DSE hood hinge review...
 

Installed the hood this morning at Best of Show.. This meant that we finally got to try out the DSE billet hood hinges.

Installation went pretty good. There was a "learning curve" on how they adjust compared to normal hinges, but once we figured it out we found them to be a lot easier to dial in than stock hinges.

The main attribute was the small turnbuckle (blue arrow). This made adjusting the hood forward and aft a snap. The buckle was simply turn a tiny amount and the hood moved closer or farther from the front valance. It also made getting the hood "striaght" easy as well.

The only close call was the bottom of the hinge. The end (yellow arrow) comes very close to the inner fender. In fact, if you were to open the hood all the way, and push, it would hit the inner fender. Not a huge deal, but it is what we found on this install, you're deal might be better or worse.

The operation of the hinge is much much smoother compared to a stock hinge/spring combo. There's none of the "jerkiness" and the hood open velvety smooth. Balance seems very good and the shocks seem to have the proper amount of tension.

Not a cheap date at all, but at least they function better than stock. Still should be considered a totally un-needed appearance item (except for the adjustment benefit), but then again I want many things in life that I really don't "need" ;)

So ends my review.. I will open the floor to questions.. lol

http://www.lifeinwidescreen.com/siihp/hinge.jpg

Dang! Looks nice, i like the adjustment turnstyles.

Only one question:

Can i get a loan, i umm...err... have a sick relative who needs surgery :D

I have a set as well so it's nice to they work well. It is a hard pill to swallow. My I ask where you got the washers for the fender bolts, that looks very clean.

www.hillcofasteners.com :)

I went there today and bought 20 bolts, washers and alum washers.. cost me $70 :faint:

But they sure look nice. The large ones on the fenders work real well and it's the little things that add to the detail.

Thanks for the info Steve.

Jason

That place is going to be bad on the pocket book! Thanks again

I love these hinges. The ring bros definitely have a great design there! I told my brother we are going to use them on every car we build no matter what it is... :lol:

Glad you like them to Steve.

Make sure the bolts that secure the turnbuckle to the base of the hinge are tight. Mine weren't and came apart allowing while installing them allowing the hinge arms to move independently and it stripped several of the threads out of the hinge base. Luckily it didn't damage the car and I was able run a tap through the hinge base.

Very cool looking though and they get a ton of compliments, which makes it easier to justify the cost.

Thanks for the info on the inner fender clearance and the turnbuckle Steve and Rod. I have a pair I have yet to install even for mock up purposes.

One more bit of information though. I want to have mine anodized black, so I called DSE about trading them for an unassembled set. They are not available unassembled, as DSE receives them assembled. This means that the bearings must be pressed out to disassemble them. The sales guy at DSE says they tend to destroy bearings when doing this. The bearings cost $15 each to replace. I'm still gonna do it, but at least now I know...

One thing I liked about them is there stiff. No side to side movement like a normal hinge. I doubt they are stronger, but they look better and are much stiffer. And yes it makes adjusting the hood easy.