Ok gang,

I've tried 3 different sets of origional hood springs on my 69 H/O. One of them work willl hold up a 442 hood with repo H/O scoops. The real H/O scoops are obviously heavier and I can't get the hood to stay up on it's own. I've swapped springs from Vista Cruiser [no good] 69 442 [no good] and the 69 H/O clone hood [ no good]

Anybody had this probelm besides me? The broom stick looks like poop on a white rabbit.

Thanks learned H/O fans

 

Are any of these springs New? If there all old a brand new pair might do the trick. I just put the new repro 69 H/0 scoop on my Fact Hood and it had No effect what so ever and stays up like before. My guess would be worn out springs.

 

Well, each set of springs seems good and strong and holds up the Vista, 442 and 442 drop top hood with no "signs" of weakness.

 

I too will need hinges and springs .

 

Has anyone bought the repo springs and tried them on a H/O hood with the heavy origional scoops?

 

Jamesbo,
I haven't tried the repops, I see NOS ones on ebay frequently--search under chevelle or gto for better luck finding them.

I will probably be in the market soon also. My hood stays up, but it always seems a little tenuous.

These must just be a "weak link" issue. My first 69 442 had weak hood springs back in the 80's--it had an original 69 H/O scoop on the front of it too.

 

This item claims to have 27 coils [one more than the normal 26] and be "Heavy duty.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/67-68...item53e0399395

Anyone have a clue if the H/O used this spring?

 

Never had a problem with my originals. Just went and counted 19 coils...

 

Hum,

Mine has 19 coils also. I wonder what this e-bay spring seller is talking about

 

Yes, but these go up to 11.....

Counted mine, has 19, just checked some pictures I have, the 69's & 72's I've seen in the pictures have 19 coils as well...

 

Thanks Jeff, So that means the "Spring guru" on e-bay is incorrect. All the others I have [Vista, 442 etc] are all 19 ergo the 69 H/O uses the same spring as the other cars.

 

big body springs j/k paint broomstick gold (sorry couldn't resist)

 

Zo,

After speaking with everyone who would listen to my exigency de jour, I've come to the conclusion that the 69 H/O used the same hood springs as the Cutlass, 442 and Vista. I placed and order with Fusick's and I'll report back when they arrive.We'll see if a repo set works better than the other 4 sets I've tried.

I'm still at a loss for what the "Hood Spring guru" on e-bay is talking about.

 

Just got off the phone with Kurt the 69 H/O advisor and he says, It isn't the springs.

They are all the same 19 turns just like the 442, Vista, Cutlass etc.


The 69 H/O hood will not stay up if the hinges are lubricated. Kurt said he's had the same problem because a a rule he doesn't like squeeky things. The one exception is his 69 H/O hood. , " If I squirt some WD 40 on the hindges, the hood won't stay up, Take off the hindges, and remove all of the lubricant."

Well H/O buds, there's the skinny.

DO NOT LUBRICATE YOUR HOOD HINDGES,

Kurt also said he'll be in Dalton, Ga I'll have to buy him a beer [or two]

 

that's outrageous! I always lube my hood hinges. just goes to show ya. better off on that sofa afterall

 

the real reason to lub them is that if that hood sticks on the way down on one side your going to have a bent Hood. I had a 71 GTO and had that Happen. So far I've been lucky.Looks like I won't hit as often though. Thanks for the tip.

 

Well,

The saga continues. I checked the hinges for lube and they're as dry as a bone.

So I spoke to a few buddies about tyring to tighten the hinges. We decided to use a pneumatic palm nailer with a punch in it and brace the back with a 5 lb hammer as an anvil.

I called a bud to borrow his palm hammer and he stopped by. We had some lunch and then spent about 30 minutes digging thru his truck tool box for the palm hammer. No luck, it was in another truck.

As a last resort we pulled a spring off the hinges and bent the ear that holds the spring about 1/8"

Tada.

The hoods stays up fine now so we pulled the other spring and bent the other hood hinge a matching 1/8 "

It amazed me how close the hood was to staying up on its' own.

Ok, friends, now you can sleep tonight know all is well and this thread is ended.

 

I'm very happy for you Jamesbo!!

 

"The Devil is in the details."