how do the hoods open?

They are hinged to the frame, some of the extended hoods have air assists to help raise the heavier hoods. Some raise extremely easy and some you really have to put your back into it. On my W9 i normally have to raise up on each fender to loosing things up a bit before going to the front and pulling on it, the back of the hood sits on rubber mounts. They are built this way for ease of maintenance. One piece tilt fiberglass front ends were pretty common on drag cars back in the 60's & 70's, I've seen guys weld up a oem steel front end and make it tilt forward, without some sort of assist i would think it would take two people to raise it beings you would have no leverage on a car. I guess a question i have is how they go about lifting the hoods with those huge cowcatchers on the front? I never asked i figured sooner or later I'd catch someone at a truckstop raising one, so far i haven't seen it done.

 

The cow catcher does the same thing it tilts forward out of the way like the hood does. You can make a car front end tilt the same way like you say. We used to make them out of fiberglass and either tilt or lift off completely like the pro stock hoods still do. Either way on the car we used hood raising gas struts like on the hatch back only heavy duty and it helped allot. There are many ways to make it work depends on the design you are looking for and the purpose of the unit. Good luck to you on your project.

 

Try horsepowerfreaks.They have kit for a tilt hood.You retain your old and install their kit.They aren't the only out there,so,shop so around.Do a search under forward tilting hood kits.If you want to see how large trucks hood is assembled go down to local heavy truck dealer,repair shop or truckstop.If you end up down at the truckstop,I am sure they'll be a driver at the fuel island with his or her hood open.Just ask to take a look.We don't bite.

 

I've been known to at least growl if someone starts paying too much unexplained attention to my Big truck and/or trailer.
So, it IS nice if y'all ask and make a driver aware of your interest.

Big truck truck drivers haulin' mega-buck loads can be kinda paranoid.
And those carrying heat,
could kap a primer and launch a projectile ---
and THEN ask what'chr up to.

Shux Howdy ---
if you'da asked me,
I'da told you to meet me in the parking area,
where things a tad less busy,
and give you a close look,
and a look from the driver's seat --
OVER that hood.

But not if I have a million-dollar load in my wagon.

 

A Western Star.
With enough fuel in those tanks to get there
and back, ---- a couple of times.

 

Another avenue would be to see if you can find an old Triumph Spitfire. The "bonnet" opens the same way: hinged at the front, couple clamps at the back, whole front end flips up. It's been a while since I've looked but a few years back I was able to find drawings and a parts breakdown on the web.