79 door hinge spring
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,368
Likes: 9
From: Colorado
79 door hinge spring
I think I replaced them many years ago and now I get to do it again. I'll buy or make the needed tool since so far I haven't found what I used before. My problem is that the spring broke in such a way I can't get the upper end of the "U" to lift up out of the hole it sits in. the arc hits the underside of the body in that area. The spring broke in the area of the lower "U" . This is tough to describe in writing, but even if I get the broken part out, I am not too sure how I will get the new one to drop in with the lack of clearance issues. Videos conveniently leave out those steps on the car 
I really don't want to pull the doors off and I know I didn't do that before. I'm beginning to think I'm dreaming that I did it before. Any hints or suggestions?
I really don't want to pull the doors off and I know I didn't do that before. I'm beginning to think I'm dreaming that I did it before. Any hints or suggestions?
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 789
Likes: 129
From: Los Banos CA
When I replaced the spring on my 79 last year, I used these two videos (maybe you've already watched them):
My old spring was completely missing, so I can't help much on the removal. I went ahead and bought the tool at the same time I bought the spring (basically a large screwdriver with a bend about 2 inches from the tip).
Good luck!
My old spring was completely missing, so I can't help much on the removal. I went ahead and bought the tool at the same time I bought the spring (basically a large screwdriver with a bend about 2 inches from the tip).
Good luck!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,368
Likes: 9
From: Colorado
When I replaced the spring on my 79 last year, I used these two videos (maybe you've already watched them):
Corvette 1968-82 Door Hinge Spring Tool - YouTube
Willcox Corvette: How to Install a 1968-1982 Corvette Door Hinge S Spring - YouTube
My old spring was completely missing, so I can't help much on the removal. I went ahead and bought the tool at the same time I bought the spring (basically a large screwdriver with a bend about 2 inches from the tip).
Good luck!
Corvette 1968-82 Door Hinge Spring Tool - YouTube
Willcox Corvette: How to Install a 1968-1982 Corvette Door Hinge S Spring - YouTube
My old spring was completely missing, so I can't help much on the removal. I went ahead and bought the tool at the same time I bought the spring (basically a large screwdriver with a bend about 2 inches from the tip).
Good luck!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
It sounds like they might have put the spring in upside-down before the door was put on the car. It shouldn't be too hard to cut the top of that spring off with a dremel or hacksaw or reciprocating saw.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,368
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From: Colorado
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 789
Likes: 129
From: Los Banos CA
I agree with My76Ray - cut the old one out. I know for a fact that the spring goes in fine without removing anything. Maybe the spring that's currently installed isn't even the right spring?
I know it's hard to photograph that area, but it might help if you could post a picture? Maybe a pic of what it is hitting that's preventing it from coming out?
I know it's hard to photograph that area, but it might help if you could post a picture? Maybe a pic of what it is hitting that's preventing it from coming out?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,368
Likes: 9
From: Colorado
I agree with My76Ray - cut the old one out. I know for a fact that the spring goes in fine without removing anything. Maybe the spring that's currently installed isn't even the right spring?
I know it's hard to photograph that area, but it might help if you could post a picture? Maybe a pic of what it is hitting that's preventing it from coming out?
I know it's hard to photograph that area, but it might help if you could post a picture? Maybe a pic of what it is hitting that's preventing it from coming out?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,368
Likes: 9
From: Colorado
I'll try for a pic tomorrow, its the underneath of the car body in that area that overhangs where the spring is that jussssst traps it in its hole, if that makes sense. Similar to the issues of an upper door hinge pin having to be cut for clearance for removal is about the best I can describe. If I can stabilize it enough to cut it, I can get the old out, perhaps shortening the new would allow it to drop into place, otherwise I'm confuzzled. Maybe it's like a wire puzzle I just haven't hit the correct angle for yet.
