I've owned a '62 Hawk for several years and have never liked the front opening hood design. I've looked longingly at the design Jerry Forrester used converting 'Buttercup' to a rear opening design, as well as pictures Bill Van Alstyne sent me as his hood project progressed and decided to give it a shot. I did use the same hinges Jerry and Bill used from a late 80s Buick, but left the inner fender shapes the same, opting to make small pedestal mounts that I bolted in. I'm going to attach a few pictures now of the completed conversion and will add more detail as I have time. I estimate I've got 60-70 hours in the fabricobbling (loved that term I read somewhere on the forum) - all done in the barn through this summer. I had to take a good month off in the middle of things to have a few blocked arteries bypassed, but I managed to finish.
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Nice workmanship.
There is also a simpler version somewhere on this forum using barn door hinges. -
Great work!Originally posted by wh22366 View Post
'62 GT has the cleanest, sleekest front design of the GT series and your modification to the reverse-opening is first-rate. You have done no harm to the original design! I'm not only admiring the car but the surroundings and background in the picture. 
Oh...and the month off to take care of those blocked arteries...very likely the best move in the whole project.
Your shop looks like a great place to pull up a chair and swap Studebaker stories!
John Clary
Greer, SC
SDC member since 1975Comment
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Thanks. I saw that but I wanted to do it the hard way! Actually I like the way the hood balances on the hinges (2nd photo) allowing me to stay in front to complete an opening or closing.Originally posted by RadioRoy View Post
Roy, your FM conversion of my radio is still one of the best investments I've made!
Wayne
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Appreciate your comments. I'm still fiddling with some details, but by and large I'm happy with the results. I used about every tool in the barn on this one!Originally posted by jclary View Post
Great work! '62 GT has the cleanest, sleekest front design of the GT series and your modification to the reverse-opening is first-rate. You have done no harm to the original design! I'm not only admiring the car but the surroundings and background in the picture.
Oh...and the month off to take care of those blocked arteries...very likely the best move in the whole project. Your shop looks like a great place to pull up a chair and swap Studebaker stories!
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Thanks for the compliment Wayne. You must have installed some good speakers.Originally posted by wh22366 View Post
Glad you are enjoying it.
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Looking good Wayne.Originally posted by wh22366 View PostI've owned a '62 Hawk for several years and have never liked the front opening hood design. I've looked longingly at the design Jerry Forrester used converting 'Buttercup' to a rear opening design, as well as pictures Bill Van Alstyne sent me as his hood project progressed and decided to give it a shot. I did use the same hinges Jerry and Bill used from a late 80s Buick, but left the inner fender shapes the same, opting to make small pedestal mounts that I bolted in. I'm going to attach a few pictures now of the completed conversion and will add more detail as I have time. I estimate I've got 60-70 hours in the fabricobbling (loved that term I read somewhere on the forum) - all done in the barn through this summer. I had to take a good month off in the middle of things to have a few blocked arteries bypassed, but I managed to finish.
If you want, I can show you how to prevent the rear corners of the hood from coming so close to the fenders when closing the hood. But with the pedestal mounts you are using, you may not have that problem.Jerry Forrester
Forrester's Chrome
Douglasville, Georgia
See all of Buttercup's pictures at https://imgur.com/a/tBjGzTk
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I initially had that problem using he Buick "rollers." The 1 3/4" diameter freeze plugs I used on the hood give me a minimum of 1/4" fender clearance. Please do give me more info on the subject when you get time, I'd appreciate it.Originally posted by Jerry Forrester View Post
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Wayne,
Great conversion I would consider on my '63 GT. Nice shop/barn and judging by one of your pics. I think the hammer in the foreground has Noah's name on it!
Cheers, BillComment
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I've done a conversion write-up for Bob Johnstone's Studebaker info web page and assume he'll post it soon. Hope it answers a few questions for anyone interested in going this route!Comment
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I'm glad that you were able to get this done, hope my pictures were of help also. Mine worked fine until I installed the Vintage Air compressor and I couldn't get enough (or any) clearance between it and the hinge assembly. I intend to make a completely different hinge arm assembly which should work and also clear all the pieces in the engine bay. Glad that you acknowledged Jerry Forrester as this is his set up, we just are copying and making modifications to fit our own applications. BillComment
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The pictures you sent me were the inspiration I needed to carry the project through. So I thank you a bunch. Happy New Year!!Originally posted by Colgate Studebaker View Post
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Very nicely done............I do a lot of fabricobbling myself Much nicer to do under hood work as well as not worrying about the hood wrapping over the windshield
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Thanks...and amen.Originally posted by 1953champcoupe View PostVery nicely done............I do a lot of fabricobbling myself Much nicer to do under hood work as well as not worrying about the hood wrapping over the windshield
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