Hood will not stay open 1956 Chevy

[mike1954]

1956 Chevy 1/2 ton
Finished painting front fenders and hood.
Got fenders on.
This morning I got the hood back on.
I am using original hinges with new springs.
Had all that on prior to paint and everything worked mine.
I just wire brushed hinges prior to paint.
Now the hood will not stay open.
And no there is not to much bondo or paint!
Any ideas short of new hinges?

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by mike1954

1956 Chevy 1/2 ton
Finished painting front fenders and hood.
Got fenders on.
This morning I got the hood back on.
I am using original hinges with new springs.
Had all that on prior to paint and everything worked mine.
I just wire brushed hinges prior to paint.
Now the hood will not stay open.
And no there is not to much bondo or paint!
Any ideas short of new hinges?

This sounds very odd, if it was working before to not be now, very odd. Post some photos of them would you?

Brian

[dsraven]

were they possibly binding with old paint or rust etc and now, after the clean up and possibly a lube job, they are weak? they were maybe just tight from corrosion?

[my56chevytruck]

by chance did you oil the hinges? did you lubricate any part of the hinges before mounting them?? I made the mistake of doing this once and for what ever reason, i couldnt get the hood to stay up.

[Black_Sheep]

I would say the new hood springs are too weak. I had the same issue on my '58 and a different set of springs took care of the problem.

[_Ogre]

I am using original hinges with new springs.

try the old springs, new doesn't mean better

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

try the old springs, new doesn't mean better

OMG none of us saw that! Good eye!

Of course when something doesn't work look at the CHANGE you made! The new springs are reproduction......hmmmmmm, reproduction parts are "Similar, can be used if nothing else is available." And being "similar" they aren't exact so they look cool but don't hold the hood up.


Brian

[roger55]

The original hood springs on my '57 seemed just a little weak so I bought new ones. They weren't any different. The hood will stay up but it doesn't take much to send it down. I'm afraid a slight breeze might do it.
Does anyone know if the stainless replacement springs are a little more stiff?

[Coupeguy2001]

57 bel air springs are the heaviest because of the hood rockets.
Try those.
The hood is longer, and weighs more,
I replaced my springs about 25 years ago, and never had a problem after that.
They were US made truck springs.
I got them from the truck shop near Disneyland

[mike1954]

Thanks,
Put original ones back on.
It stays up.

Mike

[roger55]

Originally Posted by Coupeguy2001

57 bel air springs are the heaviest because of the hood rockets.
Try those.
The hood is longer, and weighs more,
I replaced my springs about 25 years ago, and never had a problem after that.
They were US made truck springs.
I got them from the truck shop near Disneyland

Thanks, Interesting idea. Did you put the '57 Bel Air springs on your pickup?

I have a '55 Bel Air and I knew '57 springs were different than the 55. 56 springs have a different part number too. Also, 57 hinges are quite a bit different.. Guys with '57' Bel Airs always complain about how hard it is to install the springs but the 55 springs are super easy to install.

Btw, I believe the 55 Bel Air springs and TF springs are the same. At least I think if you order springs for a 55 - 57 pickup hood, you will receive springs with the same part number as the '55 Bel Air.