Hood sping alternatives?

[47heaven]

Just wondering if anyone knows what modern day springs would work as hood springs for the P15 hoods? I have a couple extra springs, but they are old, and so far two others have busted on me since I have owned the car. Has anybody found or know of any other types of new springs that will work instead of replacing with old ones?

[BobT-47P15]

I would be interested in knowing more about such springs also.

So far my hood springs are OK, but could use a couple for the

top mechanism of the convert.

I think springs are sized by their diameter and thickness of the metal

used in the coils, plus number of coils used.

Any good info and source appreciated as well.

I've tried local places that seemed likely to have such an item with no luck.

[Don Coatney]

Have you checked McMaster Carr?

[47heaven]

Ok...went there and found the page on extension springs. So how do I know which one is for mine? A lot of technical stuff there that doesn't make sense to me.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#extension-springs/=80z8nl

[james curl]

You could try someone like this. You would have to send them one of your springs so they could reproduce springs for you. If the price is right you could start a business selling new hood springs.

Spring Manufacturer | Custom Compression & Torsion Springs ...

View our selection of compression springs, torsion springs, custom coil springs, spring washers Houston, TX Spring Manufacturer ...

www.springhouston.com/ - Cached - Similar

PS, I just Googled custom spring manufactures and came up with plenty of them.

Edited July 19, 2010 by james curl
PS

[Plymouthy Adams]

first, what is the length of your spring, then what is the coil diameter, next is the cross section of the spring wire, then you have to know the working extension (how much does the spring have to extend) and the killer...what is the lbs of pull requirement to extend to the extension length..

you could start by measuring your good spring with hood clsoed checking spring for working length...measure the coil diameter and then the wire size..remove the good spring you have left, once off car measure for overall compressed length..get a heavy spring scale and connect to the one end of the spring, clamp the other end in a stationary device..extend the spring the distance needed to reflect yor spring at full working extension and read the lb of pull needed to get there..buy your spring set based on these readings..

you may find however that the spring will have a long wire hood on one end compared to the other..this in itself may make find the spring a bit tougher as the coil may interfere with the hood/hinge if close loop coil spring..going to be a tough find...OR..you can go get a set of trunk hinge springs from a Sunbeam Alpine..shape the long shaft to that of your original, cut the excess and install..not sure if the rate is identical but they are close in size...I made a set here at the house from these donors but admit I have not installed them to test functionality..

[47heaven]

first, what is the length of your spring, then what is the coil diameter, next is the cross section of the spring wire, then you have to know the working extension (how much does the spring have to extend) and the killer...what is the lbs of pull requirement to extend to the extension length..

you could start by measuring your good spring with hood clsoed checking spring for working length...measure the coil diameter and then the wire size..remove the good spring you have left, once off car measure for overall compressed length..get a heavy spring scale and connect to the one end of the spring, clamp the other end in a stationary device..extend the spring the distance needed to reflect yor spring at full working extension and read the lb of pull needed to get there..buy your spring set based on these readings..

you may find however that the spring will have a long wire hood on one end compared to the other..this in itself may make find the spring a bit tougher as the coil may interfere with the hood/hinge if close loop coil spring..going to be a tough find...OR..you can go get a set of trunk hinge springs from a Sunbeam Alpine..shape the long shaft to that of your original, cut the excess and install..not sure if the rate is identical but they are close in size...I made a set here at the house from these donors but admit I have not installed them to test functionality..

Is that all, Tim? I was thinking of something more "ready to go."

[Plymouthy Adams]

only thing more ready to GO is to buy a set of used from someone/e-bay..other than that I am not sure if anyone has done any testing with generic rate springs..I have these I mentioned but as I said even I have not tested them..a quick tugs says they could be close..but we are not playing horsehoes here..

[47heaven]

only thing more ready to GO is to buy a set of used from someone/e-bay..other than that I am not sure if anyone has done any testing with generic rate springs..I have these I mentioned but as I said even I have not tested them..a quick tugs says they could be close..but we are not playing horsehoes here..

You are correct.

[Young Ed]

I thought someone had sourced some repro late 40s early 50s chevy springs that were close enough to work.....

[BobT-47P15]

I looked in the parts manual for hood springs, but no other info given

besides part number.

For the spring on the top works, called a folding top balance spring,

it gave this info: 92 1/2 coils, 17 1/4" free length.

Too bad they didn't do that for the others.

[fedoragent]

Folks,

Have you check AMS Obsolete to see if they have the springs?

FG.