The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Lousy Repo Hood Springs

Hello Fellow Bolters,

A while ago I boutht a set of repo hood springs from a repuatable retailer and when I finally got around to installing them, they where much worse than the ones that came with the truck. They practically wouldn't even hold the hood open. I took them out, and put the "originals" back in. I thought about returning them, but it had been almost 9 months from purchase and the paint was now shot where they contact the hinges.

I'm just wondering what luck others have had with replacement springs or hinges?

57- I will be mocking up sometime in the summer and will be hooking up the hood for good sometime in the fall. Therefore it would be helpful for me and a lot of those coming behind me to know just who is this "repuatable" retailer is. Also, what exactly was the problem with them?

I'm planning on using hydraulic lift gate rams I swiped off a wrecked venture van from work. The van's upper mount has the exact same 'L' bracket as my '51 that I'll mount to the hood and just drill out the pivot pin from the original firewall bracket and replace it with a set of pivot balls from my S-10's rear lift gate.

That might be a thought for ya if you don't mind straying from original equipment.

Just my $.02

Scott

interesting... were the replacement springs electroplated zinc silver? sometimes plating shops don’t treat the spring for embrittlment this happens when the spring is immersed in cleaning acids and not treated properly after, its possible your retailer may not be aware his manufacturer has a problem.

The springs were made by Counterpart Automotive in Taiwan and I bought them from the Truck Shop in CA. Due to the time delay and scratched parts I never contacted Truck Shop about this. I have recieved Counterpart's parts from Chevy Duty as well. I'm sure they supply everyone. I emailed Classic Industries and was told their hood springs were made by Counterpart. I saw an NOS spring on Ebay once, I'll have to cross my fingers there will be more.

I have used repo hood springs and hinges and have not had a problem with them. I might have an extra set of hinges with springs (I am too lazy to remove the springs from the hinge).

Hello Eric. I got my 59 springs from Classic Parts of America, Kansas City, MO and am very pleased. No problems at all. Grant.

I've used new springs without complaint, but found the hinges are more problem than the springs, and my new springs went on new hinges - maybe your new springs would work better with new hinges

Bill

Maybe you have extra wheight on the hood like undercoating or something.