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Author Topic: Different hood springs (UPDATE 7/21)  (Read 1684 times)
mopowers
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Different hood springs (UPDATE 7/21)
« on: July 09, 2007, 12:42:30 PM »

Has anyone here got rid of factory hood springs and used struts off another vehicle to hold their hood open.  I'm think about doing this on my 66 just to clean up the engine compartment some.

I picked up some hood struts from a ford taurus this weekend at the junk yard and my mind just started wandering.  I'm curious if anyone's done this yet.
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Re: Different hood springs
« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2007, 01:28:27 PM »

I'm gonna try and figure how I can hinge it forward. Seems like if while you have the motor out; you could place the hood on the car closed; and crawl inside the bay and work from there. It shouldn't be too difficult I wouldn't think. Especially with your metal working skills. Wink
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west
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Re: Different hood springs
« Reply #2 on: July 09, 2007, 02:47:40 PM »

ive seen an actuator inside the fender that attatches to the hinge
I planned it out on my 72 and looks very easy,however the hood wont open all the way without more work and a little cutting because of the limited space for the actuator.i did'nt do it it because it would be a hassle to deal with,especially being inside the fender.
how would removing springs clean up the bay?if anything the struts will be visible.
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Re: Different hood springs
« Reply #3 on: July 09, 2007, 10:06:49 PM »


 how would removing springs clean up the bay?if anything the struts will be visible.

On the early A's, the hood springs went across the engine compartment in front of the firewall.  I'm thinking using struts instead would clean it up a bit.  Plus it would be different.



I'm gonna try and figure how I can hinge it forward. Seems like if while you have the motor out; you could place the hood on the car closed; and crawl inside the bay and work from there. It shouldn't be too difficult I wouldn't think. Especially with your metal working skills. Wink

Like you Ken, I have so many ideas.  The problem is deciding which ones to spend time on.
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west
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Re: Different hood springs
« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2007, 10:11:21 AM »

i would lose those hinges too,keep us posted on what you do
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340fyd
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Re: Different hood springs
« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2007, 10:20:04 AM »

Has anyone here got rid of factory hood springs and used struts off another vehicle to hold their hood open.  I'm think about doing this on my 66 just to clean up the engine compartment some.

I picked up some hood struts from a ford taurus this weekend at the junk yard and my mind just started wandering.  I'm curious if anyone's done this yet.

I'm wanting to do this also.  Right now I'm running a fiber glass hood and had to loose them.  So I'm needing some light weight ones.  I'm thinking like off of a 96 concord or something of that nature.  Keep us updated, I haven't really got to that project yet.  Right now I'm using a big shop broom to hold it up.

Lee
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Lee
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Re: Different hood springs
« Reply #6 on: July 22, 2007, 12:33:50 PM »

Well, I got some work done on yesterday.  I finished up patching the fire wall and installed the hood struts off a ford taurus.  They are just tacked for now, but they work great.  It's pretty effortless to open the steel hood.  I was able to get them out of the way a bit, so now I have plent of room for the roll cage.  It should clean up the firewall a bit too.  What do you think?

If you look above, you can see what I started with.





From the inside:










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ski
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Re: Different hood springs
« Reply #7 on: July 22, 2007, 02:41:34 PM »

Nice work mopwers.
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Re: Different hood springs (UPDATE 7/21)
« Reply #8 on: July 22, 2007, 03:35:41 PM »

I like what you have done.
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Cary Snyder
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Re: Different hood springs (UPDATE 7/21)
« Reply #9 on: July 22, 2007, 09:27:42 PM »

Looks good
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Re: Different hood springs (UPDATE 7/21)
« Reply #10 on: July 23, 2007, 12:05:37 PM »

Wow; thats slick! Wink
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mopowers
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Re: Different hood springs (UPDATE 7/21)
« Reply #11 on: July 23, 2007, 11:54:27 PM »

Thanks for the kind words fellas.  Frankly, I was suprised we nailed the dimensions on the first try.  Normally that stuff doesn't happen to me.  Must''ve finally had a lucky day I guess.  They are actually pretty cool, even though they began life on a ford.  Once your lift the hood 3/4 of the way up, they pretty much lift the hood from there and really tight at the top.  In fact, I measured the front of the hood to the ground before and after, and the 2 measurements are with 1/2".  Not bad for a couple of amatures!
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west
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Re: Different hood springs (UPDATE 7/21)
« Reply #12 on: July 29, 2007, 11:31:12 PM »

 I could'nt get my springs to work right so I also went to the junk yard and searched for the right struts to use,most were too long or much too stiff.For $15 I found these on a v.w. golf hatchback they had the perfect amount of rebound,i used the same hardware too.I'll put the hood on tomorrow,should work fine.


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340fyd
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Re: Different hood springs (UPDATE 7/21)
« Reply #13 on: July 30, 2007, 09:30:46 AM »

I couldn't talk somebody into posting some of his pictures to this site so that I can see them could I?  Thanks.
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Lee
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Re: Different hood springs (UPDATE 7/21)
« Reply #14 on: July 30, 2007, 10:12:58 AM »

what pics are you looking for?
maybe your comp. is just slow at loading them?
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mopowers
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Re: Different hood springs (UPDATE 7/21)
« Reply #15 on: July 30, 2007, 10:35:07 AM »

Thats going to look killer west!
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Re: Different hood springs (UPDATE 7/21)
« Reply #16 on: August 26, 2008, 03:12:04 PM »

mopowers, I liked your hood lift so much I did it to my barracuda, thanks for all the pics.


* p1010075nwaug08.jpg (29.71 KB, 300x225 - viewed 146 times.)

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* p1010071nwaug308.jpg (32.94 KB, 400x300 - viewed 146 times.)
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daves66valiant
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Re: Different hood springs (UPDATE 7/21)
« Reply #17 on: August 26, 2008, 07:11:55 PM »

Very cool.

Here is the way I did it using a hood spring assembly from a 70 duster on my 66 parts car. Lots of pic in case others are interested.

Hole drilled for shoulder bolt


Bracket







In the actual setup I used stainless t-nuts and stainless allen bolts for the attachment on the hood hinges



Clean engine bay


Turned out really well. Video opening and closing. Springs need some grease of course. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y72J6Gdj_1Q

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mopowers
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Re: Different hood springs (UPDATE 7/21)
« Reply #18 on: August 26, 2008, 09:17:26 PM »

Wow, nice work guys!!  Gotta love them early A's.
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Re: Different hood springs (UPDATE 7/21)
« Reply #19 on: September 24, 2008, 12:10:55 AM »

Very kewl Ideas...all of them,i'm kinda partial to the late a body spring deal but they are all excellent looking
Very cool.

Here is the way I did it using a hood spring assembly from a 70 duster on my 66 parts car. Lots of pic in case others are interested.

Hole drilled for shoulder bolt


Bracket







In the actual setup I used stainless t-nuts and stainless allen bolts for the attachment on the hood hinges



Clean engine bay


Turned out really well. Video opening and closing. Springs need some grease of course. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y72J6Gdj_1Q


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