sweetpotato Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 One of my 53 Special hood springs is broken (actually severely stretched). I can't find them, oem or otherwise. A wrecking yard near me has a lot of hood springs but none exactly the same length or diameter. I was wondering if anyone has substituted another spring for the oem ones? I was thinking I might take a slightly shorter one and fabricate a hook extension on one end. Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmsue Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 With so much tension of a spring, I would be nervous to experiment on one spring. If there is a fair amount of adjustments that could be made, would it be wiser to find the closest match and replace both springs? Then you could play with the adjustments to get it right. I'm not sure this would work,,,,,,I'm just talking out loud. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetpotato Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 Bill, I did intend to replace them as a pair. BTW I did make the split pipe spring removal tool, which has probably saved my life more than once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmsue Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Sorry, I misread your posting.I'll have to look into the 'split post removal tool' you speak of. I don't think I've ever seen one. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetpotato Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 SPLIT PIPE SPRING REMOVAL TOOL There is a detailed drawing of it and instructions on how to use it on pg 12-4 and 12-5 of the '53 shop manual. I just cut an 8" length of 1 3/4" pipe, split it in half and welded plates on both ends and sharpened the edge of the plates so it would slip between the coils easier. With the hood lowered to the center position (spring extended) put the tool over the spring and hold it with two hose clamps. Raise the hood and the spring will be loose enough to remove. I drilled and tapped my vise for 2 bolts (1/2") to use as a spreader for the spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Another quick way is to just push a bunch of nails between the extended coils......................Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetpotato Posted May 26, 2015 Author Share Posted May 26, 2015 Another quick way is to just push a bunch of nails between the extended coils......................Bob I've done that too. I used large cut nails (because they're flat and don't want to roll).I finally found a good set of replacement springs at my favorite wrecking yard. They are off an early 60's Chevy pickup, I think it was maybe a 61. They are slightly larger in diameter but the length was exactly the same. They are working good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesBulldogMiller55Buick Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 Hooray !! Nice Work ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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