51 Styleline, I can open the hood and hold it way open. When I let it go it closes about half way all by itself. Need new springs or is that just the way they are? I see in the Chev for the 40's catalog they sell a box that is supposed to be a big help in replacing springs. Is that really necessary or can they be muscled into place?
Use a dollar's worth of pennies, 2 between each of the spring coils. Catch them when they fall out or they might rattle down in the fender.
More than likely weak springs as was mentioned. i bought the 'boxes' when i replaced the springs on my 53. They made the install a snap. BUT, after seeing them, i realized i could have made them very easily with scrap iron i had here instead of spending the cash... I used a floor jack to spread the spring, slid the box in and released the jack....off came the spring stretched and ready to install. Tony
This post's title had me thinking that there was ghostly spirits, and bad vibes involved. Then, sure enough, it is just old worn out, weak hood hindge springs. Replace the hood hindge springs and everything will be right in the world. I like the penny spacer idea, to install the pre stretched spring!
No, I think that the pennies are not a fix for the problem. The dollars worth of pennies are used as spacers. Such as when stretching the NEW springs with a cable come along, then to insert the pennies between the coils of the spring. Then install the (spaced out longer) springs into the hindges with the hood part way open. As you open the hood, make sure to collect the pennies as they fall loose as the spring stretches to the full hood open position.
I'm not sure we used the "box" but the one the owner of this '52 chevy gave me to use was a round pipe little larger than the spring about 6 or 7" long with flat washer's weled in the ends and the side of the pipe cut away just enough to get around the spring.. close the hood just enough to get your arm in and put the pipe around the spring and open the hood and the spring will come right off.... something you could build easy.. hope the pictures help..
I made a tool out of a piece of pipe slit in half with two flat pieces welded on the ends. Stuff I had in my junk pile.
Christeen had the same problem.Remember the dude in the factory getting his hand smashed in the hood latch when it slammed ?LOL Yea weak springs,be carefull they pack a punch .Fingers and knuckles throb when caught up in a flying spring.You should probably buy the kit mentioned earlier.
We installed new Re-popped hood hinges n my buddys 46 Ford, like yours the hood did not stay up, drifted down about halfway. We took an old rusty set off an old junker that he had, blasted, painted and installed them..they work like new! The Aftrermarket supplier did take the "new" ones back, no offer of why they were junk...er didn't function like they should
probley not the same, but my trichevy guy told me this problem on my 56 was not the springs, but lack of friction between the gear teeth.
Think this is what happened on my 1953 ford just on one side though mind you. Only i adjusted the little teeths friction and it worked.
Its a safety feature for 51. If the hood is only half way open then only half of the chebby leaks out. New springs will be your friend. Take the greatest care puttin em on. I took the hood off and the springs are then relaxed. Mark the hood and have the wife bring beer.
Thanks guys, I'll build a tool out of pipe like in the pictures cwayne added. When I read the one about the dollars worth of pennies I was scratching my head, but now that prototype.... explained it that would also be s slick way of doing it. My nieghbor also suggested the broom handle. Thanks again...
On my '57 I had to replace the hinges after having the hood fly open on the highway. The "new" hinges (from a wrecker) worked perfectly as did the original ones, but, in my infinite wisdom decided that they would be better if I lubed them. I sprayed some sort of penetrating oil in the gears and for the next ten years, up until i sold the car, the hood would not stay up. I would just hold the hood open and put a coin in the gears and let the hood down 'till the gears pinched the coin holding the hood open. A PITA but worked.
I've used the pipe/washer style tool also....you might want to put a hose clamp around the spring once it's in the tool as it has a tendency to fly out...ask me how I know....(ended up with a clamp on each end)...maybe I made a lousy tool,huh?
Before you spend the money on new springs, check the bolts on the hinges. My 51 poncho suffered from the same problem, so I "bought new springs" as everyone suggested - still had the same problem after they were installed. Then someone suggested I check the bolts that tightened the hinge to the hood - torqued them up and the hood stayed put. I did end up having to replace those bolts because I would have to retighten them every 5 or 6 openings. Go the cheap route first and try replacing the bolts first.
Maybe someone oiled the hinges. My buddy oiled his then the hood dropped. So I flushed out all the oil with brake clean a few times and again it stayed up. Otherwise, the other gents are likely correct; replace the springs.
Well, the new springs are in. I followed cwaynes post and made my own box. Pretty easy to do.... and my hood stays up now.....sweet.
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