Looking for hood prop ideas for my ‘46 Chevy 1/2 Ton. I tried the universal kit that has the two fold out arms attached to the radiator support rod. That type works fine on the ‘37, but its far too short and mounts too low to be usable for the ‘46. I found another type that apparently GMC trucks used. Those appear to slide onto the rad support rod, and have a bracket welded on a flat metal bar. That bracket rests on the cowl when the bar is raised to vertical and the hood outer edge is nested in a notch in the bar. That seems an easy solution, if the hood etc is all disassembled. This truck is now mostly reassembled.
I know some simply fold the hood back, letting the center hinge do all the work. I would prefer to avoid that.
Not familiar with how the '46 Chevy hood works, but on my Model A, the rear of the lower hood panel would rest in a hook on the firewall. Maybe something like that would work on your Chevy.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
I had a 1936 Ford which did the same thing as Kevin mentioned. The only thing you had to watch was having it rest there in high wind. If you were working with your head down inside there, you could get a real bang on the noggin.
~ Jon 1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
I made mine from a piece of 3/8 bar stock with a rubber tip on the end, a hinge made from sheet metal and a bolt, and a hold down bracket from sheet metal a bolt and hitch pin clip. Very simple and easy to use.
These are the only photos I have now. I can make more photos but will be a day or two before I can.
Thanks to all! A buddy pointed me to a Stovebolt Tech Tip that shows the hood prop referenced in my OP. Went out to the shop today and I had all the metal needed to make them. Although, I could have mig welded the “L” bracket part, I opted to pop rivet them. Glad I did, because Mr. Bonehead 🤪 struck again! One of the brackets was fastened up side down.😜. Had wanted to avoid removing the hood etc., but think this was the best choice for me and Sparky. Cheers!
I know you are all done, but....I was planning on using the tech tip method also...when I get to that point. But I met a fellow Bolter at Homecoming last year and he had this on his GMC. I really like this idea, being it has the canvas strap.
~ Victor 1941 3/4-Ton Pickup (in process). Read about it in the DITY Gallery 1955 Grumman Kurbside "Doughboy" 235/3 on tree w/ OD 1957 3100 - moved on 1959 C4500 Short Bus "Magic Bus" - moved on 1959 G3800 1 Ton Dually "Chief" - moved on 1958 C4400 Viking "Thor" ~ moved on to fellow Bolter
It would be pretty easy to make. I have one like this on my roadster and it works great although it does not hold the hood way up in the air like the photos of the red and blue trucks.
The canvas strap idea would be a good modification to the Tech Tip suggestion used.
The universal stainless steel option was what I used successfully on my ‘37 Chevy 1/2 Ton. I assumed it would also work on my Sparky, the ‘46 Chevy 1/2 Ton, which it did not, unfortunately. It turned out to be too short and mounted too low to capture the hood. So, it will join the unused parts pile I’ll be taking to a some future swap meet.
