For your arthritis: You can possibly use a "popper". You may be able to unlatch with a popper and open with gas struts. Also , if you search on Ebay under "hood popper" you will see many hood poppers and hood springs (mostly from Mopars) that may work on the Chevy. If you are good at searching ebay and very patient, you will find an original spring. You may have to buy the whole hood to get the spring. Also someone here will have one. Put a notice in "parts wanted". New hood springs would not hurt either. Hammer your hood hinge rivets tighter (if sloppy) and oil.

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