My coils on a normal hood spring measures 6" of coil and about 10 1/2" overall. Mine with those springs and the Shaker has a lot of resistance, so I worry about hood bending at the hinge. I don't know if you can tell by looking at a picture of the spring, probably have to be side by side to see real difference.
Shaker Hood Hinge Springs
- Thread starter Steve340
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MoparCarGuy
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I would like to see if someone with each type of hood in storage could weigh them and provide us the info. I doubt that there is much difference in weight between a Shaker hood and an R/T or Cuda Performance hood. The Shaker underhood bracing plus the trim ring likely weigh more than the small amount of sheet metal removed from the flat hood used to make a Shaker hood. The actual hood weights will tell the full story.
Challenger flat steel hood ___ lbs.
Challenger R/T steel hood ___ lbs.
Challenger Shaker hood ___ lbs.
Barracuda flat steel hood ___ lbs.
Cuda Performance J54 hood ___ lbs.
Cuda Shaker hood ___ lbs.
Challenger flat steel hood ___ lbs.
Challenger R/T steel hood ___ lbs.
Challenger Shaker hood ___ lbs.
Barracuda flat steel hood ___ lbs.
Cuda Performance J54 hood ___ lbs.
Cuda Shaker hood ___ lbs.
Well I got my springs today for the Shaker hood and installed. There are painted red and are 1/2 the diameter of the normal hood springs. It is now a pleasure to open and close the hood. A normal gust of wind won't close it, but open in a hurricane could. Well worth the cost and the addition to the hood.
Steve340
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It could be the pic? - but the spring wire diameter appears to be slightly smaller?
Sounds like the new springs have done the job for you.
Sounds like the new springs have done the job for you.
Steve340
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Based on the pics posted by tonysrt I have the standard springs (counted 19 coils)
The hood is not really hard to close but you do have to push it down at the back end by the hinges and I may be getting to fussy but I will order the TA springs when I do the next parts order.
The hood is not really hard to close but you do have to push it down at the back end by the hinges and I may be getting to fussy but I will order the TA springs when I do the next parts order.
In my post above the diameter of the red spring is 1 3/8" and black is 2 1/16, both are same overall length but the length of the coils on the red is 7" vs 5 1/8 coil length of the black spring. Picture shows red almost 1/2 diameter of black and it looks pretty evident. No photo shop here.
Steve340
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I meant the actual diameter of the wire looks slightly smaller - not the coil diameter.
Thanks for posting the dimensions.
Thanks for posting the dimensions.
pschlosser
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I do not know where the image in post #3 came from, but it seems a standard reinterpretation of the manual. The 1970-71 Parts manual is a bit vague on this, in my opinion - perhaps even in error, by some accounts.
In my observational experience, the Shaker Hood hinge spring on Barracudas/Cudas has always been the heavier spring, not the special lighter AAR Fiberglass Hood spring.
My interpretation of the parts book is the the lighter spring (PN 3586214/3586215) is used when it is BOTH fresh air and fiberglass apply. Which is the case on the AAR Cuda and Challenger T/A.
But on the Barracuda/Cuda with Shaker Hood (nee Fresh Air) the heavier spring (PN 3586092) is applicable. I cannot speak from experience on Challengers, but my instincts are it is the same.
The three hoods, Plain Jane, Rally and Shaker are all steel and require the heavier spring.
Only the Fiberglass AAR/TA hoods use the lighter spring.
In my observational experience, the Shaker Hood hinge spring on Barracudas/Cudas has always been the heavier spring, not the special lighter AAR Fiberglass Hood spring.
My interpretation of the parts book is the the lighter spring (PN 3586214/3586215) is used when it is BOTH fresh air and fiberglass apply. Which is the case on the AAR Cuda and Challenger T/A.
But on the Barracuda/Cuda with Shaker Hood (nee Fresh Air) the heavier spring (PN 3586092) is applicable. I cannot speak from experience on Challengers, but my instincts are it is the same.
The three hoods, Plain Jane, Rally and Shaker are all steel and require the heavier spring.
Only the Fiberglass AAR/TA hoods use the lighter spring.
Challenger RTA
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To satisfy your curiosity pschlosser
Not to say it is right or wrong.
Not to say it is right or wrong.
70 71 COLLISION GUIDE
71 COLLISION GUIDE PARTS Some years parts are different.
www.forebodiesonly.com
As someone that went from the standard hood springs to the fiberglass springs it made a tremendous difference. I now no longer see stress at the hinge point when I close the hood. I was afraid of the hood bending at the hinge. I'm just giving you my point of view from my experience with the shaker hood springs. I have an AMD hood and possibly they aren't as sturdy as the OEM shaker hoods. That could be the difference.
After the lighter springs were installed, fiberglass hood spring, the hood doesn't open as high as with the heavier spring. But it relieves the amount of pressure used to close the hood with the standard springs. And with the heavy spring always looked like the hood would bend at the hinge point so it seems the lighter springs are a happy medium.
Challenger RTA
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The Cuda had 2 different springs that I'm aware of, the one for the flat hood and one for the fiberglass hood. The flat hood springs make it hard to close the shaker hood and it looks like the hood will bend at the hinge. The other spring is what I stated above.
6PKRTSE
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If it matters and to mix it up even more. I have a fiberglass shaker hood. I used Harwood 210 springs on mine and they are perfect as another option.
Whoever designed the hood opening on the E bodies should be shot. The hood hook is so low I always hit my head on it, and that was with the heavier spring. Now with the fiberglass hood spring it's even worse. The A body, Duster hood almost opens 90*. So why didn't the A body designer design the hood opening on the E body?
moparlee
Well-Known Member
No kidding! That's why I have a tennis ball with a slot cut in it to fit over the hook whenever doing something under the hood.
With the Harwood 210 springs do they pull the hood all the way up? The fiberglass springs don't, I have to push it up manually, but at least the hood doesn't look like it is going to bend at the hinge. I'll never tell they are a Chevy part.
Mr Cuda
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3 springs actually. Fiberglass, 1970, and 71 up. I have not checked my collection to see if the shaker spring is the 70 type, which is a hair softer than the shorter, bigger diameter 71 type.
I wonder if the shaker hood bowing is with an aftermarket hood?
My factory hoods have no deflection issues with the steel hood spring.
I wonder if the shaker hood bowing is with an aftermarket hood?
My factory hoods have no deflection issues with the steel hood spring.
My shaker hood is an AMD reproduction. The 2 springs I've tried don't work, flat hood and fiberglass springs. I'd be willing to try the Harwood spring if it brings the hood fully open and doesn't look like the hood is going to bend.
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