weak hood springs

[Pops]

what is the best aftermarket hood spring set for my 66 gmc? mine look new or restored but will not support the hood. also, are chevy and gmc hood springs identical (seems they would be)? hope someone can share a positive experience /vendor.
Thanks in advance.
Pops

[tdeming]

I have the same problem with my 1960 pickup. I got some replacement springs from LMC but they don't hold the hood up either. Has anyone found shorter springs or helper springs?

[Pops]

tdeming, it looks like this may take awhile. I wonder if there is a good repop for springs. I often wonder if all vendors get their parts parts from the same source. As such, LMC, Brothers, etc are all carry the same thing made by the same manufacturer.
Please keep me (and others) informed if you figure something out. Ill do same.

[GMCDAC]

Hi guys, I kinda stay out of these type conversations since I don't currently own a 60-66 GMC but about all I can recommend is checking out local junkyards, and open the hoods on junk ones. These pics are a about a year and a half old but it looks like some old springs may still be OK. These trucks are probably crushed by now and I probably couldn't have bought these parts affordably enough to re-sell anyway.

DAC

[Clarke]

Originally Posted by Pops

what is the best aftermarket hood spring set for my 66 gmc? mine look new or restored but will not support the hood. also, are chevy and gmc hood springs identical (seems they would be)? hope someone can share a positive experience /vendor.
Thanks in advance.
Pops

I bought a new set from Bowtie Bits in Wichita, KS and they work fine. That's where I bought most of my repro stuff. Jeff has a lot of stuff on his website. His prices are very reasonable too.

http://www.bowtiebits.com/

Good luck.

[AZKen]

Something like hood springs are probably all made by the same Chinese company. As such, they change over time. They don't understand types of steel makes a difference in the heat treat/tempering process and may just use what wire (or old ship steel) they get in from Indonesia or India. Therefore you may run into a batch from one vendor that is good and another vendor has bad; and back and forth. The vendor does not know ,or intentionally buy, bad springs. If you buy springs that are made for your truck and they don't hold the hood up, send them back. It can help a little to "tighten" the hinge joints with a hammer, but that's mostly for the wiggle factor. The weight is still the same on the springs. I suppose finding some at a wrecking yard that hold a hood up is a good idea if cheap. Do the old springs match the new one's? Wire diameter, length..?

[BarryGMC]

OK I don't want to sound dumb but why are you guys replacing hood springs? I have never replaced one yet in 30 years of owning 60-66 trucks.

[AZKen]

I forgot to mention, the required broom handle needs to be 37.82918 inches long. Duplicolor 1605 ford red.

[tdeming]

My stock springs don't hold the hood up any more, and the Chinese ones I got from LMC don't hold it up either. The manual talks about adjusting the hinges if the hood is to hard to close, and I tried to adjust them the other way but no help. I was thinking of trying to find a shop that can cut off a few turns but haven't any luck. I made a hood rod from some steel rod and connected to the radiator shroud for now.

[Pops]

Hi Barry. I did not change the springs - came that way. I did get a broom stick though.I have read more than once that weak spring are out there. As suggested, prob made out of country without correct strength. Still hoping I can get a recommendation. They might be better today. Mine are a few years old; maybe older.