The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Hood Latch Spring '54 Chev PU

Does anyone know where I could find a Hood Latch Spring for my '54 Chev Pick Up? I'm having problems finding one. Mine is totally shot. Any thoughts?

Dan Veenstra

Which spring? The one for the lever or the latch bolt? I've had good luck at the hardware store spring assortment. Probably have to fabricate something. I'll look around my spare parts, might have something laying around.

It's the latch that opens the hood. When you put your fingers in between the grille and hood you release the hood. That release has a small spring built into it.

Thanks, Dan

I'd check with your local flaps, they have a good selection of springs. Also check out Lowes or Homedepot. I still think a hardware store could come up something that will work.

It's a mouse trap type spring where the latch pivot pin runs through the loop in the spring. Get a spring with a long straight section and has about 1/16" wire size. Clamp a bolt the same size as the pivot pin (or one size smaller)in a vise and using two vise grips wrap the spring wire twice around the bolt keeping the loop as tight as possible. The original spring had two legs to the latch but since this will only have one you can file a small notch in the release lever and latch housing for each end of the spring wire to fit into to keep aligned. You will have to experiment a little to get the two legs at the correct angle and proper tension when the pivot pin is through the loop but it's not rocket science.

If you want to see what the factory spring looked like go to my photo site and it's the first picture. It is VERY hard to duplicate this shape working with spring wire. http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/coilover/

Call dan at little valley auto ranch in Belton tx, he probably has one in stock and can ship it out to you 254-939-8548.