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Crazy idea, anybody done this before?

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Offline r0ckstarr79

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Crazy idea, anybody done this before?
« on: November 17, 2004, 08:05:02 PM »
Im thinking about making a one piece front clip on my samurai that I can fold forward to have much easier access to the motor. My idea, is to either, bolt together, or weld together the fenders, hood, ect to make the front clip one piece. Possibly even run some reinforcments along the undersides..


It would look like this, but the whole thing tilts forward as one piece.


Im sure the inner fenders would have to be trimmed down a bit, and the few things that are attatched to them would have to be moved to a different location, maybe the firewall?


Does the door hinge that bolts to the fender, bolt up to the fender only, or is there something stronger behind the fender that the hinge bolts to? Im thinking, I could cut a line diagonal on the fender , just right above the hinge to leave that piece still in, and also use that to attach latches from the front clip, to the piece left in place to help hold the front clip down.




The reason I was thinking about doing this, is to make working on the engine, and changing the plugs a whole lot easier.
Any idea's, suggestions, ect to help make this possible? Has anybody done this before?

Thanks
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Offline jerryp58

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Re: Crazy idea, anybody done this before?
« Reply #1 on: November 17, 2004, 09:21:02 PM »
Has anybody done this before?

Chevrolet, with the C4 ('84-'96) Corvette for one.

Some people adapted the idea to their earlier C3s, but I can't remember what they used for a hinge system.

Maybe you can get some ideas from the C4's design  :-/
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Jerry
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spinaltap

Re: Crazy idea, anybody done this before?
« Reply #2 on: November 18, 2004, 11:55:26 AM »
A cut like this?



Another flip front to look for ideas would be those early to mid 80's Buick LeSabres...those front drive ones...they had a pretty heavy hood that flipped forward...you could likely get those brackets/hinges from a wrecker fairly cheap.
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Offline r0ckstarr79

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Re: Crazy idea, anybody done this before?
« Reply #3 on: November 18, 2004, 12:41:21 PM »
yea, a cut just like that. I remember the Le Sabres your talking about. My cousin had one. Im gonna have to look into it. Or, I was thinking maybe the hinges for a semi's front clip or something. I could weld braces below the grill so its not to be seen to support the hinges, and to keep the front clip from bending and flexing.
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spinaltap

Re: Crazy idea, anybody done this before?
« Reply #4 on: November 18, 2004, 12:44:00 PM »
Good idea about the semi hinges!
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Offline r0ckstarr79

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Re: Crazy idea, anybody done this before?
« Reply #5 on: November 18, 2004, 12:47:16 PM »
We have a Chevy C6500 up here at work, and I folded the front clip forward to check the oil in it, and thats where my idea came from...
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spinaltap

Re: Crazy idea, anybody done this before?
« Reply #6 on: November 18, 2004, 12:50:09 PM »
And for some reason, the very next day a C6500 hood was found in many pieces on the interstate ;)
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Offline r0ckstarr79

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Re: Crazy idea, anybody done this before?
« Reply #7 on: November 18, 2004, 12:58:58 PM »
Quote
And for some reason, the very next day a C6500 hood was found in many pieces on the interstate ;)


Yup. And while all this is going on, im showing my boss the trick setup I built.. LOL
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spinaltap

Re: Crazy idea, anybody done this before?
« Reply #8 on: November 18, 2004, 01:04:07 PM »
LOL ;D
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Offline MUTANT_ZUK

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Re: Crazy idea, anybody done this before?
« Reply #9 on: November 19, 2004, 06:00:04 AM »
Rock Star take a look at trailer door hinges,years ago I tricked out a 57 Chevy-straight front axle ,big lift big rubber,lots of HP. I fabbed the flip front using these hinges worked good .We pull Great Dane trailers and the hinges are aluminum,and off set for more swing when opening.Take a look at em may be what you are looking for. ;D  When we quit MUTATING stuff its time for a new hobby(or the grave!)  M.Z.
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Now thats stress relief 4X4!                  MUTANT ZUK
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Offline jzap

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Re: Check the hot rod forums...
« Reply #10 on: November 26, 2004, 12:46:59 PM »
This is an old hot rodder's mod from the '60's.  What they would do is bolt and weld together a front clip, make a plaster mold of it and use that as a mold to shoot chopped glass and resin into to make a light weight one piece fiberglass front end.  

I would say it can be done.  I would suggest that you look at using the front frame tube where the bumper mounts now as the pivot point for your front clip mount.  Possibly bolt two half tubes together over the tube inside the frame rails to form a sleeve that would pivot on the outside of the tube.

This type of front end is commercially available for a certain truck that we'll just call Brand X at:

http://www.jeep-body-parts.com/

Also take a look at:

http://www.mmrusa.com/fg.htm

Good luck...

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Jim Z.
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Offline mrfuelish

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Re: Crazy idea, anybody done this before?
« Reply #11 on: November 27, 2004, 05:53:04 AM »
I seen one on pirates the other day, it was a lwb over seas it was red white and blue with a snorkle and some big lights on it looked like he was racing it and the hood was fiberglass with the fenders being all molded together!  look cool. I will send you a link if I can find it again.
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Offline Rhinoman

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Re: Crazy idea, anybody done this before?
« Reply #12 on: November 27, 2004, 09:21:33 AM »
It was a fairly common mod in the UK about 20 years ago. A lot of racing Minis had them, they had to reinforce the shell though cos the front end was structural. I remember watching a Mini race in the mid 80s. One guy came flying into the chicane, stamped on the brakes and the whole front flipped forward  ;D ;D Luckily he was only 10ft from the pit entrance.
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Offline Mike71

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Re: Crazy idea, anybody done this before?
« Reply #13 on: November 27, 2004, 02:28:04 PM »
the only thing id be worried about is if u smashed say a left front fender it would tweak the whole deal not just that fender
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Offline strtdsmallproject

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Re: Crazy idea, anybody done this before?
« Reply #14 on: November 28, 2004, 01:17:09 AM »
Quote
I have a one piece on my FJ40 it tilts forward(if I had no winch), via a "stock" FJ40 front grille hinge with a 2" reciever pin as the pin in the hinge. that pin can be removed so that you can tilt the front end back towards the windshield. OR you can remove the front pin and the pins in the rear(hood hinges) and lift the entire front clip off. If you would like pix of the "set-up" I can provide pix, if some one will volunteer to post?!?
This setup allows you to fold the front clip forward, back, or remove completely with in a matter of minutes.


I would be very greatfull for som e pictures like that.

Posted by: Mike71 Posted on: Nov 27th, 2004, 10:28pm
the only thing id be worried about is if u smashed say a left front fender it would tweak the whole deal not just that fender  

Also fiberglass is very easy to repair, bond to gether and modify.
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