1978 k10 hood

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wmadisona88

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Mar 15, 2025
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Location
Virginia
First Name
John
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
Hello,
Trying to save this hood. The hood bent pretty badly from the hinges. I hear this is a common problem. I already reinforced the hood so it no longer bends in half. I welded some steel bars on each side. Problem is now she doesn’t sit flush anymore. Any tips or tricks would be much appreciated.
 

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legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
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Location
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Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
In order to get it more straight, you need to remove your reinforcement, straighten the hood, then you can add reinforcement.

The reinforcement you added will resist bending in both directions. If you try to straighten it with it, it will likely kink the hood the opposite direction in two places, at the ends of the added plates.
 

Edelbrock

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Earth
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Grumba
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
K5 Blazer
Engine Size
400
To get it to sit flush, you need to use large screws to attach a piece of square tubing. Press down on the hood to straiten it. Then insert the center screws, and then the outer screws. You drill through the first layer of sheet metal, not all the way through the hood. Don't make the steel tube too strong, because the hood is supposed to buckle there in a crash, to create a shield to protect the windshield from flying debris. Besides protecting the windshield, it also prevents the hood from becoming a guillotine as it gets rammed through the windshield. So you want to fix it without disabling the safety features. The problem is caused by stiff hood hinges. keep them lubed, to reduce strain on the hood when pulling it closed.
 

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