Even when cleaned up, painted, or finished in concours-ready phosphate and oil, vintage Mustang hood hinges are not pretty to look at. Made from stamped steel and counter-balanced with large springs, the hinges serve to conveniently open and close the hood. The engineers who designed these hinges in the 1960s weren't the least bit concerned about creating show pieces for today's restomods.
With the ever-improving quality of restomods demanding better products, Metrom Performance has introduced a new line of billet aluminum hood hinges for '65-'70 Mustangs. Offered in three different styles for '65-'66, '67-'68, and '69-'70 in both solid and airframe designs, the Metrom hinges are a direct replacement for the factory hinges. Instead of coil springs, these billet hinges utilize gas struts, available in various pressures for either steel or fiberglass hoods.
The downside is price. As you might expect from such an elaborate piece made from high-grade 6061 T6 billet aluminum, the Metrom hinges are expensive at $650 for a pair in natural finish. Grey or black finishes cost $100 more.
However, if you're building a nice restomod, the Metrom hinges will go a long way toward improving both function and underhood looks, as we discovered when Merv Rego installed the billet aluminum hinges on a '65 Mustang that was undergoing a restomod overhaul at Classic Creations of Central Florida.
1 The Metrom Performance...
1 The Metrom Performance hinges are made from high-quality 6061 T6 aluminum and use weatherproof bearings and stainless steel hardware to ensure proper operation in any climate. For smooth, effortless operation, the hinges utilize struts instead of the factory-style coil springs.
2 Start by removing the hood,...
2 Start by removing the hood, which is retained by two bolts at each hinge. To help with adjustment of the Metrom hinges, mark the hinge location on the underside of the hood.
3 Removing the hood is a...
3 Removing the hood is a two-person job, with one person supporting the hood on each side.
4 Three bolts secure the...
4 Three bolts secure the original hood hinges to the inner fender. Once they are removed from each side, the hinges can be removed from the car.
5 The Metrom billet aluminum...
5 The Metrom billet aluminum hinges are exact replacements for the original hinges, using the three inner fender bolt holes for attachment. Due to the age of vintage Mustangs, Metrom recommends checking the bolt hole threads for damage or corrosion. You may need to tap the bolt holes for smooth installation of the Metrom bolts.
6 Metrom supplies the needed...
6 Metrom supplies the needed button head bolts for installing the billet hinges. They are tightened with a 3⁄16-inch Allen wrench.
7 The gas struts simply pop...
7 The gas struts simply pop onto the studs. Install the struts before bolting on the hood.
8 For a Mustang restomod,...
8 For a Mustang restomod, the Metrom billet hinges are a big improvement over the factory stamped steel pieces.
9 The gas struts simply pop...
9 The gas struts simply pop onto the studs. Install the struts before bolting on the hood.