On the 67 vert I am working on the 400 hood does not stay up all the way. The springs have 28 coils on them. I also have just one spring that has 26 coils on it. So which one am I supposed use or are my 28 coil hinge springs just worn out. Classic ind. shows just one spring for all models so I don't know what the 26 coil spring goes to. I would really appreciate some help one this. Eldon
I created a solution to keep the hood open on such repops. Get a anodized lunch pin, about 3/16 inch, with the rings on the end. They are sold in home depot and such and they actually come either silver of gold cad plated. Drill the holes on the front on the hinge and insert the lynch pin thru the holes so it goes thru both parts of the hinge when the hood is fully up. Remove them when you want to close the hood.
I have a fiberglass TA hood that has light duty springs so this beat a hood prop rod any day. Just don't destroy nice NOS springs with it, do it on the repops!
1969 Firebird 350 Coupe, Rust free Texas body, formerly brown, now a TA clone with quality spoiler, latching hood and TA wheel; 1969 GTO Convertible Expresso Brown/Parchment(currently painted red). Both numbers matching. My first love was a Cameo White 67 326 Coupe, bought back in 1983, at the age of 17, for $1,200. Been hooked since on PONTIAC! Working on a 67 400 ragtop for customization-Gulf Turquoise/Parchment/400/4 spd! My winter project!
These are not repop hinges, they are the orig. hinges that came with the 67 vert. I also have a set that came on a donor car, 67 400 coupe and they had springs that had 28 coils also and they don't hold the hood up either. Could someone tell me if their springs have 28 coils and are all FB springs the same. I really don't want to put pins in every time I open up the hood. Thanks Eldon
Well then I guess mine are just worn out. I wonder if FB and Camaro hinges are the same. It could be that over the years things have been changed out and these don't belong on here?? Thanks for looking Harry. I guess I will start with new springs and go from there.
I have original 28 springs and hinges and hood stays up fine. My other 68 FB had the same problem as you have now. I changed the springs and did not fix it. The vert I have now has newer stock hinges. The rivets on the hinges wear out and I think that might be where your problem is.
Engine Test Stand Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoxyUwptUcdqEb-o2ArqyiUaHW0G_C88 restoring my 1968 Firebird 400 HO convertible (Firedawg) 1965 Pontiac Catalina Safari Wagon 389 TriPower (Catwagon) 1999 JD AWS LX Lawn tractor 17hp (my daily driver) 2006 Sequoia 2017 Murano (wife's car) 202? Electric car 203? 68 Firebird /w electric engine 2007 Bayliner 175 runabout /w 3.0L Mercuiser__________________________________________________________
I had the same problem with my hood. Repro springs, hood still sagged, then I bought repro hinges, hood still sagged.
Solution : Order a pair of hood springs for a 1979-1981 Trans Am. They're about 1 inch shorter in overall length than the 67-69 springs, and the same wire diameter. After 10 years now, and constantly opening and closing my hood, my hood still stays up perfectly.
