Just received a pair of hood springs from Glasstek for my 67 Chevelle - (Thanks to advice from a previous question). They measure 6"long and 1-3/4" diameter. The car has smaller (1" diameter) but longer 9" springs on it now- but they are very flimsy. The hood does not stay up -I can actually stretch and take these springs off easily by hand.
With these new shorter springs - How do I stretch these (safely) to reach the 9" length? Any tricks will be appreciated. Is this close to the actual size of original '67 hood springs?
Thanks again for your help

Use good strong S hooks or chain. Hook the ends of the spring to the base of a bumper jack and to the jack mechanism. Could probably use a floor jack as well. Stretch the spring and insert your choice, washers, nails, paint stirrers, between the coils. Place spring on hinge and start to close hood. Hinge will stretch spring and your choice from above will fall out or can be pulled out.

When I put mine on, I just hooked one side, closed the hood a bit, and pulled them on. It was easier than I thought.

Originally posted by DaDon:
When I put mine on, I just hooked one side, closed the hood a bit, and pulled them on. It was easier than I thought. Maybe on 67. Springs for 70 with cowl induction are pretty strong. You can't even bend them over with one end clamped in a vice.

That was true for the springs I took off. (Used the nail 'tween the coils trick) The new ones for the glass cowl hood were much, much easier.