DJS70cutlass

Like the title says......I've replaced the hood springs twice now (and yes they are for steel hoods) And it just falls down right down I used to be able to get it to stay up at car shows if I messed with it for 5 minutes.....but last summer I made the mistake of oiling the hinges. Now I have to use a piece of wood I keep in the car!! Does anyone make springs that actually work.....or am I possibly missing something here? Any ideas would be appreciated guys

RetroRanger

where are you getting the springs ? is it a stock 70 steel hood ?

I oiled my hinges and the hood still stays up fine ?

DJS70cutlass

I'm not exactly sure anymore.....but it was one of the re-pop companies out there both times. Maybe one set was from Year One. And yes it's the stock steel hood.

oldcutlass

I did the same thing with mine, and had to prop it up for about a year until some of the lube wore off. It stays up and operates fine now.

Fun71

Couldn't you just spray some WD40 or similar solvent in there (gasoline?) and wash the lube out?

DJS70cutlass

Yeah I could.....but it BARELY stayed up before that. Windy days at a car show meant a 50% chance of it being closed when I got back to my car haha!! I think the hinges are just worn out.....something just doesn't look right about them, am I right in thinking I should get my originals rebuilt?

jstrits

Are the springs, hinges or both reproduction? Can you snap a pic of them in open position?

Dave Siltman

Are you sure you have the correct hinges? All hinges are not the same and all hinge springs are not the same. Post some pics like jstits is asking and we'll get to the bottom of it for you. Lots of times the parts houses sell you what they have; NOT WHAT YOU NEED.

DJS70cutlass

Ok guys I guess I should have said that the hinges are believed to be original.....they sure look the part!! Here's the pics as requested

IMG_1975_zps18459add.jpg

IMG_1974_zpse2b46f39.jpg

DJS70cutlass

Ok guys I posted the pics 3 weeks ago

MDchanic

- Eric

DJS70cutlass

^ Thanks for the help.

MDchanic

When you absolutely, positively, have to keep it up.




Seriously, though, of the at least ten A-bodies I've had over the past 35 years, I have never had this problem, and, yes, I have lubricated them.
Since the springs are aftermarket, it would be reasonable to believe that they are the culprit.

My recommendation would be to buy a set of hinges with the springs attached (as it's no fun installing them) from a member here or from a local junkyard and use those.

- Eric

jstrits

I'd say the same, put original springs on it. Wouldn't be the first time a repo part didn't work.

DJS70cutlass

My original springs are just as bad.......that's why I got new ones in the first place

Octania

I have 50 year old hood springs that still hold the hood up just fine.

Logic says if the hood drops too easily... the springs are weak, or the hood is too heavy
The most likely reason is an incorrect non-OEM part.

Installing springs is easy if you use a cherry picker [engine crane] or jack per CSM instructions. Stretch, put hinge in, release slowly.

I have good used springs as do others I am sure.

Lady72nRob71

While the repro springs could certainly be a problem, having the originals do this also is quite coincidental IMO...

Any chance there is a lot of extra weight in the front of the hood, such as from rodents, mud daubers, etc?
Maybe the car was once owned by a diamond or drug smuggler?

If the front is clean, go with some good used original springs.

DJS70cutlass

Ya know that's interesting........cause I've always thought the hood is HEAVY Is there any way to roughly weigh it somehow without removing it?

dc2x4drvr

The repro springs have fewer coils than OEM fwiw..