MM, what do you care if someone gives you some grief. BRJ likes the "L" grill and I prefer the "R" grill. For a person installing a Turbo Diesel, there is more room behind the "L" grill for the intercooler.
I would not take an early "L" with the hidden hinges even if it was free to me.
One of the objectionable things that I have done is to take the hood supports out of an "L" hood and weld them into and "R" hood. I use the "L" inner fenders with the cantilevered hinges to make a better and more stable "R" hood.
Something else to enrage the "patina persons' and the-keep-it-original" persons, I am going to repair the back of our single rear window crew-cab and convert the cab to twin windows. The original three opening doors will become four operating doors. Can you say Diesel and 4X4 in one sentence and not get some flack?
I have a "back burner" hood modification I have been keeping in mind. I want to build a hinge system that allows the IHC hoods to latch at the cab and tilt forward. The OEM hood latches could continue to be used. Once again I am taking build clues from BMW. I was offered a free BMW hood tilt and latch system to experiment with.
I have a half completed 1940 Ford forward tilt hood system. I am only keeping this junk on the off-chance some of the bits and pieces may work on an IHC.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=forward+ ... 94&bih=522 This old stuff is worth as much as the person who needs the part will pay. I have experienced not being able to sell a complete pickup but the same $750-cdn for a grill was the right price for another person.