How to install a reverse hood

To do this mod. i used a 1987 Buick LeSabre hood hinge. They are a little hard to find, but scrap yards have them they just don't advertise that they do. I got mine for $66.00 including shipping. The reason for using this hinge is the final fit and function look factory and works great. I am installing it on a 99 ranger with a aluminum hood.

Items Needed
1-1987 Buick Lesabre or Park Avenue hood hinge
2-8x3/4x1/4 steel
2-4x3/4x3/16 steel
1-6" piece 1/2 steel rod
4-2x2 Aluminum wedges cut 1/4 to 0 at a 7degree angle (optional)
1-can Klean-Strip Aircraft paint remover

Special Tools
Nibblers
Bent 1/2 open end wrench (Bend with torch)
Magnet on a stick
Brake spring pliers

First thing to do is DO NOT remove your hood yet.

When you get your hinge cut it in half at the center of the cross tube that goes over the radiator cor support. This will allow you to clean it easier, and it needs to be shortened. Check your fit but mine was 52 3/8 from out the bottom mount to the other outside mounting bracket. The springs can be removed and reinstalled with brake spring pliers. Do not reinstall the spring until ready to mount the hood.



The Klean strip will remove all paint in about 30 minutes, and its water clean up.
Verify your new length and cut off the tubing on both sides of the original cut so that your weld ends up in the center.




Make sure the bottom mounts are clamped to a flat surface to keep them aligned and weld. Grind off excess and prime.

You should now be able to set the new hinge onto the core support and check for alignment and where to cut off the bottom mounts to fit the core support properly.







While you have the hinge on the core support mark the location of the holes. You will have to drill 1 new hole because you will be cutting off 1 factory hole.




At this time if everything aligns you can cut the bottom mount and drill the new hole and recheck fit and paint the hinge. If you aligned it up like mine you will be able to bolt one hole thur the core support front edge and the other hole will be beside a factory hole in the core support. You will have to glue a nut to your finger and start it on the front bolt and bend a 1/2 box end wrench to hold it.





Now that you have the hinge mounted you will see that it will hit the overflow tank. This tank can be separated from the washer tank and remounted forward.




Now with the hinge mounted move ti to the closed position just like it will be when the hood is closed. using a strait edge put a piece of tape that aligns up with the center of the hood hinge rear hole on the fender. Measure the distance from the edge of the hood to the center of the hole and subtract the original gap from the hood to the fender and this is the number to use for measuring the placement on the hood. Do this for the other side. Now close the hood and place a piece of tape on the hood that perfectly aligns with the one on the fender.




Now you can remove the hood and place it on a table and remove the hood pad.
Using the figures from earlier and the tape mark the placement of the 2 holes in the hood.




The front hole center should be around 19 3/16 to the rear corner of the hood.

It should line up with a large factory hole.
Figure the distance between your holes and using the 2 8" pieces of steel drill holes and tap.




Using the nibblers you can enlarge the hole enough to slide the steel into the hole and using the magnet and bolts. Bolt this piece in place and drill a smaller hole somewhere in the middle for a small bolt to hold it in place.




This will hold the piece in place while you bolt the hood in place.
As you will see the hood is at an angle and the hinge mount is flat. I used 2 pieces of aluminum 2x2 cut on an angle of 7 degrees form 1/4" to 0. This made up for the angle of the hood.




Your local machine shop can make these for you or you can cut the gussets on the hood hinge and bend the flat piece to match the 7 degree angle.

I used 2 pieces 4" 3/4x3/16 thick to slip in under the back of the opening under the hood seal to hold down the rear of the hood. This worked perfectly and keeps the rear in place.




You will be able to use the factory hood release and alignment. You will have to remove the front hood bumpers the ones that screw in, but leave the ones on the sides.
Replace your hood pad and reinstall the hood and align.







Good luck and if i can help just ask

Dave




Here is a link to all of the pictures.

http://s1224.photobucket.com/albums/...1/Flip%20Hood/

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1999 ranger reg. cab. Stepside, Show only
Custom interior,Show room condition. 1989 custom roller 5.0 396 hp. Custom Reverse Hood, RCI Fuel Cell
1998 Ranger
Daily driver

Ok thats original and creative....but thats about it.....I dont know why one would really want to do that....it seems it just makes working in the engine bay harder...

