removing my hood springs...I'm an idiot!

[bb74swngr]

Hi all, this is my dilemma. I want to install a fiberglass hood and use lighter springs. My understanding is that there are two options to remove the springs. One to remove the fenders and the other removing the doors. I shy away from removing the fenders as this car only has 25k miles on it and if I remove the fenders and associated body parts it will break the paint where the fender meets the inner fenderwell and all of the bolts will have the paint scratched and broken off. The doors look like it will be a bear to remove and will they line up as perfectly as they are now.

I am really interested in comments and suggestions.

Thanks all, Russ:)

[Duster440]

I don't think you'll gain any advantage by removing the doors. If all you want to do is remove the springs, you can pull the splash shields (likely covered in undercoat) behind the front wheels and pry the end of the spring off the pin on the hinge. This means you'll be using a prop rod with the new hood.

If you want to pull the hinges and replace the springs with lighter ones, you'll most likely have to pull the fender to get the clearance you need. If you're really lucky you may be able to cut the hinge retainers off and slide the hinge off its pins. I think it'll bind though and you'll end up pulling the fenders anyway.

The paint may chip or flake when removing the bolts but it really shouldn't where the fender meets the inner fender.

[bb74swngr]

Thanks Duster440. Is the spring held on by tension only? I can see the spring with the door open. If I can get in there with a pry bar, can I just pop it off? To be honest with you, I would consider using a prop rod rather than tear the fenders or doors off.

Russ:)

[Duster440]

Yes, you want to pry the end of the spring, not the middle. Have someone hold the existing hood up in the open position (if it's still on the car). That will relieve some of the tension. The spring is under a fair amount of tension so be very careful. The spring won't come off and go flying or anthing but it will make a racket. The center post where the spring is mounted is swaged so it won't come off after you release it.

[bb74swngr]

Skyhawk from moparts posted this to me. This is great and I'm going to give it a whirl!

I can't remember exactly where the hood springs are on a late A body, but if they are accessible from under the hood, try this:
1) Get an old deck or two of playing cards
2) make five stacks slightly thicker than the thickness of a bondo applicator. Tape them together if necessary
3.Open the hood fully, which will stretch the spring and leave gaps in the coils.
4.Slip the stacks of playing cards into the coil gaps.
5.Close the hood just enough so you can remove the springs..no pain..no broken paint or scratches
6. To install new springs, use a come-along stretched between two posts with the spring on one end. Put pulling pressure on the spring and create a gap in the coils. Insert the playing cards in the gaps
7.With hood partially closed, install the springs
8. Open hood fully, remove card stacks. You're done

I've used this trick on numerous Mopars, and it's worked every time...

[Duster440]

That might work for coil springs but not the clockwork style spring of the a-body. 

[bb74swngr]

Darn, it sounded like it would work for the round spring also.

Signed...the idiot:)

[flyboy01]

That might work for coil springs but not the clockwork style spring of the a-body. 

 

Thanks for telling us that. I almost hurt myself trying to think about how that works. I would have been in the garage for hours trying to figure it out.   

Now, how about the 3 seashells? How do they work? 

[GON_RACIN]

I removed the hood springs on my dart by removing the splash shields and using a prybar.  This method allows you leave the doors and fenders on, but you will have to use a prop rod.  The only bad things about this method is that you cant remove the old spring completely, it will just dangle there after you release the tension.  Another problem is after you get the splash shield loose, there isnt alot of room to move it around to get it out of the way, so you may end up  having to bend one of the little tabs on the fender that it attaches too, which in turn could crack the paint. 

[75Dart440]

Even if it wouldn't work on the coil spring hinges, you could pop open a couple of cold one's and get a game or two of solitaire in.

[Small Block]

.....No... No....No...me and flyboy know that you must start with K...E...S...S...L...E...R...S....and a half cup of ice and ....believe me . This sounds like a Kesslers moment. Good luck

[west]

take your time and remove the fenders,use alot of tape.
it will be less grief.

[BacktoBasics]

Now, how about the 3 seashells? How do they work? 

 #^~!I have always wondered that too!

[jamesdart]

if you dont want them to rattle around, pull the splash shield and stick a torch in there real quick heay the spring enough to ruin the temper. it should still have enough tension so it wont rattle, but it will not hold the hood up. if you just pop them off the rattling will drive you nuts. it drove me nuts.

