Ideas for a Hood Arm

Ok, so building out a 2110 is boring. Let talk real action...

I need a hood arm to support the hood when I fill "Beasty" up. I saw on the Enzo that the rear hood arm is a bar that screws into the body and then supports the top. It looks slick.

My thought is to get 1/2 metal bar, approx. 30 inches, and fabricate the hood arm and screw. I will wrap the bar with the same tan leater than my dash is in.

I am not sure how to mount it. The mount needs to be easy to unhook and apply with one hand (the other is holding the hood). I am looking for some sweet and exciting ideas.

Thoughts?

Contact John Steele at JPS. He has a neat little scissor arm that locks in to place when opened.

Go to a salvage yard, and get a hood prop rod for a late 80's thru mid-90's Eagle Talon.

Mount it with the bottom near the front, driver's side of the trunk, at a convenient height such that it'll stow nicely. Install a 3/8" rubber covered cable clip up at the far end of the trunk on the same side (near the firewall bulkhead) to hold it when stowed.

If a little thought goes into the installation, it should stow completely out of the way, and, with a notched receiver up near the hood safety latch, hold your hood up, even in moderate winds (like when you're filling your gas tank).
I mounted my brake fluid resevoir on the driver's side of the trunk, about 16" away from the firewall/bulkhead, and there's a convenient "S" bend in the rod so that it stows neatly around the resevoir and looks like "the factory" made it that way.

gn

P.S. email me if you need pictures.

I use a 2pc. pool cue, red & black

Paul. That's an awesome idea. Do you have a picture? How did you mount it?

Todd

The trunk and hood prop rods on MGBs are cool locking telescoping units that tuck in tight and work great!

The stock 356 hinges are even cooler though, why not just go for a set of those?

I find that what comes in Intermecs, CMC's and VS's works just perfectly.

I have to agree with TC; the original 356 hood hindges had a locking detent that, when raised to a certain height, held the hood (or engine cover) in a nicely opened position. To close, simply lift the hood a few inches higher, releasing the detent, and then close it.

Simple and cool.

Here's a simple trick. Buy some ridged stainless steel tubing and slide it over the original hood rod. It worked for me.

My pics are too big for the sire format... I screwed some broom handle holders (strap metal bent to provide tension) to the left and right inside walls of the trunk. When I pop the hood I just pull the stout half of the cue and set it in the indentation alongside the latch on one end and the little hole that is in the lid... No science.

The 'tip' half is just right for propping up the engine lid at car shows.
Sort of a Jed Clampett arrangement, but it works for me.