I recently knocked the cobwebs off Mator, my sons name for the truck, he was a huge Cars fan when he was a kid. Had it for 16yrs now and used it primarily to drive to the mine and back for work. Been sitting for about 6yrs, sorry guys, but now my sons old enough to learn to drive and i figure what better truck to learn in. Its been plagued with some issues like locking rear wheel that would howl like a haul trucks brakes. I'd replaced every brake component front to rear over the years and nothing helped. Until one day I learned about the proportioning valve. Turned out it was plugged up beyond belief and even though I'd replaced the wheel cylinders 3 times in the rear. Apparently it kept contaminating them and problem would start again. Rebuilt it and now I can drive it for the first time in 16yrs without it sounding like a banshee howling and making cars swerve out of my way.
Recentl I've replaced the duraspark ignition with HEI. Left all wires in tact and kept the old parts. I like to leave things so I can return them to original if desired. Rebuild the carb, new weather stripping, dropped and cleaned both tanks and new sending units, fuel line and tank selector. New tires on original wheels and caps. Trans fluid and filter and rear gear oil. New wheel bearings.
Now that I seemed to have taken care of most of it the ignition went out 1st trip in the hills with my boy to get some wood. Taught him how to jump the solenoid so not all bad.
Now my first question, probably the most annoying thing, besides the brake issue, is the hood assist spring. It keeps springing out from the little cup it sits in above the latch and bending. I've checked its alignment with clay and it seems to make contact darn near dead center but as soon as I shut the hood its springs out and bends the spring. I've replaced it 3 times and it keeps doing it. Is there supposed to be something on the core support that the spring rests in to hold it? Hood is straight, never been removed.
Sorry so long winded, I can be a bit of a story teller.

 

Congrats on getting the old girl running, and good on you for teaching your son how to work on these old rigs. It is quickly becoming a lost art.

Hood spring issue…. That’s an odd one. Your spring perch looks exactly like the one on both of our trucks. Hopefully someone here had the same problem and can help.

 

Thanks, put 2 springs in it already and same result. Hood seems straight and has never be removed. My son is loving driving it as he was only 3yrs old when I got it and now he gets to drive. Like a dream come true for him.

 

X2 nice ride and good on you to get it ready for the son. Are you replacing the bent hood spring (that is appeares you have now) with a none bent one? And then it pops off and bends?

 

My '77 with original spring on a '79 hood has a curvature to the rear much like that, seems to work well, and judging by wear, it rests in the receptacle when closed.

 

I have replaced it in the past and it seems to keep doing the same thing. Springs back towards the radiator out of the cup. I'm going to get another and add a rubber cup and secure it with the hole thats in it. Hopefully that helps.

 

mine springs back towards the radiator out of the cup then the spring gets hung up on the edge when trying to open hood. I found a rubber door stop I think will work and will bolt it to the hole thats already in it. Hopefully it helps. If so I'll replace the spring again. I've bent this one so many times its getting fairly weak now.

 

100% that the hole in the hood underskin (where the tip of the spring goes) is not bent? Same for the area the spring sets on?

 

It happened to mine with the '79 spring on the '79 hood. I know it got stretched from me pulling the hood open and was then often hanging up until I found my original spring in a box of stuff and put it in place. Since then I shut the hood gently till the spring contacts the receptacle, then I lay my arm on the hood front and just kind of press it shut. It is easier than it sounds and It helps to keep the hinges lubed well. Was a time many years ago I just brung it down from way up pretty quick in one move. Not to say you do that, but just that I did.

 

It might be worth putting a guide bolt in the hole in the grill support, that will slip into the center of the spring when closing the hood. You would just have to figure the correct length that works the best. Take it off when working on the engine.

 

Almost 100% sure. Trucks never been wrecked or molested in any way. From what I can see all looks good to me. I don't have another truck available to compare to though.

 

How is the hood when you go for the finial closure? How is the cowl to back of hood gap, when closed? Have all the hood springs you installed been 100% straight? How is the platform (core support spot) that the hood spring rests on, as in is it flat?

 

Well, hopefully someone else will chime in with a fix, because my 78 Bronco has this issue! I've tried bending it and holding in place, still ends p the same...

 

I like the OP's idea of a very small bolt sticking up through the hole right there where ithe bottom of the spring comes down.

Yeah it sure would be something if it's too long, to snag your elbow or your shirt on.