Hood hinges

[cady75]

As many of you folks know I wrecked my hood (see guess what I did post)but I think the hinges might be OK. One of the springs became detached from the hinge which might have helped save it. How can I expand the spring enough to get it back on the "clips". I used a crow bar on a suspension spring with wood once but these are much smaller. Any ideas would be welcome. Thanks

 

[RED caddy]

The easy way is to run by the paint store and grab a handfull of stir sticks, cut 'em into pieces a little longer than the spring diameter and pound them in between the coils (start 'em with a cheap screwdriver, stagger them, kinda like a spiral staircase)  'till you get the length you need, hold the end hooks to the hinge with tie wire, then pull 'em all out , one at a time, with a pair of vise grips. BTW this trick works on garage door springs too. RED (puttin on your helmet while doing this may make you feel silly, but will save you 6 stiches and the ER visit... Don't ask)

 

[cady75]

Thanks, hood's almost ready to be put back on

 

[Maddog]

RED: Thats one of the best tricks I have ever read. Thanks.



Maddog (looking for his helmet...lol)

 

[tommyhawk13]

Brilliant!

 

[dave brode]

Neat trick! Thanks

 

[RED caddy]

Yep, I stole it from Custom Car magazine Jan-Feb. 1962. If you remember those 5X7 inch car mag's (just the right size to fit in a back pocket of your jeans, LOL) you are officially an "Old Fart". RED