If you know what you are looking at, the area above the hole for the spring is what was blocking it's removal until I found one angle that gave me ~2mm of room using extra long needle nose pliers to manipulate it. I guess that's a ton of clearance by vette standards
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
I don't think that piece of metal that was in your way is on my '74 or '76 and it doesn't look like it's there in the first video that was posted. I don't know if they added it by '79 or maybe Bubba did some work on your car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 789
Likes: 129
From: Los Banos CA
I was thinking the same thing, but my son had the vette last night, so I couldn't verify (mine's a 79 also)....
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 789
Likes: 129
From: Los Banos CA
Hope your install goes as smooth Tonak!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Colorado
Just checked mine - it's the same as Tonak's photo, and the spring IS almost touching the area right above the spring. I'm guessing that when I put it in, it didn't drop straight down, but instead was angled, and then straightened after it was inserted into the hole, and then slid into the upper notch in the hinge. Anyway, I remember spending at least an hour watching videos on how to insert the spring, but it only took about 5 minutes to actually install it....
Hope your install goes as smooth Tonak!
Hope your install goes as smooth Tonak!
positive vibes
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,368
Likes: 9
From: Colorado
I got the spring, slipped it in and activated with a pry bar. The "pocket" for the lower spring can't be seen but I felt I it was in place (after multiple tries). After a few cycles of successful opening and closing the spring popped out I am thinking the pocket for it is buggered up but I have no way to see it. In a nut shell this is starting to suck, but I'll keep at it.
I am thinking the pocket for it is buggered up but I have no way to see it. In a nut shell this is starting to suck, but I'll keep at it.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,368
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From: Colorado
I quit, there has to be something wrong with the D slot. I get things assembled, it seems to bind a bit, then "POP" it's all loose, I've invented more than one new word dealing with this pos
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 789
Likes: 129
From: Los Banos CA
Do you have a small mirror that you can stick in there to look around? I've got one that's about 1" in diameter on a telescoping handle - it might show you what's buggered up, and help to check if the spring is indeed seated all the way?
When you get the spring seated, does the top of the spring almost touch the area above the spring (that was giving you trouble with the removal)? Mine is a couple of mm away from touching - if not, then you might not have it slid all the way up?
I'd probably be more help if mine hadn't gone in so easy.... Sorry yours isn't going as good.
When you get the spring seated, does the top of the spring almost touch the area above the spring (that was giving you trouble with the removal)? Mine is a couple of mm away from touching - if not, then you might not have it slid all the way up?
I'd probably be more help if mine hadn't gone in so easy.... Sorry yours isn't going as good.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,368
Likes: 9
From: Colorado
Do you have a small mirror that you can stick in there to look around? I've got one that's about 1" in diameter on a telescoping handle - it might show you what's buggered up, and help to check if the spring is indeed seated all the way?
When you get the spring seated, does the top of the spring almost touch the area above the spring (that was giving you trouble with the removal)? Mine is a couple of mm away from touching - if not, then you might not have it slid all the way up?
I'd probably be more help if mine hadn't gone in so easy.... Sorry yours isn't going as good.
When you get the spring seated, does the top of the spring almost touch the area above the spring (that was giving you trouble with the removal)? Mine is a couple of mm away from touching - if not, then you might not have it slid all the way up?
I'd probably be more help if mine hadn't gone in so easy.... Sorry yours isn't going as good.
Until it pops out again, we'll see
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Colorado
Probably beating a dead horse here but, how freely should the "rollers" that ride over the spring turn? If I get pliers on mine I can barely turn them. The reason I ask is when the door is fully open, the spring seems to be caught behind the last roller and this seems to be what pops it out, with a BANG. I greased the area but the rollers are stiff. I'm tired of getting my leg chopped off by that frickin door.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
It might be a problem with the spring. If I remember correctly, I had a problem like that and the spring eventually broke. I had bought two to have a spare and when I put the second one in it worked.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Colorado
I thought about that. I did order two but I don't think there's any real difference between them. Thanks for the reply.