I recently bought some '65 88 hood hinges for my '66 98 and '66 Starfire.

The hinges were delivered with the springs detached. After stripping and painting that left me with the problem of stretching the springs back over the hinges. Beyond the 50 years ago specialty Kent-Moore tool, the factory procedure calls for drilling holes in the jack and more or less jacking the spring open. Like this:

Using jack stand to open hood hinge spring per '66 Olds Chassis Service Manual

I didn't feel too comfortable with that since I didn't want to drill my 54 year old jack plus I have a mild fear of large energized springs.

Instead a made a little 4 nut / 4 washer / threaded rod contraption to do the same thing, but on the bench:

Using threaded rod, washers and nuts to stretch a '65 Olds hood hinge spring

The nuts capture the washers. The washers slide along the threaded rod and you get there slowly with careful control. The washers each were drilled with the 5/16"s hole Olds recommended. Once you get the spring on the hinge, you have to cut the washer off, but for me thats 59 cents an about 2 minutes with a dremel.

It took me a few tries to figure out the physics of what to put where, but this was my final configuration. I left the nut/washer combination on the end in one place and opened the spring toward the vise on the left.

Also the front loop of the spring should have the end on the underside of the hinge which forces the rear loop to point out toward the fender, not in toward the engine.

Turns out the hinges are slightly different. I have not confirmed yet whether the 65's will fit my '66 cars. The 65's have an "ear" that points up vertically on the part that bolts to the hood. In '66 they point down, assuming mine are factory correct. It will be interesting to see if the up vs. down thing matters. It really all depends on the hood reinforcement.

Hope this helps some of you along the way. Fun little afternoon project.

I'll bet there's a smarter way, what have you guys done?

cheers
cf

 

Good idea! Id feel more comfortable using your creation on the car.

 

Now that's using your noggin! as my Mom used to say

 

What I have done in the past, may sound funny, but works, is to take 16 penny nails, bend the spring side ways, stick in a nail, on each side till long enough, then when you put them on, lower the hood and take them out one by one.

 

Harv:
That's a very ingenious approach!

 

That’s brilliant!