The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop 59 Chevy hood springs

Hi all. I need some advice on installing hood springs on a 59 1/2 ton chevy.
The truck never had hood springs since I have owned it. I bought a set, they seemed too short by about 2 inches,so I used a chain eye to bridge the gap. The springs will not hold the hood up, they will hold it about 4 inches from closed.
My question is: Is there a way to stretch the springs to go from the hinges to the slit in the fender? Maybe I have the wrong springs (they are new, purchased from a vendor.)
I figure there is some trick, I just don't know it.
Thanks,

Curly

Climb in and then close the hood. They'll hook right up!

if only it were that easy. With the hood closed the springs are longer. I have pushed teh hood open as far as it will go,but still lack 1+1/2 to 2 inches of connecting the springs.

OK there are a couple of ways to go about this. First is the somewhat iffy way, get your floor jack and hook one end of the spring around the axle and the other end off of the jack platform. Jack the spring up to extend it the amount you need. Then take pennies and put them between the coils. Be very careful installing the spring cause if the pennies slip it will pinch rather badly.

Second (preferred) method. Use the jack method as described earlier. Cut a piece of exhaust tubing in half lengthwise the length that you need for the spring. Weld a couple of washers in each end of the 1/2 pipe and install. When you extend the springs to the end of travel it will loosen the jig to remove it.

Lots of luck
Dennis

Dabond, you da man! Great idea on the exhaust tubing. I knew someone had done this before!
Thanks,
Curly