Town Car Hood Hinges

[hemihotrod402]

I was looking at the 88 Town Car we are currently working on (which reminds me I need to get those pictures off my phone). And I noticed the Hood hinges seem to be more along the lines of an Actuator. Can those be modified to fit on my 87 CV? I compared the hinge braces and they appear as if the will transplant over, but I'm kinda curious to see if anyone has done it. It looks a lot Cleaner IMO and they are quieter.

If so, I know what else to look for in the yard.

This thing also makes me want to put in a trunk muncher, that is the coolest thing ever!

[1987cp]

"Actuator?" :confused:

[grandpaslincoln]

He's talking about those gas filled helper shock things.

[gadget73]

Towncars have those gas charged cylinders to lift and support the hood instead of the torsion spring arrangement that Vics got. If the bolt spacing matches up, I see no reason it wouldn't work. There are two different shocks available though, depending if you have an aluminum or steel hooded Lincoln. I suspect you'll want the steel hood version if you're putting it on a Vic. The hinges and such are the same, just the lift cylinder is a different part number.

[1987cp]

That's what I was sort of thinking .... what advantage would the shocks have over spring hinges, except possibly the ability to unhook them and tether the hood all the way vertical like on an Escort or Mustang?

[87gtVIC]

It has been done Andrew by LTDMan83, i believe on both of his boxes...

Check out both threads. Some info in one or the other is given about them. Pics are long gone though.

http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.php?t=27440

http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.php?t=24418

[hemihotrod402]

Thanks guys. The bolt lineup is the same. I guess I 'm looking for a town car in the yard lol.

Thanks for the links Dave, at least now I know it has been done and is possible (of course anything is possible with the right amount fab lol)

[hemihotrod402]

That's what I was sort of thinking .... what advantage would the shocks have over spring hinges, except possibly the ability to unhook them and tether the hood all the way vertical like on an Escort or Mustang?

According to what LTDman said, they don't flex the hood like the spring assembly does. I just wanted them because they looked cool and are a lot quieter lol, but the other is just and added bonus

[1987cp]

Huh, I could sort of see that. I like the springs OK for the fact that they're stock, and don't seem to fail like struts do, but not flexing could be nice.

[CheeseSteakJim]

Springs are just as quiet if you keep them lubed. I'd rather have those than shocks for cost reasons - but then again I've had to buy like three pairs for the same car due to a major accident and changing of hoods.

[87gtVIC]

My car is as quite as a mouse. Lube things up and nothing should make a peep.

[gadget73]

The thing with the springs is maintenance. If they are properly lubed, they work smooth. They also last basically forever, unlike the hood shocks. I'm on set #2 since owning the car. The first set lasted about 5 1/2 years.

[1987cp]

Springs fail? How? Why? 5.5 years doesn't sound like a very satisfactory life expectancy from a set of hood hinges ....

[CheeseSteakJim]

He was talking about the shocks...

[1987cp]

He had me worried there for a bit ... all of my springy-hinges being original, that would have meant they're all about to go spoing on me at some inconvenient time.