'68 charger hood hinges

[cavemanno1]

Hi guys!

Does anyone know where i could get the springs to rebuild the hood hinges?

Thanks,

Peter

[tan top]

imo , its very rarely that you would need to replace the springs un less one has broken   some how ,  or the hinges have come off a car that's been in a fire , or your fitting a fiberglass hood , need lighter spring !    its the rivits that hold the hinge together that wear , & cause hood alignment problems ( too high at the rear ) also main thing that happens , the rivits wear soo bad , a rivet will sheer off & or pull through ,  & the hinge collapses with such a force , the hood will drop & badly damage !   smash , fender , cowl , &  hood   !!  & prolly chop arm/ fingers  off if in the way  ,  couple of months before I started the resto on mine , that's exactly what happened , luckily , fluke  may be  , I caught is just in time , with out damaging anything ,   had to do a temporary repair , took hinge off , forced it back into alignment  , still with spring attached , knocked the rivet  back through as much as I could ,  then  welded a suitable washer on the end of the  rivet  , to stop it pulling through .

if your hinges are worn  , would get them rebuilt by these guys ,

            http://www.smsmopar.com/Hood-Hinges.html

thought about re riveting them my self , but decided to save time , agro finding correct rivits ,  plus SMS do awesome work & are good guys to deal with  .

  like I say having one come apart , is scary , & can do a lot of damage to your charger & what ever body parts get in the way  

picture below , are the backs of the rivits ,   rivits A & B wear the most , they have more side ways stress
 

[green69rt]

I just had mine rebuilt by RestoRick.  Seems expensive but I agree with Tan Top.  I didn't have the tools to do it.  Rick turned them around in less than a week.   I cleaned up the springs while he was replacing all the pins.  He does not offer any type of coating so I'll have to paint them which is ok by me.  SMS sounds like they provide a similar service.  Pic of my rebuilt hinges attached.


http://www.restorick.com/products.asp?cat=2

[green69rt]

Forgot to mention, all springs are not created equal.  That long Charger hood is really heavy so needs a stiffer spring to hold it open.  I don't know the specs on the different springs but I bet someone on here can help.

[cavemanno1]

Thanks guys!
I thought it's the springs that weakens after all these years!

[green69rt]

Thanks guys!
I thought it's the springs that weakens after all these years!

Mine are original and they work fine, just needed the pins replaced to remove the slop.