is there any way to successfully unspring a hood? lifted the hood for the first time in a long time and when i closed it the rusty springs bent the hood. bought new hinges, looks as tight as the old ones. anyway i know that the metal is permanently weakened. i was thinking about bending it back straight, and using the new hinges without the springs and somehow attatching a telescoping rod that would put the pressure in a slightly different spot on the hood. any thoughts? originality is not an issue. 66 coupe.

EDIT: entire car is going to need a new paint job when i'm through doing all i need to do to it.

 

Are you against the springs all together ? You can always treat the springs so they wont rust (or rust significantly less). I know a couple companies make aftermarket machined hinges that are nice...pricey but nice. I personally HATE the springs and will find a way to do without them. They never did work right on my 68.

You could do a set of mini shocks/struts for the hood, you'd probably just have to figure out a mounting spot for the install that looks decent and still functions properly.

I know its all import stuff..but here are some pics :: http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...ed=0CC0QsAQwBQ

 

thanks blackflame, however my main question was can the hood successfully be repaired. it's not ripped just bent (on both sides) nice to know that someone else doesn't like those springs.

 

I am sure it CAN be repaired, being that it is original, it is likely a better fit than a repop, but you will need to weigh the differences between cost to repair vs. cost to replace.

Also there are differing degrees of "repair", one extreme might be "throwing a couple pieces of angle under the bends with some TEK screws...", and then there is a more correct repair that would probably include replacing the bent section of the hood structure.

Neither repair is difficult, but the second will need a person who can and will do the job.

Post a couple pics of the bends.

 

Ahh sorry I mis-read..but yea I H A T E those damn hinges...
+13 to what he said...it depends on the severity of the damage to the hood...post up pics, as we may be able to better help....Im sure it can be repaired..it should be repaired if its original as OE parts always do fit better

 

I dislike the springs myself however still use them. Since I have a fiberglass hood I have new low tension springs. I noticed surface rust start within a few weeks so had them Powder Coated black. Its about 35.00 bucks to have done and don't need to worry about rust again. Just a thought

 

It's not that you've particularly weakened the metal where it got stretched/wrinkled - as long as no tears or cracks have started. If anything, you've strengthened it a bit in that area due to having cold-worked the metal. But a good body man should be able to put it right. A little heat and/or shrinking is involved.

Given that originality isn't much of a priority, a simple prop rod would be the simplest end-run around this. That's still one of the solutions that Ford still considers legitimate, as my '08 GT proves.


Norm

 

fix the hood and get the springs off and buy the "R"model prop rod

 

If you really don't like the springs you can get low tension springs and use a prop rod, or just take the springs off in general and use a prop rod.

I myself love the springs, with my new hood hinges my original springs work perfectly, nice and smooth. Maybe you have springs from a 67/68, if so they are probably too strong. I don't think rust should be an issue because they can't be rusted together if the hood was shut the whole time, the springs would have been spread open.

Another thing is maybe your hood was weak in general. Is the hood frame rusted at all? previous accident? If the hood was already bent in that area before or just weak in general then yes the springs could have been too strong.

Regarding fixing the hood, I agree with JMD. I'm sure it's repairable, but it depends on if you want to spend the time to fix it or simply buy a new one. You can also look on craigslist to try to find a used hood from someone. Then It will be original, fit perfectly, and more importantly, not bent. There are a lot of 65/66's out there, so probably a lot of hoods as well. Also, if originality isn't a concern you can always go with an aftermarket fiberglass hood, but then you still have to worry about fitment.

my .02

 

If the hood is simply curved too much, the curve can be worked out. If there is a kink, or sharp bend, it's done. You should get the "original tool" hood, a little over $400. The repro hinges can be worked in on the bench, without springs installed, but I find the repro springs a bit too stiff, use originals.