Hood spring install on a 54 Chevy???

[Tcoupe]

How is it done on a 54 Bel-air...they pretty much just fell off when I took the hood off. They need to be stretched pretty far, bout 2 1/2 inches with the hood up (springs relaxed).

[Rude Dude]

Use hose clamps and thin gauge tube sheet metal round stock, cut slit up the middle, stretch spring, clamp install then remove clamp tool

[lulabelle]

someone on here once said to hook one end to your jack framework and the other to the lifting surface.Jack the spring open.I then just put washers and whatever else in the spring to keep it extended.Works slick!

[chromedRAT]

my pontiac manual showed how to make a tool to do it, and i THINK it involved bending box tubing into a flattened L shape and notching an end, and either running a hooked rod up top to lift the spring as you step on the box tube, or a hook to grab hold of the bottom of the spring to stretch the spring by prying up on the box tube with a cheater pipe or something. if i get down to the garage, i'll figure it out for sure.

[Boones]

you can take channel tubing and put ends on it. You take one end of the spring and put it around the rear axle of your jack and the other end on the jack and expend it. (do not remember the exact dimensions) then you insert the channel which holds it open, slip it on the bottom of the can body and hold the hood open about 11 inch and slip the top onto the hood then slip the channel off the hinge. You can make the tool (I posted the steps about a yr ago or you can purchase the tool from a shop like National CHevy Association for under $20. Do a search for 'hood spring' and you may find it

[cadlights]

Or you can leave em off and use a prop rod so's your hood
will fit.

[draggin'GTO]

Here's the easy 'no special tools required' way to install hood springs: Use an old fan belt (not too rotten now!) and hook the spring end on the belt. Use it to pull against the spring tension to yank the spring into place. Too easy. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

----- Bart -----

[Tcoupe]

Thanks for the help guys...from all the different ways described Im sure I can find a way to get them back on...I was about to give up and go by some gas shocks that you find on newer car hoods and make them work somehow http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif.



[ QUOTE ]
someone on here once said to hook one end to your jack framework and the other to the lifting surface.Jack the spring open.I then just put washers and whatever else in the spring to keep it extended.Works slick!

[/ QUOTE ]

I tried that before I posted and the fuckin spring broke right at the end, then sent nails and 1/4 inch bolts flying in all directions. A buddy was working the jack and I told him "alittle more"...it wasnt stretched very far either.

[hotrod54chevy]

when i put em back on my car,i had to big ol' hillbilly boys go at it with a tire iron,a hammer and a set of vise-grips..wish i had thought of it before i had it painted,though..
Creepy