572_Rat

There has been lots of talk but it does not seem that anyone project is working on creating Billet Hood Hinges. I just receieved an email from eddie motor sports and they have billet Hood hinges for our cars. They come in machined look, polished, and various colors of black and clear coat.
http://www.eddiemotorsports.com/wp-c...al-low-res.pdf
is their catalog Part number MS149-91P for polished, I just contacted them for price and they said that they will be available around September. I guess the more people that call the faster it will be available

Abubaca

iTrader: (3)

I'd certainly like a set, but I imagine price is gonna be up there. ...still....all the billet hinges I've seen look pretty sharp.

scooter

iTrader: (11)

Billet hinges are usually pretty expensive, but ours are pretty simple compared to most, so they may be affordable.

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

Sweet...another aftermarket part!
One we've been waiting for years for! Im in for a set.. !
Its only money...

Edit to add:

I Will be going to SEMA this nov..as well...will look them up.

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

Called and talked to them today. They're trying by the end of the year. but it seems they've gotten pushed back. The company will be at SEMA this year. And if they've got a set with them.. believe me I'm going to try to talk them out of them...lol price range is going to be in the $600 and up...

scooter

iTrader: (11)

$600 is too much for an essentially flat hinge. It isn't like our cars even have compound articulation points like most older cars. It's just two different length arms

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

$600 $800 I'm willing to pay it.

scooter

iTrader: (11)

I commend you, but you're overpaying. The hinges for my 73 Camaro in black anodize were only in the mid $700 range and they have a lot of machine work in them. I think I could make a set of 3rd gen hinges with some flat stock, an end mill and a drill press.

In fact, I would try to make a set if I had a drill press. Someone is giving me one that needs a power switch replaced.....

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

Idk. I would agree that 600 is a lt but without seeing a finished product its hard to say what they did with them

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

I seen some of their products before and you'll definitely get what you pay for.. if you Idownload there catalog you'll see it listed . I think. There's been a few times guys on the site say that they'll make one or had one made.. its been 24 years since the last 3rd gen has been made. I'm just tired of waiting

scooter

iTrader: (11)

I see the number listed in the catalog, but no picture.

I have no doubt they will be well made, I am just saying this is not a complicated product to make and they are probably putting form over function and jacking up the price because of all the machine work and raw materials.

I can understand paying for something you have wanted for a long time, but in my opinion, they won't be doing them selves a favor with an expensive part. The 3rd gen community in general isn't a customer that spends a lot of money on them.

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

Well some of us 3rd gen guys have had our cars since they rolled out of the showroom. Some of us 3rd generation Camaro guys have very unique Camaros. And we do spend a lot of money on them. After all it's just money.

My last suppressor was $600.. So its not a big thing

scooter

iTrader: (11)

I know SOME people spend money, but not a lot. I have a significant amount into a plain jane 92 V6 firebird, lol but I am far from the norm. I spent 5 or 6k on the carbon fiber/fiberglass on my 73 Camaro alone, still isn't painted, no engine..... why did I have to spend money on that car, ugh.

Suppressor? as in a firearm suppressor?

MoJoe

iTrader: (5)

Yeah, but how long did it take to get your stamp! Proof you are patient, too!!

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

ya just have to be..

toxik IROC

iTrader: (12)

I'd Like a set too. But $600 or 800 is alot of money. I work my *** off,day in day out, and I am not cheap. I have put ALOT of money into my camaro but 6-800 is alot for a set of hinges even if they are billtet.

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

$600 is spendy..almost 3 days work for me...i get paid by the hr..thats why I save up in the time it takes to make them

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

missed them at SEMA. so much to see and do! spent a week in my old home town. its grown a lot..WOW.

sent a email to then tonight see whate up. I want a set!

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

A customers car had a set, not sure which brand. Looked nice but still operated like 25y/o hinges. Had to walk the hood up like stock worn out hinges, wasnt smooth like youd expect. Fresh struts too

Ill build a set of my own from scratch before I cough up that much for such a minor part

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

I'm holding out for a set.$600 is not that bad...we will see.

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

As of today.. They are not working on them ... other more important stuff.. they haven't given up on them they just have the other stuff ahead of them..

Tibo

iTrader: (15)

It's agreed then, as part of the experiment artic will sacrifice his cash to let us know if they are worth it.

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

I have been in the back ground of the production of these hinges for a couple years now. I reached out to them to help improve the design of my current hinges, and from there I shared measurements, pics, and thoughts on the hinges with Joe Rode -CEO. From that they built two pre-production sets to mimic my billet hinges almost to a tee. Joe got with me about two months ago, and informed me they will not be putting these into production anytime in the near future. They have been stalling the production as there was no interest, and had much more demand for other body styles, but he says now that the plug has been pulled... From the CEO of the Company. Sorry fellas!

LC2 TECH

iTrader: (1)

Its unfortunate that right now the thirdgen falls into that category of not enough interest for a lot of people to but the R&D money towards the cars. There have also been a lot of products cancelled for lack of sales.

I know we have put of a bunch of thirdgen products on hold because there seems to be a lack of real interest or lack of customers willing to pay for products. I am sure it might change a few years from now if the thirdgens ever get real traction in the marketplace again.

