Hood hinge springs
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From: Santa Clarita
Hood hinge springs
Is there a certain way hood hinge springs are installed so the hood stays up? I see MF sells a special tool. Is this tool required? We installed a set of new hinge springs on my friends 55 last night and the hood still does'nt stay open. I gave up on mine a while back and use a prop rod to hold the hood up.
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Originally Posted by imlowr2
Let me guess? Everyone is running reverse tilt hoods here, right?
From what I can make out, the springs fit on the outside of the hood hinge, there's a stud that the center of the spring fits into. The end is hooked to one of the hood hinge (rear portion of the hinge) bolts that hold the arms on.
These springs are a round coiled affair, similar to the shape of a nautilus shell, or some old watch springs.
Last edited by NumberDummy; Apr 27, 2007 at 10:50 PM.
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Thank you numberdummy, (that didn't sound right?) I know what the coil spring looks like, but what my question is, how it is mounted? It looks like its placed on the center of the hinge, but somehow it needs to twisted or tightened so that the coil has tension. Otherwise, how is this small coil to hold up a hood? I'm curious if there is a certain procedure to put the coil spring on to acheive this tension so that it will hold the hood up. I think we were doing something wrong because after installing them (and they are new) the hood had zero tension for opening or closing. I noticed there is a tool they sell specific for putting this coil spring on the hinges. I'm wondering if this tool is mandatory or if someone used something else. I could get this info from Mid fifties, but I figured there has to be someone in here that has removed or replaced a that hood spring and their hood opens and stays open. Thanks for your info though. I wasn't aware of the Ford and Merc passenger cars being the same. Interesting!
Last edited by imlowr2; Apr 28, 2007 at 12:25 AM.
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Mine is still mounted the right way and it stays up just fine. 
Take a look at Axracers gallery. He has some hood hinges in there with the spring on it (I think).
My pic in this gallery shows the other side of the hinge. You can't see the springs.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=18466
Sorry can't find one of the other side.
Take a look at Axracers gallery. He has some hood hinges in there with the spring on it (I think).
My pic in this gallery shows the other side of the hinge. You can't see the springs.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=18466
Sorry can't find one of the other side.
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From: Simi Valley, CA
I though about this for a bit, then I remembered....I had a 1953 Hudson years ago. It used the same type of hinge springs. When the hood was raised, the springs would be wound up tight. Since a tool is needed to install them, I think they need to be unwound before being installed on the hinges.
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Lowr, my Dad always gave me to understand that a tensioner or 'jig' was needed to tighten the springs (assuming they weren't too worn to hold tension). When I get to that point, I plan to call M-F and ask them if the "installation tool" in their Hood Spring Kit is something that will do that. I simply haven't gotten that far... and I still use a hood prop, too.
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One of the vendors sells a piece of pipe with a slot cut in it to make purchase on the coil spring which must be wound once then put the hooked end in position. I built a device to support the tool and turn it with one hand and force the spring end in place with the other. I get no help around my place.
Here is a pic of the tool with a mystery arrow. It's not much help either.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...measure016.jpg
soley, himmelberg
Here is a pic of the tool with a mystery arrow. It's not much help either.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...measure016.jpg
soley, himmelberg
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I had a feeling there was a trick to getting this spring to work. I'm wondering if you could make one from PVC pipe. Doesn't look too difficult or technical. Thanks for the info Himmelburg. Mid Fifties has a tool for $19.00. I also saw that Classic performance parts had an article on installing the spring and they used a tool also. Maybe they sell them.
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I made my own tool from a piece of pipe, put a slot in it and a couple of holes for a T bar
If I remember correctly you should have about a half turn of tension on the spring with the hood open
PVC pipe wouldn,t be strong enough
This tool will not affect how the hinge works it just makes it easier to fit the spring without losing any fingers
My hood stays up on its own but still needs a little help closing, I am using new repro hinges which are a little tight. I hope they will loosen up a bit after a little use
Steve
If I remember correctly you should have about a half turn of tension on the spring with the hood open
PVC pipe wouldn,t be strong enough
This tool will not affect how the hinge works it just makes it easier to fit the spring without losing any fingers
My hood stays up on its own but still needs a little help closing, I am using new repro hinges which are a little tight. I hope they will loosen up a bit after a little use
Steve
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If you take the hinge off the hood you can take the spring on and off with just your hands. As Brian says check my "other's" gallery and be sure the pivot under the spring works easily and is lubed while it's off. The tool is only needed if you are trying to change the spring with the hood attached to the hinge, and a pair of vise grips works if you don't have the tool.
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AX, Everything looks OK and I understand what your saying. My hood is off the vehicle right now. If I put the spring on one way, I'm about a quarter of the distance to where the coil snaps on to the tab. With it in that position, it will not hold my hood open. If I turn the spring to the other slot (in other words I'm 180 degrees opposite) I would need some sort of tool to turn this spring to snap it onto the tab. However, my guess is that the spring has a whole lot more tension which would make sense on holding up my hood. Thus that is where we are now. I don't know how much of a turn is required or what is the correct amount of tension on the spring? If it's too much, will the spring break?
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