My 38 Dodge is missing any sort of struts to hold the hood sides open. I'm wondering if Plymouth would be the same in that area and what sort of strut was used. Any photos would be a big help.
Thanks,
Reg
Harry Bishop has an ad in the Bulletin for hood supports. Also check your local junk yard--they bolt to the radiator support rod on each side.
Roberts motors sell them for $26.50 each.
(https://www.plymouthowners.club/talk/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.robertsmotorparts.com%2Fcatalog%2Fimages%2FT162.jpg&hash=8ec4d04512875fed65818d1f1550267232cecf6a)
Usually my wife. :D Have seen a bar that bolts to both support rods. The ends fold out to hold hood open.
I am one of those heathens that simply folds the hood over the other side. Works out pretty well except in the rare case I am doing something that requires access to both sides. I guess if it were a show car I would have to be more careful about the hood. :)
Well, In the case of a 38 the hood gets a crease in it near the center hinge if the hood strut is missing and the hood is just laid all the way back. My hood has that crease on both sides. :(
OK, Let's go back to the original question. The question was about a 1938 DODGE. My 1938 PLYMOUTH with the original P6 engine number has a hood support system. The support is an integral part of the rear hood reinforcement brace. My '38 PLYMOUTH does not have any firewall to radiator brace rods. When I lift the Left or Right hood panel the spring loaded rods lock into factory cut slots in the upper firewall panel outer lip. These slots are in a T shape. The hood is secure in the OPEN position. To close the hood one must push the rod out of the locking "T" and the hood is released and may be lowered. Dodge is not Plymouth.
Brucepine is right , i had a 38 dodge some years ago and from memory it did not have the support rods to the radiator , therefore had the same hood support system that his 38 Plymouth has . i have a 39 Desoto that i am restoring that also has that type of support. 37 's were entighly different they had the support rods to the radiator. the one that i sold about 5 yrs ago had the same type of supports as the ones that Roberts are selling . Rex
I have a 38 without any hood supports. It seems that some were made without any supports (perhaps the early models?) and some had the spring type supports. Perhaps our technical director, John S. could weigh in on this?
Reg Have you found the answer yet .to put another idea in ,i was talking to a freind last night who had a 38 Dodge a while back so i asked him what held the hood up, he said his had a pair of supports simaler to the one that holds the trunk lid up ,only on a smaller scale and that they were attached to the firewall
Well elmo54.....I know what I need now for the Dodge. It's a telescoping channel thingamabob. One piece goes into the other. Now I just need to fine them. No luck yet.
Reg:
Plymouths were different than Dodge. My 1938 Plymouth pick up has the firewall to radiator support rods like your Dodge. I believe the 38 Plymouth was the first Plymouth to do away with these rods. I'm not sure.
Plymouth offered a hood support rod or prop. Part number 783850 (right side) & 783851 (left side). There are no firewall to radiator support bars on the 1938 Plymouth car.
A bracket was mounted on the firewall that had an offset "L-shaped arm. One end was attached to the mounting bracket. That end would pivot while the other end would latch on to the underside of the hood to hold the hood up.
When closing the hood, you would disengage the rod from the hood, swing it down, and lock it into the hold down latch.
Not all Plymouths had the hood supports, but Plymouth notched the upper firewall lip to accept where the rod would slide through.
I hope I've answered your question.
I wish to apologize for not answering sooner.
John
Quote from: 38tech on May 17, 2007, 01:08:09 PM
Reg:
Plymouths were different than Dodge. My 1938 Plymouth pick up has the firewall to radiator support rods like your Dodge. I believe the 38 Plymouth was the first Plymouth to do away with these rods. I'm not sure.
Plymouth offered a hood support rod or prop. Part number 783850 (right side) & 783851 (left side). There are no firewall to radiator support bars on the 1938 Plymouth car.
A bracket was mounted on the firewall that had an offset "L-shaped arm. One end was attached to the mounting bracket. That end would pivot while the other end would latch on to the underside of the hood to hold the hood up.
When closing the hood, you would disengage the rod from the hood, swing it down, and lock it into the hold down latch.
Not all Plymouths had the hood supports, but Plymouth notched the upper firewall lip to accept where the rod would slide through.
I hope I've answered your question.
I wish to apologize for not answering sooner.
John? ?
Thanks John,
Here's a photo link for the hood prop I'm looking for.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v154/olddodges1/38%20D8%20coupe%20CLYDE/38hoodstrut.jpg
Hello on our 38 the rods are different then the ones shown it is a 1/4" rod that is a90 degree bend in the hole in the hood and runs parallel to the wind shield and bend down to the fire wall and then it has a small kink in it like a v facing the fender to hold it up it looks oringal may I can take a picture of it if you need me to let me know yours trully Jim Clark
i'll try this pic
you can hardly see the rod going in the t shaped slot in the flange on top of the fire wall. it locks in the upright position and disappears down thru the slot when the hood is shut. thats on a 38 plym bus coupe. who said "usually my wife"? now i don't care who you are that there is funny.