
I'm watching Chuck's engine removal posts closely.
I did find a double grove pulley however I'm going to make the a/c a winter project; I see to many opportunity's to get sidetracked there, I want to drive the car this summer.  I'll need to manufacture all the hoses as I want to reroute and hide them. I will however check out the A/C, heater box and pressure check the A/C plumbing before the engine goes back in.
Thanks again to Mark and Loren for your help and guidance.   
 

[Mark Ascher]

Definitely interested in how the hinges turn out.

Mark

[Rollaround]

My hood hinges are back and they look great. I was not sure they could be salvaged based on the condition they were in. They were disassembled, media blasted, straighten, re-drilled for new rivets, lubed with lithium grease and reassembled. I will do the painting, however he offers painting and powder coating but does not do plating.

$175 plus shipping, a little pricey but they are better now than aftermarket hinges I've used in the past and my eBay sucsess rate is very poor.     

[dsags]

Looking good. Quality workmanship.

Dan