Hood spring installation tip

[markeb01]

Somebody has probably done this before, but I didn’t find much when looking for ideas. So here are photos of how I installed mine this morning when there wasn’t any assistance available. The first thing needed is a solid anchor to pull against. My “clean bench” is bolted to the wall studs on two levels, and the bench is assembled with bolts, so I knew it was up to the task.

I clamped a piece of steel tubing to the spring support projecting forward a few feet in front of the truck to assist in lining the truck up with the bench leg (sorry no picture). I parked the truck aiming the tubing just inboard of the bench leg, so the spring would not be dragged against anchor support.

I hooked the spring to the hinge arm, and used an industrial S hook on the other end to provide more flexibility to the ratchet strap hook. The ratchet strap pulled the spring into position, and a squeeze clamp was used to press it into the slot and hold it in position. Since the ratchet tension cannot be controlled when released, I simply drove the truck forward a couple of inches until the strap relaxed on the inner fender, and that was it.

I also used this technique to remove the springs. And by pre-drilling front and rear alignment holes in the hinge mounting plates, they were reinstalled in exactly the same location using two 1/8” pilot bits. As a result no adjustment is required and there are no scars on the hinges or the mounting bolts.

Here are photos showing the process and the finished assembly.