Hey guys,
I just replaced my fiberglass hood with a steel one, and was going to imstall the springs on the hinges to keep up the hood.
Is there any trick to getting those heavy duty springs stretched to get them on the perches?
Thanks,
John

Hmmm... I have used one of those 'brake spring' tools to do this one before... worked for me - since there is a notch on the end, it stays of the perch until the spring stretches just enough to seat.

'bear

go to the hardware store and get you a pound of nails. drive a nail between each coil until the spring is stretched enough to install. then remove all nails until the spring is installed. be carful using springs with a fiberglass hood! .you should use a softer set of springs

wow, thats a pretty good one with the nails. I'm replacing the fiberglass hood with the steel one, so the springs are just right.
John

yeah... probably a better way to do it. Use my way and you risk slipping and damaging paint, etc.
Great idea.

I never worried about that (damaging paint) because I was a street racer and the 'unfinished' look was fun.

'bear

The correct tool looks home made. It's a 5/8" solid rod with a long (4-5 inches) hook (1/4") welded to the middle (or thru it, which is the way I would do it).

http://home.woh.rr.com/dgadams/images/spring_hook.jpg

If you don't have a welder, you could drill some oak dowel rod and use the 1/4" rod (from hardware store), bend a hook at one end, then insert into 1/4" rod thru the 5/8" dowel, then bend the 1/4" rod 90 degrees so it can't come out.

DG :D

I used a huge screwdriver, but I would not recommend it. I've also spread the spring by jamming wrenches between the coils.

I just open the hood all the way and grab one hook on the spring with a big pair of vice grips. Put the other end onto the back tab and pull the spring out till you hook the front. When the hood is open the springs are almost collapsed so they don't require much of a pull to get them on.

Peter

Nice car Protouring. Im in jersey building a pro touring 72 chevelle also. Do you go to the Jackson outlets cruize night ?

Hook a small piece of chain or S hook to each end of spring and use your bumper jack to stretch it. Insert paint stirrers between the coils, use lots, they won't scratch the paint. Put the spring on the hinge, open position. As you close hinge the stirrers will fall out, or can be pulled out by hand. You shouldn't scratch any paint on hinge or spring with this method.

I have always used a drum brake tool and just muscled it into place. Tain't hard to do.

Thanks for all the replies! I'm still waiting on my latch, so there just sitting here ready to go!

Oh and Nicks Garage...... I emailed you

John

Listen, I have to say I have seen everything you could think of to do this job. I have busted my knuckles with pliers, pry bars, the works. About twenty years ago an old time bodyman showed me how to do it and I will NEVER look back.

A hook made from a link on three foot long piece of linked chain like you would lock up your bike with is all you need.

Have someone hold the hood open, or prop it up. Put the spring on the back hook, hook your chain on the front of the spring, wrap the chain around your wrist holding it with your hand and pull. You can EASILY pull the spring and install it. No chipped paint, no busted knuckles, nothing. I am a little 150 lb guy that can do it with ease.

I have used this trick on trunk springs as well.

I've used a short piece of quality rope, made a loop, hooked it up to the spring, pulled until it slips in. Did it for years.
Bonus: a simple trick is using a couple of studs (headless bolts) and nuts for the hood hinge, quick and easy!

I tried the paint sticks with my floor jack and a chain to open up the springs. It worked great! Thanks for the help. Now my ride is going to paint on Saturday!

I've heard of doing it the way MARTINSR said but with an old fan belt.

I recently R&R'd my springs to paint them but I had the hinges on my work bench instead of on the car. To do them that way, I used a C-clamp to secure the hinge to the bench, then hooked a piece of chain on the one end of the spring. Using a large screwdriver, I used it in one of the chain links at the edge of the bench. The screwdriver acted as a "lever" to gently pull the spring. Worked great!

thanks for the help guys, just did this tonight. What I wound up doing was using a floor jack to open the spring, then wedged some 10d nails between the coils, about 12 per side, then slipped the spring over the perches, then pulled the nails out one by one using pliers. fit perfectly. Will probably put the hood on tomorrow night, or saturday, just have to round up some buddies to help me maneuver that thing!
John