Hood & hood spring questions??

[BB73Challenger]

Hi everyone,

I believe my Challenger has a weak hood spring on at least 1 side.
It won't stay closed on one corner and even closes unevenly and chipped the corner of my fender 

I think this has only come on recently, and have tried to grease it's slide points, oil and still seems "not right" as when I got the car.

Is it the spring?

AND THE REASON I ASK NOW -

The Cuda I am restoring has the same problem, even the same side.
Now it will be leaving for paint later next week, and the last thing I want is any chips!

I'm afraid I know the answer, but for a fact can someone tell me if I have to send them out to be repaired\rebuilt or outright buy new units as opposed to just buying 2 springs?

Thanks in advance for any input!

PS - it is a full steel bulge Cuda hood.

[Chryco Psycho]

does the rear of the hood sit high or low when you close it if so it is just adjustment to fix ti ?

[BB73Challenger]

The rear sits high, for example on my Chally when I go to close the hood I bring it 90% of the way down till it just is above the hood pins, walk to the passenger side rear of the hood, push the rear corner down, then it "straightens out" the hood to close without any hood to fender action.

[422STROKER]

New repros are available for 230 bucks.  Hinge and spring included, Sounds like the hinge is getting sloppy at the rivets.  I pounded mine(rivets) with a 3lb sledge on an anvil and stiffened them up quite a bit.

Tom

[BB73Challenger]

I guess in the case of the Chally again too since I have not had the hood off or any changes like that, that this was something wearing out on me.

Also, when I press the corner down to close the hood, it will not "rest" in that position and want to pop up in that corner again, but with the hood being locked in lace up front with the hood pins does not lose any side to side placement.

[422STROKER]

When you raise it up check the pivot points for sloppiness at the rivets, could be the springs too, I might have a couple round here for a challenger if you decide it's just springs.

Tom

[BB73Challenger]

So then you can buy "just the springs" for the regular steel hoods?
And I may take you up on them.

[BB73Challenger]

Oh and CP, on the Cuda hood I did try bringing the "high" side of the hood springs down to compensate, but was still having a problem.

[422STROKER]

You may need to roll the hinge up and leave the back down or vice versa to get it down.  I have the old springs from my hinges, but they held up the steel hood fine, let me know.

Tom

[Chryco Psycho]

this will take 2 people , loosen the 3 screws that hold the hinge on the inner fender now have someone lift the front of the hood past where ti wants to be , make sure the rear bolts are bottomed & the front bolt is about 1/2 the width of the washer higher than before , this will pull down the rear of the hood , keep doing this until the hood pulls itself flush with the fender ... I bet your hinges are fine 

[BB73Challenger]

Thanks guys!

We will get on it 

[moparstyle]

An old one but doing research on this blog surely pays back. Been scratching my head for some time trying to figure out how to adjust the rear part of my hood.

This was it, thanks Chryco Psycho!

this will take 2 people , loosen the 3 screws that hold the hinge on the inner fender now have someone lift the front of the hood past where ti wants to be , make sure the rear bolts are bottomed & the front bolt is about 1/2 the width of the washer higher than before , this will pull down the rear of the hood , keep doing this until the hood pulls itself flush with the fender ... I bet your hinges are fine 

[Chryco Psycho]

 

[YYZ]

A good guide to E-body hood hinge adjustment is here:

http://restorick.com/tech/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10

Rick also rebuilds the hood hinges if required and it is less expensive than buying new ones.

As you appear to have a '73, it's less likely that the hood hinges are wasted.  Earlier versions had interlocking teeth in the hinge mechanism:  those teeth can be worn so much that they all but disappear and need to be re-created.  Even on low mile cars