How do I attach new hood springs on a 1950?

[imported_Pete Phillips]

I need to replace the weak hood springs on a 1950 Pontiac Chieftain sedan. I have replacement springs, but need some tips on how to stretch these into place. It looks like a dangerous job in a very confined space, and the springs need to be stretched about 6-7 inches before they will slip onto the hook that holds them on the lower side of the cowl. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Pete Phillips
Sherman, TX

[Pete Woodruff]

Hi Pete,
The '49-'54 Pontiac Service Manual shows how to make a hood spring installation tool. See page 11-3 for the diagram. There was also a Kent-Moore special tool, J-3075, to perform this operation. See page 11-5 of the service manual.

Pete

[imported_Pete Phillips]

Pete,
Thanks for the hint. When all else fails, look in the instructions, I guess....DUH! I didn't think of that.

In desperation over the weekend (car HAS to be finished for the 4th of July parade this week), I did it the hard way: Removed the front bumper, removed the grille, and removed both front fenders, which gave me room to get a huge pry bar in there. I and a helper nearly killed ourselves (must be about 600 pounds of force on those springs when stretched!), but we got it done. Now I have to put the front end sheet metal and trim back on the car.
Pete Phillips

[Pete Woodruff]

Hi Pete,

I'm glad to hear that you got your springs installed without getting hurt! You probably used the safest method with regard to protecting the bodywork. I've looked at the spring tool the manual recommends making, what they didn't say was how you were to get the spring onto the tool so you could install it on the car.

Have you ever checked out the Early Times website? www.earlytimeschapter.org We are always looking for new members, our group is dedicated to preserving/restoring '26 -'54 Pontiacs.

Pete

[cruisin-eddy]

After trying two or three things that felt very unsafe, I came up with this approach to mounting the springs.I had the problem on my '41. When I replaced the springs on mine I attached the springs on the top and then looped a piece of wire so that the bottom of the loop was about 8 inches from the floor when the top of the wire was in the bottom hook of the spring. I put a metal bar in the loop and when I stepped on the bar it stretched the spring and with a little manuvering of the metal bar I was able to positon the bottom hook of the spring onto the mount.