Problems with Billet Hinges

[gearbanger]

I have recently run into a snag with my Eddie Motorsport Hinges for my 67 GTO. The hinges are actually 64 chevelle, but that is what they sell for the 64-67 GTO. The problem is, when the hinges are installed, the bolt holes for mounting the hood are 11/16" to narrow. This is both in the up and down position. The hinges are really nice and the work flawlessly, but that is too much difference for me. The hinges are actually too close together. If they were outward to far, you could shim them in, but that's not the case. EMS agreed to take them back, but I really want some cool hinges.

I measured the dimension of the hinge from the fender mounting surface to the centerline of the hood bolts and it is about 1.93 inches on one hinge an about 2.03 on the other. So I thought I would call Fesler and see what their hinges measured. Well, for some reason I could not get them to tell me. I have no idea why. If I could get the measurement and be convinced they were the ticket, I would order the $800 hinges today, but nope, they said too bad.

What gives? Is this some kind of top secret info that you have to have a security clearance to get? Is this the secret to it all? If this info leaks out, is it going to blow the hood hinge market wide open?

[ProdigyCustoms]

You GTO uses 64 Impala hinges, not 64 Chevelle

[gearbanger]

Well, that could be the problem I guess. I just ordered 67 GTO hinges and EMS said they are the same a 64 Chevelle. I am pretty sure Fesler said the same thing. But, they wouldnt give me any measurement to go by.

[wmhjr]

Directly from the invoice of my Fesler hinges. These fit absolutely perfectly on my '66 GTO build. Original steel GTO hood on the car. I could not be happier with the hinges.

FBH-908 POLISHED Billet Aluminum Hood Hinge with Stainless Steel Strut. **Fits 1964
Chevelle, 1964-1967 GTO, 1963-1964 Impala, 1963-1964 Chevy Full Size cars and
1963-1965 Chevy II
*****Some modifications may be necessary on applications other than the 1964 Chevy
Chevelle
***** 12 lbs shipping weight****
66 GTO- Steel Hood

[gearbanger]

Well, not that i am not used to that working with a Pontiac, But I am not paying $800 for hinges and having to modify anything. If they want to charge premium price, they need to provide a part that works. You claim they work well though, so sounds like they have a good product there that fits multiple applications.

I have a Ring Bros set on order. After talking to Mike at length, I think I understand some of the issues that made these hinges not work. Hopefully I'll have good luck with these. Also, Mike Ring and Tammy Walsh were great to work with and were very very helpful.

[The WidowMaker]

where are you measuring? are you loosening the bolt from the fender to the firewall and trying to pull the tops outward slightly when they are extended? are you measuring collapsed? are the front to front and rear to rear measurements any different? i know mine have some play, so if you are just using a static measurement you may be off.

oh, and we're looking at doing a ring bros gp here pretty soon. staci is supposed to be getting back to me.

[gearbanger]

I bolted the hinges up to the fender and measured the center to center on the hood mounting slots. I measured them both up, and then removed the hood struts and measured them down. Surprisingly to me they were pretty much exactly the same. Which told me that the fenders were probably not sprung or anything because the hinges were operating dead verticle. The problem was, the slots were about 11/16" to narrow for the hood bolt pattern. You could flex the hinge outward enough to get it bolted up, and it would open and close okay, but it had be be in a h3ll of a bind.

I think part of the problem is that the fender mounting surface on these hinges is flat, and the factory hinges actually have a small offset in them. That would have moved the hinge inboard some probably.

I am really anxious to get the RingBros hinges. After talking to Mike, there has definitely been some serious R and D in them, and he has a 66 GTO sitting in the garage right now with the hinges on there so we were able to sit and talk about it over the phone. Plus, they are car builders, and they are just as particular as I am. They are not going to settle for something that doesn't fit.

[wmhjr]

Well, not that i am not used to that working with a Pontiac, But I am not paying $800 for hinges and having to modify anything. If they want to charge premium price, they need to provide a part that works. You claim they work well though, so sounds like they have a good product there that fits multiple applications.

I have a Ring Bros set on order. After talking to Mike at length, I think I understand some of the issues that made these hinges not work. Hopefully I'll have good luck with these. Also, Mike Ring and Tammy Walsh were great to work with and were very very helpful.

Alex, nothing needed modification. I was one of the first to install these hinges on a GTO. When the said modifications might be required, it was really a possibility that the tab between the fender/inner fender right at the vicinity of the hinges might need clearanced due to the cam action causing minor rubbing in one spot. As it turns out, nothing of the sort was required. Mine bolted on directly with nothing needed except socket and allen wrench. Well, I guess one other thing. My hood has studs in it requiring nuts rather than using the bolts provided with the hinges.

But like I said, mine required the following.

1) Unwap the box.
2) Get a socket, ratchet, and allen wrench.
3) Get 4 washers and 4 nuts for the hood mount.
5) Get a friend to help lift the hood.
6) Put on the nifty cotton gloves (provided)
7) Bolt on the hinges in a "high position.
8) Bolt on the hood.
9) Adjust hood fore/aft/up/down.
10) Spend 20 minutes gazing at the open hood.

[gearbanger]

I am sure Fesler hinges are great, I just couldn't any info from them and so I had to go elsewhere. Sometimes customer service makes all the difference, and this time they just werent on their game.

[wmhjr]

Oh, no problem. Just didn't want to confuse people about the "modifications" statement on the invoice. Surprising that their customer service wasn't quite as responsive, as I have had purely top notch results from them. Frankly, as good or better than any other manufacturer in years.

[Fesler built]

Alex,

We are sorry you feel the way you do but we go out of our way and over the top for our customers and will continue to do so. There are no mods on these hinges for your car we spend a lot of time making our products top notch. We do not always have a car in house to get measurements so its a good idea to come to places like this and ask questions from people that have them. We charge what we think if fair for our hinges as we have the best products available in them, we do not use crap parts to build our products so our cost more to build.

[old66tiger]

Alex. Did the ring brothers hinges work ok? Any mods, pictures?

[gearbanger]

Man, I just came across this post and wanted to post the results of my hinge search. The Ring Brothers hinges fit perfectly. They have been on there for over a year now and continue to drop the hood in the exact correct spot every time and function soooooo smooothly. I got the black anodized finish, which I was a little nervous about to begin with. Sometimes black anodize looks purple in the light, but this looks great and is much more durable than powder or paint. I would choose it over powder. Nice product and I highly recommend.