1940 Ford hood safety wire tips.

[std1940]

I need to replace the safety wire on my 1940 Ford hood hinge bolts.
Looking for tips on how to run the wire and make it easy?
Is there a correct method ?
Thanks Tom.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by std1940

I need to replace the safety wire on my 1940 Ford hood hinge bolts.
Looking for tips on how to run the wire and make it easy?
Is there a correct method ?
Thanks Tom.

Tom, no real tricks that I am aware of.
The hinges and wire were installed prior to the hood assembly being painted.
That hood assembly was not on the car (body) until after it was painted.
If you are attempting to do things concourse correct, that safety wire, the hinges and the fasteners that wire goes through should all be body color.

By the way, if you are using after-market bolts, be 100% certain they are not too long.
Many were too long and unsuspecting folks dimpled the hood / paint when installing them.

[3twinridges]

Anytime I get to run safety wire, I get excited! It’s an opportunity to really show skills and neatness. Think about good tight wire twists and wire orientation that will not allow the bolt to back out. Any tails you have, trim them neat and bend to avoid putting an eye out. A good pair of safety wire pliers will make the job pretty easy. Watch a few YouTube videos on technique using the pliers. On our 52 F1, I have the hood bracket bolts wired and the rear transmission mount bolts wired.

JB

[19Fordy]

If possible would someone please post of a properly installed safety wire on 40 Ford hood bolts. I don't have any on mine and would like to install. Thanks.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

If possible would someone please post of a properly installed safety wire on 40 Ford hood bolts. I don't have any on mine and would like to install. Thanks.

I was hoping I had a good photo that would show the installation. I do not.
There is no known prescribed method (by Ford) to installing the wire. Simply loop it through the two hex heads and twist the wire.
However, there is a proper way to route the wire through the heads as well as a proper way to twist the wire.
There are numerous YouTube videos that show this.

[mcgarrett]

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By the way, if you are using after-market bolts, be 100% certain they are not too long.
Many were too long and unsuspecting folks dimpled the hood / paint when installing them.[/QUOTE]

I bought the special hood bolts from one of the vendors that were supposed to be for the '40 hood hinges not knowing that the heads were WAY too thick.
I wish I had known about those bolts before I dimpled my hood!

[std1940]

Thank You all for your insight.

[std1940]

Thank you for all the insight.

[19Fordy]

mcgarrett "bolt length info." is solid gold as you don't know
the bolt may be too long until it's too late. Also, install the wave washers.
Be careful as some aftermarket bolts don't have a "shoulder".

[mcgarrett]

19Fordy,
I used what I thought were the correct shoulder-type bolts with the special head as per the description on the packaging. Did not turn out the way I thought it would I had a perfect hood until this debacle.

[Ken/Alabama]

Here’s my two cents about the hood hinge bolts. In the picture is what I believe to be the correct bolt for attaching the hinges to the hood located on the far left. I removed this bolt from my original 40 sedan for this picture. The next bolt is also correct from Third Gen. Silver cad plated bolt will work but not correct.wrong plating,thin head and has markings on the head. The bolt on the far right is totally wrong for this application even though I constantly see it advertised as correct hood hinge bolt for 39-40. Very thick head and large shoulder and is very long.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Ken/Alabama

Here’s my two cents about the hood hinge bolts. In the picture is what I believe to be the correct bolt for attaching the hinges to the hood located on the far left. I removed this bolt from my original 40 sedan for this picture. The next bolt is also correct from Third Gen. Silver cad plated bolt will work but not correct.wrong plating,thin head and has markings on the head. The bolt on the far right is totally wrong for this application even though I constantly see it advertised as correct hood hinge bolt for 39-40. Very thick head and large shoulder and is very long.

The bolt to the left appears to be the correct bolt for the hinge to hood.

Any bolt with identification marks is wrong anywhere on a '40.
Originally these bolts were not plated as they were painted prior to the hood being installed.

That shoulder bolt in your photo is, as you thought, not correct for either a '39 or a '40 hood hinge.
It may work at the top connection on the hood support. However, NOT correct at all.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Ken/Alabama

Here’s my two cents about the hood hinge bolts. In the picture is what I believe to be the correct bolt for attaching the hinges to the hood located on the far left. I removed this bolt from my original 40 sedan for this picture. The next bolt is also correct from Third Gen. Silver cad plated bolt will work but not correct.wrong plating,thin head and has markings on the head. The bolt on the far right is totally wrong for this application even though I constantly see it advertised as correct hood hinge bolt for 39-40. Very thick head and large shoulder and is very long.

[ssffnomad]

So, is 39’ passenger car the same ?

[Kube]

Originally Posted by ssffnomad

So, is 39’ passenger car the same ?

yes

[mcgarrett]

Originally Posted by Ken/Alabama

Here’s my two cents about the hood hinge bolts. In the picture is what I believe to be the correct bolt for attaching the hinges to the hood located on the far left. I removed this bolt from my original 40 sedan for this picture. The next bolt is also correct from Third Gen. Silver cad plated bolt will work but not correct.wrong plating,thin head and has markings on the head. The bolt on the far right is totally wrong for this application even though I constantly see it advertised as correct hood hinge bolt for 39-40. Very thick head and large shoulder and is very long.

Seems to me if we all agree that the extra long thick head shoulder bolt is not in any way correct or ever will be, then there should be some serious negative feedback to vendors of the damage those bolts will do and they should immediately stop selling them as "correct". I'm pretty ticked that I ruined a perfect hood with this garbage part! Am I missing something here?

[Kube]

Originally Posted by mcgarrett

Seems to me if we all agree that the extra long thick head shoulder bolt is not in any way correct or ever will be, then there should be some serious negative feedback to vendors of the damage those bolts will do and they should immediately stop selling them as "correct". I'm pretty ticked that I ruined a perfect hood with this garbage part! Am I missing something here?

You are not missing a thing in my opinion.
I think a fact often overlooked is many of the vendors are just that, vendors.
I can't recall nor do I want to, the number of folks that argued with me after judging that "I got that from Drake, or... and his catalog said it was correct".

There are some, Karl Wescott, Mike Driskell to name two, that are actually good honest guys. And, if and when they make a mistake (we all do) I'd bet heavy both would "make it right".