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

YES...yes I will...let me know ill pay up!

LS6_IROC

anyone have a pic of what the Billet Hood Hinges. i have a friend that does CNC and he took my stock hinges and is going to come up with a set, but then stumbled upon this thread and if its available. When and where ill buy it now if i can find them.

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

no body is making them...its wide open right now.

LS6_IROC

hopefully in a few weeks ill post the set i get made. I hope to have some info to help some of you guys out.

LS6_IROC

this is what it might look like this is the one from eddie motorsports

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

now if we can get somebody to make them for us guys who want them..

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Those are exactly what mine look like

Tibo

iTrader: (15)

I'm wondering why we can't just take exact measurements, make a 3d file and share it and send the file to any cnc machine and have them made, cheaply. I can do easier 3d files. But I'm ignorant on cnc stuff.

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

anybody want to make a few sets $$$

LX_SS

To make the hinges out of a single piece of aluminum, it requires a 4 axis cnc machine, not a 3 axis which most people have or have access too.

With that in mind it also requires more programming (after the design file) to rotate the assembly on the machine then do the required machining than the regular 3 axis post design tool path.

If someone had access to a design already in place, then it would be easier to get things moving. But its still not as simple as here is a 3d design, put stock in machine and go.

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

anybody??

LX_SS

So you want something like this ?

Plain hinge bottom, just more solid out of aluminum.
The colors are just to distinguish the different parts.

Here's a little bit about the design, Its set up for 8mm thick plate with each of the vertical tabs separate (shown merged in pic), they would be welded into place.
Reason is to allow for 3 axis machining (less machining time) and less wasted stock.

Tho the thickness will be an issue at a guess(perhaps 6mm would be better for base and hood mounts). As the original mounts that are stamped are only 2.5mm thick steel.
Probably will cause issues when hinges are closed. You can make the arms a little shorter to compensate thickness but still needs to fit in that small area.
Its not hard to adjust things once the design is done so long as all the locations for everything is accurate.

I just tinkered around with it today. Suppose if i get bored tomorrow in the heat (its 40c+ here at the moment), i can design the hood part.

The main downside to these is that they are too long to fit in my small machine (as my other much larger mill is not cnc) and im also a long way off even looking at hinges currently. I got so much other things to finish before i get there.

Few things to think about anyway.

scooter

iTrader: (11)

If you made those vertical points a tab that went all the way down to the base I think welding them would make the strong enough. I am not great at welding, but I could weld the tabs on. Also if you used a standard size bushing, something that is readily purchased, and pressed them in it would make it easy to replace them.

I would be in for two sets if you could make them, I would be glad to help in any way I can too, I don't have anything but a TIG welder though

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Why not cut them out of sheet/plate and use a brake to bend the tabs up?

LX_SS

Thin aluminum sheet is fine to bend, however thicker piece such as 3mm + don't bend as well due to its crystalline structure. The bends literally stress the metal too much to cracking and showing the grains making it very weak. Especially on tight radius bends. Also if you've ever tried to cut 8mm+ aluminum plate on a hydraulic guillotine its not a very clean cut.

Its easy to make it as thick flat bar and weld the tabs vs doing full billet units(using a jig to get placements correct).
My main issue is i dont have a cnc mill with enough travel to machine the bases and arms. So unless i either machine them manually (depending on design this may be possible and easy enough to do with minimal work), I currently can't machine it up.

That and i have a billion of other things to do on my vehicle before i get around to hinges.

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

We order bent .125" channel and other aluminum sheets semi frequently and reject pieces with cracks along the outside of the bend. Not sure what type of sheet is used, but thicker alum can and will be bent nicely

Welding something on will work fine, but the billet aspect is lost. Still scratch my head about what part of a billet grill is actually billet

LX_SS

My machines i have can't do it(not in a tight radius), there is ways to do it but i dont have access to machines which can (at home or at uni). Also i'm very skeptical if 3mm would be thick enough to be an improvement over stock hinges for flexing. Hence why you would want 6mm or more.

Btw i use magnetic benders, Which has only so much clamping force.

scooter

iTrader: (11)

You have to heat the aluminum once it is that tick to bend it

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

anybody....$$$

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

one day somebody will step up..and make a killing...

scooter

iTrader: (11)

Not hardly

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Just a little something to drool over


My guess is there is about 5-8 people on this board or elsewhere that really seriously would pay the price it would take for these to be manufactured... Makes it tough to recoup the design and set up. Hope that number grows at some point.

Tibo

iTrader: (15)

When I have the time to take on little projects I'll get out the tig and make a set.

BOTTLEDZ28

iTrader: (9)

WOW, those hinges look nice. I had a pair of polished billet strut mounts that I bought from Spohn years ago. I sold them to BADNBLK I think. I regret that now since I just picked up another toy. No one makes the polished strut mounts now.

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

You sure did! They had to be completely stripped sanded and rebuilt with new bearings and retainers, but I'm glad I have them. They completed my look I was going for.

Tibo

iTrader: (15)

Show us this look? Do you have a billet set of hinges mounted on there right now?