I installed new hinges on my '70. How do you install the hood springs. I made a hook style puller (as described in the manual) but I had two people try to pull in place and no luck. The only thing I can think of is to put into oven to temper it, but this will remove the spring rate.

Any suggestions?


Thanks,

See the following...

hood spring installation thread (http://www.chevelles.com/cgi-bin/forum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=007967)

Get yourself a chain and a chain link, by far the best method to use. Attach the hinge to the fender and the hood so the hinge will not move on you. Place the spring on the back of hinge towards the firewall. Now take that chain with chain link hooked to the end of chain, place the spring hook in the link and now pull on the chain. If you find that you cant pull the chain get something to act as a lever bar, like a steel pipe, wedge in a hole in the frame and pull spring til the hook attaches on the hinge.
Once the spring is on the hinge simply unscrew the chain link.

Simple as that cant get any easier...Eric

I actually just installed new springs on my hinges the otherday. My personal advise is take the hinge off the car and put it in a vice. You dont need that spring coming loose and flying and hitting ya in the head or worse off scratching the car. I put mine in a vice and hooked 1 end to the spring and used a big prybar to slide the other end on. I also had to use a vice grips to grab the end with the prybar and help it along. It took about 10 minutes to do both...well after 1 flew across the shop and almost took out a guys head!

Ive never had one come out using my method.
Am around 6'2 and 165-170lbs and can very easy get that spring on the hinge using the chain method. Like I said the easiest and safest method Ive found!!!!!

My personal advise is take the hinge off the car and put it in a vice. You dont need that spring coming loose and flying and hitting ya in the head well after 1 flew across the shop and almost took out a guys head! How can you advise someone to install the hinge on vise so it wont hit something or worse someone when you almost did yourself :confused: graemlins/sad.gif

I am 5'8" 150 lbs and can darn near do as Eric says with one hand! ERIC, one difference though, I don't use anything what so ever to "add" leverage. I just hook the chain on the spring and simply pull on it! If you have three or four feet of chain to wrap around your hand you have all the control you need. Adding the bar for leverage adds another "projectile" in my opinion. It without a doubt the easiest way to install springs. I had been busting my knuckles and scratching paint for a few years when someone showed me this trick. I wish I could remember who it was so I could send them a thank you note. smile.gif

What better "vice" is there than the hinge bolted to the car? smile.gif

Martin I agree with you on just using the chain wraped around your hand as you do have tons of control. The reason I stated using a pipe for leverage is that not everyone has the brute force I have :D :rolleyes: :rolleyes: That stick laying on the front lawn has more mass then me

The few times Ive found that I cant pull the spring I use a alignment bar or pogo stick, but not every guy on this board has one

Whatever!

I did this last Sunday. After a lot of consideration, I just used the "nail" method mentioned elsewhere and stuck about ten 16d (like framing nails) nails into the spring. If you do this with the hood almost closed, leaving just enough space for you to get your arm in there and insert the nails, it's much easier. The spring is more stretched out making it easier to get the nails between every other coil. You should prop the hood when you do this. Then lift the hood open all the way and the spring just about falls off. Couldn't be easier or safer.

What if the spring is chromed or painted? :confused:

The best way is as Eric and I have discribed. That is "another" way. I don't mean to be a smart ars but I have to stand on this. There are "ways" to do many things. Some get it done, that doesn't mean it is right.

Like I said, I have been doing this for years and it is safe, easy, doesn't damage ANYTHING. I do it by my self, I have done it on many different cars and trucks. I use the same method on trunk springs as well sometimes. It is a tried and true, get it done method.

Again I ask, what if it is chromed or painted? You want to stick nails into it?

Well here it is 2:00 am, I am up with a sick stomach. Believe me, this thread isn't keeping me up. smile.gif It just popped into my head and I thought I would clarify something. I don't think my last post was being antagonistic. I post a lot of "last word" posts because I want it clear so everyone reading REALLY gets all information so they can make an educated choice. I speak most always to the many people who read these post, not just respond to them.

I don't know how many of you visit sites that have a "view" counter but it is very reviling. A post or thread may have two or three HUNDRED people read it while there is only four or five posts!

