1938, 1939 and 1940 Hood Hinge Spring

[joeceretti]

I'm not sure where to put this as it is a mixed question.

The hood springs on my 38 60S are there but weak and won't hold the hood up. I've searched around and found one seller that is selling what he says are the correct ones but he is charging $125.00 each. He says, "They are impossible to find." I'm not sure if that is entirely true but I haven't been able to find any anywhere else. The MPB says that the spring is common to these cars.

PN:1425018 fits 38-50,60,60S,65,75,90, 39-60S,75,90, 40-60S,75,90

Now, I am not sure if mine are correct or not but I assume they are. Mine are 8.5 inches end to end and a bit under 1 inch in diameter with 47 turns on the coil. Does anyone know if these dimensions are right? The other data I don't know, the spring rate and/or load rate. I am thinking, if the rates aren't known I can make a reasonable guess using mine and making an estimation of how much they may or may not have degraded over the years.

The MPB lists them as 45 cents each. That's quite an appreciation and one of the reasons why these cars are so prohibitively expensive to restore.

I am thinking of having a bunch of them made by a small spring shop near me. I am not sure of the cost yet but I am certain they will be nowhere near $125 each. How much interest is there around here? It seems that these are needed for quite a few models and so there should be a bunch of owners in need.

I have no local CLC chapter but I am sure the profit going to the CLC museum would be a good project.

[Sardaukar 88mm]

If they are similar/same for a 40 LaSalle I'd put some money down on a couple, maybe even two sets. To make them cost efficient, though, you'd need to make about 50, probably even 100 to bring the price down. I do a agree that even a small batch should be cheaper than 125.00 a piece.

Restoration Supply Company (www.RestorationStuff.com) has several all purpose springs, but then again that's for in pinch as they are not specific to any vehicle. I may need one for the parking brake; I started rolling out of my spot in an inclined parking lot a week ago. Good thing I keep chock blocks with me.

[joeceretti]

Restorationstuff has springs but as far as I can tell they are all light duty and none the right length. I found a few manufacturers that make something close but not quite close enough. I have no details on the size of the springs for the 40 LaSalle but the MPB says they are different.

Still searching.

[Classic]

http://www.jademfg.com/ custom makes springs.  Give them a call to see if they can help - (734) 942-1462.  Located in Romulus, MI.

[joeceretti]

Thank you for that, but I am in Canada and have a custom spring manufacturer closer to my house. I do appreciate the help. I am more concerned that there aren't more people interested in these springs and am wondering if I am misguiding myself on the need for them. The last thing I want to do is sit on five hundred hood springs hoping that someone will buy them and being forced to advertise for years to unload them. Maybe i am starting to realize why the particular individual is charging $125 for each one.

[las39]

I'm interested in a pair. But not for $125

[hudson29]

I too would be interested in a pair of springs depending on the cost. Some previous owner put a heavy undercoat all over the bottom of the hood and that may prevent it from ever staying open on its own even with fresh springs. Just the same, I would like to try new springs just on the off chance they might really be strong enough. Right now I have a piece of plastic pipe that I use to hold up the hood. Certainly not factory!

Vintage Paul

[lou-q]

I'm in for 2 for our 39 coupe 6127.
Lou Quirch

[Ross Morgan #22943]

My 1939 coupe's hood springs were weak as well. We took them to a spring specialist who shortened the springs by 4 coils, the 4th being turned into a hook. The spring company reckoned that each spring would be 10% stiffer. They also said that they didn't need re-tempering. Anyway, they're on the car and work fine!  Ross.

[las39]

My 1939 coupe's hood springs were weak as well. We took them to a spring specialist who shortened the springs by 4 coils, the 4th being turned into a hook. The spring company reckoned that each spring would be 10% stiffer. They also said that they didn't need re-tempering. Anyway, they're on the car and work fine!  Ross.

So the fourth was not heated when bended into a hook? That couldn't be an easy job !

[joeceretti]

I found a working spring set. I pulled two springs off of a 1986 Fleetwood, cleaned and painted them. They work fine and I have no clearance issues. Be careful if you buy repops of these. I have a new pair of the exact same dimensions and they don't have enough tension to hold the hood up. The OEM springs hold it up fine. I can even put the hood at a halfway position and they stay up.

Although not REALLY correct, at least these are from a Cadillac. I am heartened by that fact.

[Chris Bryant #19358]

Hi Joe,

I managed to find something close in Ottawa but it needs to becut in half. Cost was not great but I am willing to go in with you on a pair of new proper springs. In 1969, my dear Dad thought he was helping me out by oiling the hinges of my 57 Chev hood. He was an aero-engine and pilot chap from the aviation world so I could not blame him! The hood would never stay raised so again, I am willing to buy two new springs. Please PM me.

Cheers,

Chris

[joeceretti]

I'm not going to go any further with trying to have any made. These are the right length, they don't bind and they hold the hood up perfectly. They are even from a Cadillac. I consider them as authentic as needed. I can't see losing points in a judged competition considering that Cadillac used different sizes depending upon whatever happened in the factory that day.

These cost me $10 plus the time needed to strip them down and repaint. I'm all about doing it right AND not just dumping my retirement money away.

[Richard Stanley]

Did anyone ever have a quantity of these made?  I would be interested in two sets.
Thanks!
Richard Stanley

[David King (kz78hy)]

I know this old, but I have made hood springs that fit all 38, and some 39-40, the big cars.

Anyone searching for hood spring might stumble upon this in the future. 

https://keepemrunningautomotive.com/shop/ols/products/1465590-spring-hood-hinge-57-58-eldorado-brougham-only-new-reproduction-sold-as-pair

[NH LaSalle]

Before buying new springs, as a suggestion you might check the bracket.

I had problems with the spring assembly not holding the hood open on my `39 and thought the springs were the issue.  It turned out that they weren't.  There is bracket that bolts to the firewall.  The spring assembly was riveted to the arm of that bracket.  What the issue turned out to be was that the hole through which that rivet passed had become elongated or oval shaped over the years.  I drilled out the rivet, inserted a bushing and put reassembled it with a properly sized bolt.  Problem solved.