So I never actually paid any attention to the hood hinges on my 53 other than to notice that apparently the original springs are in amazing shape because I had no intention of removing the hood. But the other day I decided I wanted to use the louvered hood I got off fastcar1953. I obviously figured out how it attaches. But any tips or tricks for the springs? So far only thing I've come up with is wedge paint sticks between the coils with the spring stretched. And made sure I had at least two people willing to help. Just not wanting to launch a spring or anything lol
https://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/miscellaneous/hoodspring.htm I built a hood hinge tool once out of angle iron and a couple of big washers welded on the ends. No idea where it is now . lol measure a piece of 1 1/2 inch angle iron and on each end weld a big washer on. Spread the hinge out stick in spreader and clamp it with a heavy hose clamp. lower hood and remove spring. make 2 one for each side and leave them on till your ready to put hood back on.
here's a better thread. https://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/364824/ This is like what I done. Scroll down.
Just un bolt the hood from The hinge and leave it attached to the cowl? Then you don’t need to bother at all with the springs when swapping Hoods.
Oh I've heard countless horror stories since I bought this car. Hence asking for tips. But this hood is just too cool not to run. And be good practice for when I put my 54 together
If you don’t want to make one, National Chevy Association sells a hinge spring removal tool for a reasonable price, or at least it was 10 years ago.
Hinge is two separate pieces. If someone was to undo the bolt to the hood without supporting the spring at the least it'd launch the spring
Can you stick a prop…. Say a big ass open end wrench between the sprung arm and the inner fender edge?
The "bolts" are actually shoulder bolts, that the link pivots on. They're part of the hinge mechanism. pretty crappy design, from a service perspective.
Yeah actually part of why the hood has never been off the car despite me putting two different engines in it. A 57 283 when I got it in 2020 and the current 350. I just opened the hood all the way and pulled the radiator and slid the engine in lol
And seeing as the bolts have been in place since 1953 they should be fun to remove. May order a set of spare bolts just in case lol
I'm hoping so. Arkansas is usually pretty good when it comes to rust(where this car came from) but a previous owner went overboard trying to "patina it". And one thing popular with Arkansas patina guys is to piss all over it lol. I'll start periodically hitting with pb blast. Still gotta get the louvered hood home and sand it out, prime both sides, and paint the inside before it goes on so I have time to soak it
I understood the bolts are pivoting shoulder bolts. My 46 ford is attached the same. But I can take them out and pull the hood off no trouble regardless of the springs being on or off. I’m not fluent in old chevy though
Use the tool. You can change the engine an trans by pushing the hood as far open as possible. Then tie it back with a rope to the rear bumper over rider.
Why don't you change the hood and leave the hinges/springs in place. You don't have th change the hinges to change hoods as far as I know?
John I believe that’s what he wants to do but if you don’t use the proper tool to first remove the spring it’s gonna let lose when you remove the hood
Can't unbolt easily/safely with the hood springs under tension. And the springs are aleays under tension, hood opened or closed. Hinges are a scissor type that uses the hood as the top bracket as well as the pivot points. Action is cantilever, unbolting sprung or unsprung idler arm will cause the hood to move unpredictably. And without a lot of finagling, hinge components will not readily line back up with hood bolt holes. Easier/safer to remove springs first then unbolt hood.
The Jalopy Journal
