Factory Hood Hinge Brace
#1
Factory Hood Hinge Brace
Anybody have any pictures of the factory 3rd gen passenger side hood hinge brace/rod installed?
can't seem to find any on this site or interwebs.
thanks in advance.
can't seem to find any on this site or interwebs.
thanks in advance.
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Bohemian (06-03-2022)
#3
Supreme Member
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Re: Factory Hood Hinge Brace
FYI this was a Z28 specific brace, no-one seems to know what it does. Likewise there is another brace that goes from the lower fender to the passenger subframe. I think some other models got is as well (maybe later cars with the 350 TPI?) but for sure on the early models it was Z28 specific.
So if you have a Z28 and are going for originality make sure you get both.
So if you have a Z28 and are going for originality make sure you get both.
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T.L. (06-08-2022)
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TTOP350 (06-30-2022)
#5
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Car: 1992 Teal RS
Engine: 350 Carbed
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen Rear 3.42
Re: Factory Hood Hinge Brace
At least with my car, the hood is always a bear to open. One side or the other always wants to rise and the opposite side just doesn't move as much, causing a twisting motion - and I have to kind of pull upwards harder on the lower side to 'even' things out so that it lifts level and symmetrically. And I do not have this brace, but I do have the holes for it. And although my car is a 1992 RS, I have an older (maybe 85?) hood because I wanted the louver hood instead of the plain Jane RS hood. I'm assuming the louvered hood was an IROC or Z-28 feature.
So ... I guess what I'm getting at is ... does anyone think that this brace has anything to do with keeping the hood from do this 'twisting' motion like mine always does? There are only 4 bolts that hold the hood to the hinge, and it is a large heavy piece of metal. Maybe I should be hunting or fabbing this brace to help my hood open easier? I did just recently install brand new (although that rarely means anything these days) hood struts, and they do hold the hood just fine after I get it up, but they did not improve the opening process at all.
So ... I guess what I'm getting at is ... does anyone think that this brace has anything to do with keeping the hood from do this 'twisting' motion like mine always does? There are only 4 bolts that hold the hood to the hinge, and it is a large heavy piece of metal. Maybe I should be hunting or fabbing this brace to help my hood open easier? I did just recently install brand new (although that rarely means anything these days) hood struts, and they do hold the hood just fine after I get it up, but they did not improve the opening process at all.
#6
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Car: 89' Firebird
Engine: 3.4L V-6
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: Whatever came stock!
Re: Factory Hood Hinge Brace
At least with my car, the hood is always a bear to open. One side or the other always wants to rise and the opposite side just doesn't move as much, causing a twisting motion - and I have to kind of pull upwards harder on the lower side to 'even' things out so that it lifts level and symmetrically. And I do not have this brace, but I do have the holes for it. And although my car is a 1992 RS, I have an older (maybe 85?) hood because I wanted the louver hood instead of the plain Jane RS hood. I'm assuming the louvered hood was an IROC or Z-28 feature.
So ... I guess what I'm getting at is ... does anyone think that this brace has anything to do with keeping the hood from do this 'twisting' motion like mine always does? There are only 4 bolts that hold the hood to the hinge, and it is a large heavy piece of metal. Maybe I should be hunting or fabbing this brace to help my hood open easier? I did just recently install brand new (although that rarely means anything these days) hood struts, and they do hold the hood just fine after I get it up, but they did not improve the opening process at all.
So ... I guess what I'm getting at is ... does anyone think that this brace has anything to do with keeping the hood from do this 'twisting' motion like mine always does? There are only 4 bolts that hold the hood to the hinge, and it is a large heavy piece of metal. Maybe I should be hunting or fabbing this brace to help my hood open easier? I did just recently install brand new (although that rarely means anything these days) hood struts, and they do hold the hood just fine after I get it up, but they did not improve the opening process at all.
lubricate your hinges and change your struts. that will help dramatically
#7
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: Factory Hood Hinge Brace
Not just used on the camaro, it's on my 89-92 formulas Trans Ams as well. And some cars with the exact same options didn't get the brace.
And a FYI, the wonder bar is also listed in the Pontiac parts books for use on the 1LE/WS6 birds but I've never seen on on them from the factory.
And a FYI, the wonder bar is also listed in the Pontiac parts books for use on the 1LE/WS6 birds but I've never seen on on them from the factory.
Last edited by TTOP350; 07-03-2022 at 06:32 AM.
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#8
Moderator
Re: Factory Hood Hinge Brace
I wonder if that brace is needed on the passenger side due to the antenna catching air causing vibration. The brace would strengthen and silence that area.
#11
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Re: Factory Hood Hinge Brace
My theory on this brace (or at least the one at the top of the fender) is that it provide some needed support because the PS wheelwell doesn't make as much contact with the firewall as the DS. Check out the pics below of my '84 TA. The DS wheelwell kind of dies into the firewall providing some support almost halfway up the firewall. In the PS photo you can see the back of the wheelwell doesn't die into the firewall like the DS. The bottom edge meets up at the very bottom of the firewall. This whole PS area isn't as structurally sound as the DS.
#12
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Re: Factory Hood Hinge Brace
The following 2 users liked this post by J.C. Denton:
DynoDave43 (07-07-2022), TTOP350 (07-03-2022)
#13
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Car: 1969 Z/28, 1983 Z/28
Engine: 350, 305 (L69)
Transmission: TKO-600, T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42, 3.73
Re: Factory Hood Hinge Brace
At least the top one. With the long slot to allow it to bolt up because of tolerances and the use of 10mm bolts doesn't seem much of use to me. I can' imagine there being that much flex in that area that a small brace could help with.
But I'm not an engineer...
But I'm not an engineer...
#15
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Re: Factory Hood Hinge Brace
There's a blurb in Camaro : The Third Generation that mentions the brace is to compensate for the weakness of the firewall on that side of the car. In the early years, most of the additional braces are listed as "Z28" parts, and they were often used on lesser models in later years.
Having driven the car(s) with/without the brace in place, the difference is negligible. It might cure a noise or vibration, or reinforce a weak area of the car that might flex in extreme conditions. Most people would never notice any difference.
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T.L. (07-05-2022)
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