Regardless of whether you are planning out a fresh new build or updating your current ride, there’s one thing for sure, well-designed, cutting-edge parts can add plenty of visual appeal. The team at Eddie Motorsports has been engineering custom billet components for the automotive enthusiasts since 2009, utilizing their state-of-the art CNC mills and lathes to produce plenty of products for a number of Chevrolet classic models.
Since the popularity of the Chevy Tri-Five Bel Airs have grown on the lowrider scene as of late, we got a hold of a project Bel Air build to give the car an injection of style, contacting Eddie Motorsports for their complete offering of billet aluminum upgrades. Being able to jettison mundane parts that were totally devoid of style in their factory form will make a big difference on this finished product.
Starting with their billet hood hinges crafted from 6061-T6 billet aluminum, it was time for the factory stamped steel hinges and springs to go. The new hinges feature your choice of finishes, including machined, fully polished, or custom Fusioncoat colors. They come ready to install with all the hardware and choices of stainless steel nitrogen-filled gas support struts available in various strengths to support everything from steel to fiberglass and even carbon-fiber hoods. One often-overlooked area always seems to surround a car’s trunk for some odd reason. Often set up with factory hinges and torsional springs, they are far from eye appealing. Eddie Motorsports has come up with expertly crafted one-piece CNC-machined billet trunk hinges supported by nitrogen-filled gas shocks that install in a snap.
Another area where the Tri-Five can benefit from a face-lift was the hood bracing as well as the hood latch, support, and the hood bumpers. Easy removal of the factory parts allowed for the installation of the stunning new billet aluminum pieces to add just the right amount of dazzle to accent the engine compartment.
We wrapped up our installation with a pair of their direct-replacement door handles, also machined from solid billet aluminum. Thanks to the ease of the following installation steps, it didn’t take long for all the enhancements to add just the right amount of allure to the Bel Air.
Here’s a sample of the showcased polished billet parts available for your Tri-Five from Eddie Motorsports. Included are hood and trunk hinges, door handles, stainless steel hood adjusters, hood brace and side supports, and the hood latch and support.
01. It’s a good idea to note your hood fitment prior to removal. It’s also important to have help during the hood removal process. Here you can see the stamped steel stock hood brace and side supports in place along with the hood latch.
02. This close-up lets you see that the brace and side supports were set in place at the factory using rivets, which will need to be removed for our installation.
03. With masking tape and a felt tip pen, we marked the rivets needing to be removed. We got started using a small air-powered cutoff wheel to begin the removal of the factory rivets. Note that the hood is resting atop a padded stand. We are all about safety, so don’t forget to wear eye protection while performing this process.
04. Once the rivets were removed, Newell used a small circular grinder topped with an 80-grit disc to deburr and clean up the area. With the rivets removed from both sides of the hood, he then followed with a slotted screwdriver to pry the hood sides and the main brace apart.
05. Next, to complete the removal of the hood brace, the two rivets securing the hood latch mechanism to the front of the hood were removed using a small cutoff wheel. The areas were then deburred and cleaned with an 80-grit disc.
06. Here you can see the stock hood brace and latch removed from the hood.
07. With the factory hood brace removed, the hood latch is still part of the unit. This will also need to be separated.
08. We continued on with the small circular grinder to remove the remaining rivets, in order to separate the brace from the hood latch.
09. You can see just how cool the new highly polished CNC machined hood brace and side supports are, machined from billet aluminum and treated to cutting-edge styling.
10. We began assembly of the new hood brace using the supplied hardware. Here we are attaching the new polished support bracket to the side of the hood brace.
11. The simple, clean installation looks trick once in place. With the Eddie Motorsports hood brace installed, you can appreciate the immediate difference the well-designed part makes.
12. We then followed by installing the complementing polished billet hood brace supports. With the new parts installed, it’s easy to see just how cool they look and how alluring they will be once the car is put into final paint.
13. Next, it was time to remove the factory stamped-steel hood hinges and springs. In order to install the new Eddie Motorsports units, the pictured seam on the firewall running parallel to the hinge mount required trimming with a cutoff wheel to prevent it from interfering with the actuation of the hinge strut.
14. Here you can see the expertly crafted CNC machined hood hinges made from high-quality 6061-T6 billet aluminum. The hinges come with polished stainless steel nitrogen-filled gas struts and sealed bearings and are available in varying strengths to accommodate all types of hoods, including steel, fiberglass, and carbon-fiber.
15. The hinge was then installed using the supplied polished stainless steel mounting hardware.
16. With assistance, the hood was then mounted to the new hinges and adjusted for fitment. There’s no better way to add just the right amount of brilliance under the hood than by replacing the mundane stock stamped-steel hinges and springs with these units from Eddie Motorsports.
17. There’s no better way to add just the right amount of brilliance under the hood than by replacing the mundane stock stamped-steel hinges and springs with these units from Eddie Motorsports.
18. To add even more allure under the hood, Eddie Motorsports machines these trick polished stainless steel hood adjusters that look slick and will never rust or corrode. They are also available in a machined finish.
19. Tired of looking at your boring stock door handles? Check out these cool units crafted from solid chunks of billet aluminum. They’re one-piece, have a wicked look, and are available in polished or a machine finish.
20. Being the new units are a direct replacement for the stock handles, installation is a snap. The new handles have an added bit of glamour for your project or completed car, giving it a well-deserved enhancement over stock.
21. If you’re working hard to make a statement with your car, you’d better not forget to give the trunk a face-lift. Eddie Motorsports spotlighted the uninspiring stock trunk hinges and torsional springs and came up with a classy alternative. Their CNC-machined solid billet aluminum trunk hinges come in a variety of finishes and include everything you’ll need to complete the job.
22. Here you can see the polished version with the supplied high-quality nitrogen-filled gas shocks for perfect support of the trunklid.
23. It’s a good idea to have some help when taking on the installation for the trunklid removal and reinstallation. Once you have noted the fitment of the lid, remove it along with the hinges and torsional springs. Our application required a 5/16-inch hole be drilled 3/4-inch from the back of the hinge bracket and 1 3/4-inch down from the package tray.
24. The hinges were then installed in place with the supplied hardware.
25. Bolt the trunklid back in place using the supplied new hardware.
26. The new hinges have given the trunk area a whole new personality and operate smoothly when assisted by the new nitrogen-filled gas shocks.
27. Another upgrade was the addition of this trick two-piece polished solid billet aluminum hood latch and support.
28. The latch and support are a direct replacement for the stock steel unit and was a simple upgrade that yielded amazing results .
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