1957 replacement hood hinges

[Randy G.]

I need to replace the hood hinges as one side is damaged and wondered if there were any recommendations. I see Corvette Central sells repro units, but I want it to remain very original. Also, the hinges on my car are painted a non glossy flat black. Is this correct for a Top Flight car?

Also, the pop up springs on the front of the hood are butchered. It looks like someone cut coils out of them. On one side the spring was cut too much and isn't working at all while the other side is apparently too stiff. Is there a replacement spring available or a good source for replacement pop-ups with the proper spring?

Thanks!

[Roy B.]

Re: 1957 replacement hood hinges

I need to replace the hood hinges as one side is damaged and wondered if there were any recommendations. I see Corvette Central sells repro units, but I want it to remain very original. Also, the hinges on my car are painted a non glossy flat black. Is this correct for a Top Flight car?

Also, the pop up springs on the front of the hood are butchered. It looks like someone cut coils out of them. On one side the spring was cut too much and isn't working at all while the other side is apparently too stiff. Is there a replacement spring available or a good source for replacement pop-ups with the proper spring?

Thanks!

You can locate original hinges on e-bay but hard to find them not butchered at the holes ,same for the pop ups. All repro pop-ups I've seen use the wrong thickness and tension springs and rear male latches springs.It may take time but look for good used real original parts that also don't have the holes butchered up. Those's that do come from some one that don't know how to adjust the hood correct.
Good luck

[Ron B.]

Re: 1957 replacement hood hinges

I have an original car that was wacked in so many ways in El Salvador. The hood springs were cut because the FRP failed. Corvette Central sells springs that are mostly wrong. They are wound clockwise, but the cut spring that I have ( presumably originals) are counterclockwise winding. Do I need to find a spring manufacturer to reproduce this spring, or does anyone sell the correct spring?Ron Brennan

[John H.]

Re: 1957 replacement hood hinges

I have an original car that was wacked in so many ways in El Salvador. The hood springs were cut because the FRP failed. Corvette Central sells springs that are mostly wrong. They are wound clockwise, but the cut spring that I have ( presumably originals) are counterclockwise winding. Do I need to find a spring manufacturer to reproduce this spring, or does anyone sell the correct spring?Ron Brennan

Ron -

The pop-up springs on both of the 57's I've restored (18 years ago) are shown in the photos below.


RFwiring.JPGLFwiring.JPG

[Chris S.]

Re: 1957 replacement hood hinges

Here is what I have found....

The orig front hinges are stamped with a L and a R on the outside "arm"
I do not know if the repro hinges have that

The repro front pop ups have not had a problem with

BUT...........
The rear repro springs/lock that bolts to the back of the hood are way way too stiff
If you compare an orig spring and a repro spring - you will see the OE is thinner and there is less coils
When I used repro springs/lock at the rear - the hood was very very very hard to open and hard to close

Here is what I did
I bought OE springs/lock off Ebay and repro lock from C Central (461017)
I cut the repro apart and and installed the OE spring on the repro lock
That way I had a brand new lock with the correct spring
Hood opens and shuts perfect !