But good job man..clap clap..nice work

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1999 Ranger 3.0FFV-ExtCab-4x4-My 99 Build
1998 Ranger 3.0-ExtCab-4x4-PROJECT TRUCK-My 98 Build

Makes it easier to see the artwork on your hood if you take it to shows. Nice work

Sent from my iPhone 5 using FRF App

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2017 Lightning Blue Mustang GT PP 430/402
CJ Pony Parts Lowering Springs | Texas Speed Longtubes | PMAS CAI | Lund Tuned | Borla S-Type Catback
2013 F150 FX4 5.0 - Sold
1998 Jeep Wrangler TJ 4.0 5spd - Sold
2001 Mustang Bullitt - Sold
2005 Level II - Sold
2001 Integra GSR - Sold
1999 XLT - May 2013 TOTM - Totaled

That is pretty dang awesome!!! Good work.

Why didn't you submit this in the How-To Section?

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2003 Ford Ranger FX4: 4.0L V6 | Auto | 4.10s | 265/75R16 BFG AT KO2 | Ion Alloy 174 | Pioneer radio | Alpine Speakers| 06 tails | Thunderbolt turn signal mirrors | Kobalt Toolbox | 22" LED lightbar | Blackout headlights | Headache Rack | 140K miles. DWB!
Build Thread <-- Clicky
March 2015 TOTM

2016 Ford Fusion SE. 1.5L EcoBoost. 6-speed Auto. White Platinum Tri-Coat Metallic. 18" 5 spoke black rims. Daily Driver.

Nice work. Do you have a V8 in that ranger?

I should have but started in the wrong place and had too much time in the post to start over. I did this because people at shows were wanting to see the engine than the art work and i was always putting the hood up and down. Now i can show both at once. Can be taken off easily if i need it to.

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Sure Do

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1999 ranger reg. cab. Stepside, Show only
Custom interior,Show room condition. 1989 custom roller 5.0 396 hp. Custom Reverse Hood, RCI Fuel Cell
1998 Ranger
Daily driver

Sweet! Looks awesome!

I think thats really good, nice job man! I know I quite like having the reverse hood on my dads Hummer, then again it opens the grill and everything, too. Very cool though.

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Project Log: Brads 2004 Ranger

Nice write up!

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Can't wait to do this!!

Sent from my iPhone using FRF App

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I have a 99 3.0 xlt FORD ranger 2wd I replaced the heads on it wires, plugs, water pump, timing chain, cam position sensor,coil pack,rear end,ball joints all 4,rack n pinion,left spindle, two rotors pads, speedometer, all new speakers kenwood 500 wats,hood,fender,grill,blinker,headlight,bumper,ta il light,3inch lift in back, 2 inch lift in front,air box mod, fuel filter, egr valve, o2 sensors,starter,front wheel bearings,radio harness,neons in and under, subs,new radio,

Get the fuhhh outta here! Is that a cowboy? Awwww yeaaaah

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2003 black standard cab manual ford ranger. 4 cylinder 2.3L Just a tiny guy...with a camper.

My thoughts exactly lol

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96 Xlt 2wd
4in rough country lift
31's

Looks great, but if it were mine I would make absolutely certain it's got a real good, solid, strong latch point on the back side, the side facing the windshield. Why would I do that? Because Chebbie did front hinged hoods on Vegas, and on the early ones, when the driver plowed the car into something, that rear latch popped, the hood went back into the cabin, and it was decapitating the driver and if present, the passenger. What a way to go, get into a survivable accident only to die because your head got chopped off as if you were in a guillotine. Just some food for thought.

I dig that engine swap, exceptionally sanitary as should be, good job!

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2004 Ranger FX4 Level II, 5R55E, Sonic Blue Pearl

Proudly JAP/RICE free since March 2000

i detect another decapitation debate......

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Nothing to debate, really. Just throwing caution into the wind, as evidenced by the proven cause and consequences of at least one big name, fortune 500 auto maker with deep pockets that shuld have been able to do better. Nobody would deliberately want to see history repeat itself.

Did you know that back in the day, when people got their heads chopped off in a guillotine, that they didn't die instantly but instead, were conscious of their head rolling around on the ground, people talking and what was going on? Yuck, what a hellish way to go. If it had to be me, I'd much rather have a semi cross the centerline and be done with it fast.

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2004 Ranger FX4 Level II, 5R55E, Sonic Blue Pearl

Proudly JAP/RICE free since March 2000