Anybody got a pic of the hood spring tool? maybe i can make it instead of spending 30$ plus shipping. I just have no idea of what it looks like. I did tons of research on here but no pics!! Thanx Ian
I made my own , theres 2 ways to make um..easy way is a piece of threadded rod and two square pieces of steel with a hole drilled in the center.. open the hood until the spring is at its longest travel. (have some one hold it there for ya.) place the thredded rod thru both steel plates with nuts and washers on both sides lock it all down tight than slowly close the hood it (the spring) will come un hooked to the hood, than lift the hood reach in there and pull the spring out of the lower anchor point. do each side sperately..its really easy once you do it..you will wonder why you didnt think of it..its real easy. i also have one made to use the hook end of the spring, but its a bit difficult to explain but it works just as easy
here is another idea..I used something like this i made out of a piece of pipe the first time i did it..but like my other set up better..its all about keeping the spring in its lengthend state while removing it.
I bought the tool when i did my 53.... After seeing it i was pissed at myself for not making it instead.. Quick run down... Get yourself some square tubing just a touch bigger than the spring and about the same length of the spring in it's relaxed state. Cut one side of the tubing off, leaving the other 3 in place. Then weld plates to both the top and bottom of the tube ( now C channel).. Done. Grab a floor jack, hook one end of the spring to the pad, the other to the axle of the jack and pump the jack until the spring is expanded ( be damn careful with this!), slid your new "tool" inside the open spring, then reease the jack. The plates you welded on will hold the spring open until you hook it to the hinges. As you open your hood, slide the tool out.. I have no pics of the one i bought, but it seriously is no different than what i described. As i type, Von Rigg Fink posted a pic of what i used....
If you ever get down by long beach you can always borrow mine. Bought em and then had the same feeling I should have just made them...
VRF, TONY AND TOOSLOW, thanx for the help! It all makes sense, and im gonna make the tool, it seems very simple and free!! Thanx guys! IAN
If you're really cheap you can just open the hood as far as it will go, jam some big washers into each round of the spring so it can't compress, and lower the hood until the springs come off. Just don't lose any with the spring out of the car, and it's no help if you're installing new ones either.
Here's a diagram of a tool along with vids showing how to use it. We made one...worked like it was supposed to but I'd be lying if I said it didn't scare the hell outta me! (got this over at www.chevytalk.com ). http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/miscellaneous/hoodspring.htm
thats the type i used (and made) the second time around..works like a charm and its easy as hell to make
I'm not sure if this will work but with muscle cars i've heard you can just hook an old v-belt on them and pull. I don't know if the older springs are stronger where this can't be done.
Yep.. Before i bought the tool, i used broken wood paint sticks as spacers once. Just placed them all around the spring while it was 'open' to hold it that way.. Lot's of way's to do it..
For installing, get a bunch of flat washers. Put part of the spring in a vise. Flex back & forth and insert washers in the openings between coils. Use as many washers as you need until you can install the springs without stretching. (Works on garage door springs as well.) With washer'd up spring in place, shut the hood and the springs will fall out. Works on hard to reach door springs too.
After taking mine on and off a couple times using rathet straps, pry-bars, etc... I broke down and made the tool. It's not near as crude and a whole lot safer. Side note, if all of your shims come out, **** gets ugly in a hurry. Even a worn out stock spring has quite a bit of umph.
Yeah that could really hurt someone! THANX GUYS! Im just waiting on my new springs, then i'll make my tool. Ian
I'm trying to remember where I saw it, but, it was a 1/2" diameter lenth of rebar stock, that the ends had been pounded flat, and a notch cut across to capture the string. Maybe it was on ChevyTalk.org, in the 49-54 forum. Simple tool that also used a floor jack as the means to stretch the spring out in order to install the homemade tool. Butch/56sedandelivery.
or do like my dumb*** did and unbolt the hood and here them pop off! still have my eyes, all my fingers and toes and have decided I might just leave the hood off for a while! LOL
Tip - use washers smaller than the ID of the spring, or significantly larger than the ID of the spring. If the OD of the washers and the ID of the spring are close, you'll get at least one washer stuck inside the spring after you reinstall them, and they are a real pain to get out.
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