[bb74swngr]

Thanks everyone. Logic says do as "west" says, remove the fenders. Boo-Hoo

Russ:)

[zpsull01]

Yep you have to remove the fenders

Now, how about the 3 seashells? How do they work? 

I never understood that. I really thought they were going to address that later on but they never did. Now I'm just in a constant state of confusion...

[W2-408]

I actually just did this last night.  Removed the inner fender splash panel, popped the spring off the pin with a pry bay, lots of noise, but it cant go anywhere, then it is all loose.  I then popped off the 2 clips holding the hinge to the pins.  Hinge will now almost fall out the bottom.  Now on the bench, using cut off wheel grinder, ground the peened area in the center of the spring, slid off the old spring, installed the new light weight spring, (from 88 daytona, very slight modifications.) Then squished it in the vice so the spring cannot come off. The hinge is now in the upright position, and slips right back into the fender. Took about 45 minutes from start to finish, both sides included.  :)BTW car is 73 Duster.

[MVRCorp]

Damn.....................we need a video.

[qkcuda]

W2,  I can't exactly picture what limits the upward movement of the hinge.  Do you have to remove the spring to release the tension before you can take off the hinge, or can it be removed as a unit?   I have a pin on AAR hood and would probably want to remove the whole hinge assembly so it wasn't rattling around in there.  Preferably without taking off the fenders.

[Duster440]

W2,  I can't exactly picture what limits the upward movement of the hinge.  Do you have to remove the spring to release the tension before you can take off the hinge, or can it be removed as a unit? 

You're right it can go on and off as a unit. The problem I found on my car is that the mounting tab for the fender just above the hinge interferes with the hinge assembly sliding straight on and off the pins. I have to angle the hinges as I'm putting them on or taking them off which means I wouldn't be able to do it with the fenders on.

[qkcuda]

I just looked at some pictures in previous posts and I think I see what you mean.  I wonder with the spring tension removed if the arm will drop down and allow you to wiggle it out better?

[Mopar Tom]

Damn it , Flyboy , I hate it when you do that ,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,you & Backtobasic see some seashells by the seashore & I don't,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I reread every post twice ,,I tried mispronouncing everything twice ,,I envisioned everything suggested ,,,I even imagined 5 card stacks stuck in the coil springs behind the fenders,,!!!!! Are the 3 seashells an inside joke or am I being more blind than usual ??//--Mopar Tom 

[W2-408]

The main reason that i removed the springs before removing the hinges was mainly to keep them secure while the spring popped. Just make sure you have something to protect the paint because the hinge goes down in a hurry.  With the hinge in the up position, i had no trouble at all putting it back in, then removing it again, then putting it back in for the final time.  I was even able to save the retaining clips.

[Bakaruda]

The three sea shells come from a movie with Stalone, Snipes, and Sandra Bulock(?).

[Cpt Panzer]

Demolition Man  ...........  and I still want to know how the three sea shells work too.   that could be a big money saver

[Bakaruda]

It was never said.

[MVRCorp]

Damn it , Flyboy , I hate it when you do that ,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,you & Backtobasic see some seashells by the seashore & I don't,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I reread every post twice ,,I tried mispronouncing everything twice ,,I envisioned everything suggested ,,,I even imagined 5 card stacks stuck in the coil springs behind the fenders,,!!!!! Are the 3 seashells an inside joke or am I being more blind than usual ??//--Mopar Tom 

 
  I'm still tring to figure out the card thing.
Like I said earlier

Damn.....................we need a video.

[Mopar Tom]

Hey MVR ,,,me thinks Duster 440 Sherlocked the deal from the Shivvy guy named "SKYHAWK " as he was spacing coil springs (like on B-bodies ) with cards but it was late enuff for me to fantasize & hallucinate cards in the clockwork type springs that are behind the fenders on the A-bodies ---I was desperate to try & figure out the seashell thingy . 
Now I gotta---" YO , Adrienne , we gotta get Demolition Man & watch it again & actually pay attention for 3-seashells so's we can be enlightened !!! -------Thanks BAKARUDA !---Mopar Tom

[x360x64dart]