73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Body, Glass & Paint => Topic started by: Doms86Shortbed on March 17, 2012, 11:07:17 pm
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1986 c-10 but i assume the hood hinges are the same for c-20, c-30, or blazers. I bought a fiberglass cowl hood not in perfect shape but very sound and looks like it just sat in a garage. I bolted it onto my trucks and when i would close the hood it was line up at the back of the fender, be high in the middle of the fender, then go back down towards the front like the hood was bent up. After adjustments and trial&error I undid the hinges but the hood was still held on by the other set of hinges with no spring attached to the cowl not the fender. Then the hood laid flat and aligned with the top of the fender. So how could I fix this? I guess the springs are too strong? is there a way to weaken them or i just have to find maybe an older pair? thanks in advance!
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this is more of a problem on the older 73-80 chevys but with them you can spray the springs with wd40. they also make a hood brace kit for those hoods, idk if you can use it on the fiberglass hoods but it kind of extends the hinge on the hood side but 73-80 hoods mount flat to the bottom while 80-87/91 mount to the sides. so i would try the wd40 or take the springs out and go with hood pins
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Like Irish said, these springs stiffen up a lot over time, I regularly lube mine up to keep them from bending my metal hood. As far as softening them up, I never heard of anyone doing this and still making them function properly. Maybe someone else has and will chime in.
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My '74 had a mildly bent hood when I bought it. I oiled the springs with 30 weight, and sat on the bend for a while. It wasn't perfect, but in the end, you'd have to be looking for it to see it.
The oil permanently solved the initial problem, though.
Just not so much as to be messy.
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" I undid the hinges but the hood was still held on by the other set of hinges with no spring attached to the cowl not the fender. "
I am going to assume you meant you unbolted the springs from the hood, and then it sat flush all the way along the entire length of the fender?
Not sure what brand hood you have but the less expensive brands sometime say in the directions that you need different springs to be used with them, or to remove the springs all together and use a prop rod.
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Like Blazin said, depending on the hood manufacturer, you may or may not need to remove the springs.