The dreaded fiberglass hood sprung spring rattle

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Mopar Vince

Mopar Vince

I'd rather push my Mopar than drive any Ford
Joined
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Location
Santa Cruz, ca
So like many, I decided I wanted a bolt down fiberglass hood on #projectvertfish, my 67 Barracuda convertible. In my case, the AAR hood from VFN. Love it or hate it; doesn't matter to me. It's my car and I dig it.
Anyways...
Also like many, I decided to just release the tension from my steel hood springs when I installed the fiberglass unit. (Full disclosure I have the lighter springs)
And as many found out in the same situation, the loose springs rattle...ALOT. Driving down a remotely bumpy road was torture as it sounded like a rattling shitbox.
So using some 1/2" hose I had laying around and some zip-ties, I "MacGyvered" a what I think is a good (if only temporary) solution. It puts just enough outward force to hold it taught, but allows free rotation for opening the hood.
Rubber hose and zip-ties for the win!
I'll change those springs someday, but today is not that day.
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So you simply took the spring off of the post?

Why not just remove it altogether? A little filing if yours is crimped or remove the speed nut (one way washer)

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"It all comes down to pulling the front fenders. I don't wanna do it."

Your photo has your splash shield removed you should be able to get in there. Plus IIRC the 67 has speed nuts.

But it is your car and I understand. Your solution will work fine.
 
I was going to ask about this...is there any way to extract the springs completely without pulling the fenders and/or splash shields. I don't want to pull mine.

Mine have been released from the post but they're still attached at the middle slotted post...hopefully that makes sense.

It looks like you should able to just slide the spring out but using a long flat head screwdriver as a prying tool has yielded no movement yet.

I like but don't love the zip tie/rubber tubing idea. :D
 
Some ( my 67 for instance) have a 1 way washer holding it on. Others are staked on, would need grinding to remove.
 
I know one thing. Whoever designed A body hood springs and hinges BLOWS. Plus, they SUCK. Look at a B sometime and you'll see why
 
Coming back around to this issue...now that another driving season (for us northerners) comes to a close, I am writing up my list of things that have to be done before next spring!

Speaking of spring (har har) I came to the conclusion last year that I am going to have to pull the fenders...plus I now have a pair of the lower tension springs for the fiberglass hood that are waiting to be installed.

Any tips on pulling the fenders? Any tricky aspects of this job? Is it easy to get them reinstalled with the same alignment?
 
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