Body / Glass: Hood Springs

[BKE]

On Hawk hood ('61), there are 2 springs that apparently help to hold some of the weight of the hood while opening it. There is one on each back corner that attaches to the inside wheel well. Doesn't seem to help at all on mine. Maybe they are weak, or is there something else that is missing - possibly another set of springs somewhere. I can't imagine that this was engineered in this way that requires the operator to lift as much weight as I do to open the hood. I wasn't concerned much about it until now that I am considering selling the car, and want to get a few minor items addressed for a new owner.
Thanks, Brian

[jbwhttail]

There should be two on each side. One goes straight down and attaches under fender. Second one attaches to hood brace rod and goes in slot on inner fenders. Look at them inbody manual I believe.

[Jeffry Cassel]

illus 1620-62 pn308907P On a Hawk the spring attaches to the inner fender and the hinge--the inner most strut . The other spring is stouter and attaches to a hook on the outer strut and goes thru a hole in the inner fender to attach to a loop on the outer firewall near the vent. illus1620-14 pn 284505P . Don't use rusty springs--they break. Replace missing springs ASAP so as not to damage the hood. They are available from Studebaker International. Use the correct springs.

[BKE]

Thank you guys. Yes, it's the 1620-62 springs that are missing, shown in the chassis parts catalog. I have the ones that go straight down. I still can't visualize where the others attach, but will get a set ordered and figure it out when I have them. Maybe someone here has a pic of the attachment points?

[E. Davis]

I'm sure having all the springs installed and working will help some but you still will lift a lot of weight . From what I can see the springs are mostly there to keep the hood in alignment and don't do much to help with the "lift". At my age I'm almost at the limit of being able to lift the 40 pound grill and hood on my 61 Hawk. Probably time to look at selling but hate the thought.

[Mark Klinger]

Here's a shot, almost shows the attachment spot.

[BKE]

I think you're right that the springs may not help with the hood weight much. Still surprised that there wasn't some mechanism engineered to help with the weight. I can lift it ok, but I don't think my wife would be able to. Not that she wants or needs to.
Being that I also have a '61 Lark, I can say that I have found many maintenance procedures that are much easier for the Lark than for the Hawk.

[BKE]

Thanks for the pic, Mark. For some reason mine doesn't have a hole where yours is attached.

[bensherb]

Here's a pic of the top spring on my "K". It hooks into a tiny inverted louver. The spring chafes against the inner fender, so I slid them through a piece of "PEX" water tube, it fits perfect and comes in black, white, blue and red.

[52hawk]

The hinge springs do absolutely nothing to help lift the hood. they only help the alignment of the hood. Many people have used different methods to make the hood open 'backwards' on the finned Hawks.
It's also been mentioned that the GT Hawk hoods are a bit easier to lift,due to the lighter grille.