My hood is now drifting downward,almost nailed me several times.Karma?Anyway ,I've a replacement set of springs.Would weak springs likely be the problem, as opposed to worn hinges?Can the springs be changed w/out removing the hinges?Or, should I let the hood hit me?

 

There are probably worse hinge setups in the automotive world and my first attempt at resolving hinge problems was to get new springs. This was my earliest project on the truck.

Nothing was resolved with a spring change, hinges were worn and the po had cobbled a fix on the passenger side that didn't seem to help matters either. Now that I am addressing the myriad truck problems again it was easy to remove the hinges and toss them in the scrap metal pile. The wear was extreme and the front tilt hood is on the list of the top ten things to do this summer.

I'm not saying don't get new springs, I'm recommending that you check the wear on what you have. You don't need to remove the hinges to replace the springs.

unhinged, himmelberg

 

himmelberg ,I do have a spare set of springs,as well as a set of hinges that also include springs.How can I quickly change out the springs only, without embedding one into my skull or eye-socket?

 

have someone hold the hood up while you take off the springs. I have done it before.

 

Thanks,fifty-two.I'm sure I'm over-complicating it,but knowing myself as I do,I can see disaster written all over it.What tools to remove them,they look like their under some tension?

 

One of the vendors will sell you a piece of pipe with a notch cut in it ... the pipe goes around the spring and the notch grabs the hook on the end of the spring. I found it hard to turn and a pretty pricy piece of pipe.

Something similar can be had cheaper... heck if I could find mine I'd send it to you.

helpfully, himmelberg

 

Himmelberg,could you sketch me a rough drawing,maybe i can make one.

 

Here's a quick sketch for you...

[IMG][/IMG]

I am an artist, you know....

helpfully hinged, himmelberg

 

Oh,man my springs are totally different,on a 59.Thanks,though.

 

I was just wondering as I read about these hood hinges and thinking that those little hydraulic looking things holding up the hood on my 2003 f150 are looking like a better idea and might be real cheap at the junkyard?

mervy49

 

Mervy,I'm a Luddite of sorts,I try not to stray too far from stock.

 

I only missed it by 5 years....lol

hazily, himmelberg

 

I have a spare set of hinges that needed cleaning and one spring was on backwards with the arms kinda backwards too. prying the spring off with a large screwdriver was pretty easy. After a number of attempts to put it back on, i found a vice grips and a large screwdriver to lever/pry with worked well. I would suggest a BombSquad/Military Bomb Disposal Unit suit for minimum protection however. My hinge now has this nice red tint to it, and it's not rust.

Now i just need to find 5 guys, a gorilla, and a small boy to help change my old hinges out.