The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Door hinge spring, single spring style

One door on my 1948 Two Ton had the remains of a broken spring. The spring is not the same as the ones your see from parts suppliers, which I assume uses two springs on each door and is shaped like a horse shoe. Mine uses one spring, there is no hole for a second spring, and is shaped like a W . Anyone ever see a source for those. I may have to attempt to make one. I assume they are some sort of spring steel.

According to this search result using GM parts wiki, that "w" spring was used for all 1947 truck models. Looks to be a one year only use according to the screenshot I have attached below. No idea on how it found it's way onto your '48? The GM#s for L-hand and R-hand springs are shown in the pic. A quick web search found no results to show any NOS parts or reproductions available currently.

Your call on trying to make some replacements, but I think the standard springs would do the job with a bunch less fuss than trying to recreate those springs. Let us know what you decide to do and how it works out.

Try these.

Might be easier to drill the hinge arm for another spring, or just swap hinges all together.

If you look closely at the hinge with the "W" spring, you will probably see that it opens at a greater angle than the other hinge with the "C" spring. Probably best to change one hinge or the other to make them both the same either way. I just happen to buy a pair of NOS "W" springs on ebay about 2 weeks ago. They do come up from time to time. I would share if I did not have an immediate use for both. I have never tried the "C" springs in those hinges. Let us know if they work.

The "C" springs do not work. They are too loose and just basically lay in hinge without "snapping" into place. Plus, from what I see from other posts, two of those springs go in each hinge and there are no holes to receive another one unless I modify. I am going to play with making one until and if I find a "W" spring.

Well this is kind of funny, I can buy a complete re-pop door hinge for $99 Canadian at KMS, a local parts shop.

Well I made a spring and it works. I copied the good spring from the driver's side, but reversed the 90° bend on the ends to mirror the original spring.

What material did you use?

Just mild steel round bar. I don't think it's a big problem as the bends are so tight there is no place for them to open up, also, if I keep it lubricated there shouldn't be too much wear. If that becomes a problem I might have to case harden it, but I don't think that will be necessary.

Does it actually act as a spring or is it mainly some sort of keeper?

The piece snaps into place to hold the door open, jut like the original spring. I tried the "C" springs and they did absolutely nothing and probably would fall out. The hinge itself would have to be replaced to use those.

Unless you heat treat them to make them spring steel, they will not hold the door open. Not all steel can be heat treated to become a spring, especially mild steel. I am guessing that you started with mild steel given how you were able to form this intricate part with relative ease.
You need to start with low alloy, medium to high carbon (0.7-1.0) steel, commonly referred to as "spring steel."
To form spring steel into the desired shape, you need to heat it red hot, make all of your bends, then quench it in oil to restore it to spring steel.
One interesting note about the difference between the '47 doors and the later models is that the '47 doors open further than the later models. There is a bar in the later models which restricts them from opening as far as the '47 doors.
I am surmising that the extra bends in the '47 springs had more tension in them to account for the extra distance which the door travels.
One thing you could do to be able to use later model springs in a '47 door hinge, would be to weld a bar just like what's in the later model hinges to restrict the door from opening too far, so that the springs will stay in place.

I ended up making another out of spring steel, came out just like the mild steel spring. I heat treated it and tempered it. It is harder for sure, and still snaps into place. Should work out fine.

I had the same issue on my 53 door. How that W shaped spring made its way into my 53 I have no idea but I tried just using the standard horseshoe shaped U spring and it broke in place. would love to source an original W shaped spring.

Swami, I'll make you one, but the warranty ends when you open the package. All kidding aside, I think the ones I made will work fine. I made one for the left side, the right side on my truck wasn't broken, but my jig can make either one.

Thaaaat would be awesome: since you made the jig and all. I was contemplating trying it myself but locating the right steel and trying to get those tight turns put me off. No hurry on this end. Happy to pay, can pm you. Thanks.

Sure. But fair warning, I am using a recycled spring material, and don't need to be paid. I can make you a set out of the spring steel and just for giggles a mild steel set too. You'd be surprised how well both work.