That along with the emails I get with people who want to talk without posting on a subject tells me that a LOT of people read these things.

That is why I post the "last word" posts. So ALL info is laid out on the table for people to have to make a choice.

Using the "nail" method is a very creative way to do it. It could even with care be used on painted or chromed springs (as long as the paint wasn't too thick). It is "another" way to do it. smile.gif

ok, maybe I can get some graemlins/boring.gif now that the great wonders of the world are cleared up. smile.gif

take your long 1/2 inch breaker bar and insert the end of the spring through the hole in the handle end of the bar. using the hinge as a fulcrum it's easy to leverage it onto the hinge. you just have to make sure you don't trap the bar between the spring and hinge. ;)

Originally posted by MARTINSR:
What if the spring is chromed or painted? I wish I could've responded to this earlier.

Huh? Let me get this straight. You're gettin' all worked up over chromed and painted hinges? How many cars have chromed or painted hood hinges? I went to the Spring Carlisle show, and GM at Carlisle, and I was at Super Chevy Maple Grove, and the York US30 Reunion, not to mention a dozen other local cruises. I've seen a bazillion old hot rods this summer. How many chromed or painted hinges did I see? Oh, about....none. Ok, perhaps I exaggerate. Maybe a couple dozen that were nice enough that a nail might scratch their tender surface.

I don't see the big deal here and why you decided it was necessary to go postal on me, your last post notwithstanding. FYI, the "nail method" is pretty damn easy and extremely, extremely safe....no flying spring projectiles ever. And certainly, strenuous physical effort is not required. Your method approved by God is certainly good (and certainly not the "last word"), but the damn nail method is no less valid. I hope you have successfully recovered from your recent affliction.

I want to thank all for various the responses. This weekend I will try to "lever" the springs in place. There is no way that a single person (unless he is of the superman type) that can simply pull on the spring and get it on the hinge. I tried, had three guys pulling and another guiding (should of made a video) and no luck.

Leveraging some method "safely" will work, just need a bigger pry bar!!!.

By the way, in removing a spring, the nail method, or something similiar works good.

Thanks again everyone.

Yes but Larry you're talking about removing the springs not installing them and the question was "how do I put them on" ,, right ?

The way I do it is don't take the springs off the hinges in the first place smile.gif

Larry, "postal" Huh? graemlins/beers.gif Come on now, no one is doing anything of the sort. Do it any way you wish, I am just putting out information.

But as Dean brought up, what about installing? I hope when your new hinges you get from Year one or whom ever you don't hammer nails into them to install. smile.gif

Dean Herrig, like I said, I do not use any added leverage at all. I happen to have a piece of chain for my "pogo stick" that works perfect. It has a flat hook that is cut out of 1/8" flat stock. But in the years before I had that, I just made one.

I took a thin chain, about what you would use to lock a bike, and maybe three feet long. I split one link and welded the piece to the last link. I am only 5'8" and 150 lbs as I mentioned and can do this VERY easily. No strain, no fuss, just do it as easily as picking the chain up off the floor.

I have someone hold the hood up or use a hood prop. I put the spring on the rear hook of the hinge and holding the front spring hook with my free hand hook the hook from the chain on it. Then with a little tension on the chain I release the spring with my "free" hand and grab the chain with both hands. I then wrap the chain around one wrist and with both hands pull on the chain stretching the spring. I lift the chain and spring up to loop the spring hook over the hook on the hinge and release tension. Sometimes the chain will get a little caught, but it is easily wiggled out.

I don't know, it just couldn't get safer or easier to me. :confused:

Martin...Maybe "postal" was a stretch, but your vehemence took me by surprise. I'm just putting out some information, too. In any case...Ok, for new springs, I wouldn't recommend the tried and true nail method (honest), not that I'm some nutty apostle for the thing. But if you're just changing hinges (which I would bet is a large majority of the operations), you can't go wrong with it. (FYI--when I did this op last week I didn't have any chain anyway, or a welder, but..I did have a box of framing nails available...Happy day. Piece of cake, 5-10 minutes per side; all done. graemlins/hurray.gif It was more trouble adjusting hood afterward.)

graemlins/beers.gif