hood spring replacement
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: 86 Convertible 4+3 Coronado, CA
hood spring replacement
I'd like to replace the hood springs that surround the latches on my '86. I've removed the plates, mounted in a vise, and tried lots of torque...the latch pin in the center won't budge. Anyone have experience removing the pins to replace the springs?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,753
Likes: 9
From: Louisiana
Are you refering to the male latch pins with the spring that fit into the female hood latch. If so all I used to remove mine was a medium size channel lock pliers. You might want to spray some WD-40 on it to make it easier. Mine unscrewed...no problem.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,214
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From: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Originally Posted by REDC4CORVETTE
You have to break the nut lose before the pin and spring can be removed.
I use a 2 foot long cresent wrench.
I use a 2 foot long cresent wrench.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: 86 Convertible 4+3 Coronado, CA
Thanks for the ideas. There are two nuts...one four-sided on the backside (appears to be welded to the plate) and a six-sided nut at the bottom of the spring on the male pin. I assume we're talking about the six-sided nut?
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From: Fredonia WI
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Originally Posted by red86nado
I'd like to replace the hood springs that surround the latches on my '86
Gary
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: 86 Convertible 4+3 Coronado, CA
Gary, improving the hood pop-up is the reason I'm replacing the springs.
I got some improvement by loosening the three bolts holding the male pin mounting bracket (suggested elsewhere on the forum). Loosen them just enough to move the bracket (one at a time!) and close the hood. Open it again and tighten the bolts. This helps "self align" the pins.
Be careful...I had to use a hood opening tool to grab the latch when I left the bolts too loose. Don't loosen the bolts so much that the bracket slips due to gravity. And remember to scribe the original location around the bracket; I used one of my kids' colored pencils!
I got some improvement by loosening the three bolts holding the male pin mounting bracket (suggested elsewhere on the forum). Loosen them just enough to move the bracket (one at a time!) and close the hood. Open it again and tighten the bolts. This helps "self align" the pins.
Be careful...I had to use a hood opening tool to grab the latch when I left the bolts too loose. Don't loosen the bolts so much that the bracket slips due to gravity. And remember to scribe the original location around the bracket; I used one of my kids' colored pencils!
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,575
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From: Lowell Arkansas
Let us know how it turns out.
My hood stopped poping up when I replaced the hood release cable.
I have tried adjusting the cables with no luck.
I was unable to get the male hood release pin to unscrew as well though it seems like that shouldn't be the problem since it started when I replaced the hood cable.
My hood stopped poping up when I replaced the hood release cable.
I have tried adjusting the cables with no luck.
I was unable to get the male hood release pin to unscrew as well though it seems like that shouldn't be the problem since it started when I replaced the hood cable.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: 86 Convertible 4+3 Coronado, CA
I'll give you an update when I find a wrench big enough to get the pins off! In the meantime, the poor-man's-alignment helped with the release of both sides at once. That now allows me to now lift the hood from just one side (without having to pull the cable again and walk around and pop up the other side). Give it a shot...but have that hood-opening tool handy in case the pins slip into the wrong position!
I also replaced the two small gas struts at the front of the hood...that makes it much more manageable. I'm stubborn, so I'm not going to bother replacing my scissor-style hood prop with the later gas strut.
I also replaced the two small gas struts at the front of the hood...that makes it much more manageable. I'm stubborn, so I'm not going to bother replacing my scissor-style hood prop with the later gas strut.
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From: Fredonia WI
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Originally Posted by red86nado
Be careful...I had to use a hood opening tool to grab the latch when I left the bolts too loose. Don't loosen the bolts so much that the bracket slips due to gravity.
Originally Posted by red86nado
I got some improvement by loosening the three bolts holding the male pin mounting bracket (suggested elsewhere on the forum). Loosen them just enough to move the bracket (one at a time!) and close the hood. Open it again and tighten the bolts. This helps "self align" the pins.
Thanks,
Gary
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,489
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From: Fredonia WI
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2020 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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2018 C4 of Year Finalist
red86nado, how's it going? 
dumb question: how does the hood opening tool help? If the cables are good and the release latch works, shouldn't that pull the latch full open to release the pins?
Gary
dumb question: how does the hood opening tool help? If the cables are good and the release latch works, shouldn't that pull the latch full open to release the pins?
Gary
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: 86 Convertible 4+3 Coronado, CA
Hood opening tool not required if everything works...unless you goon up the alignment of the pin with the latch. See my notes above regarding an "easy" way to align the pins so they release more easily. However, "easy" means it is also "easy" to mess things up...that's when the release tool comes in handy!
