48 mercury hood springs weak

[[email protected]]

I have a 48 Mercury convertible. I have put two different sets of hood springs on it but they are too weak to hold up the hood. There are no hood springs listed specifically for Mercury, so the ones available through vendors are listed for 46, 47 ,48 Ford. My guess is that the Mercury hood is heavier and it may require different springs.Has anyone had any luck finding springs that work?
Thanks,

Bill in Conn.

[corvette8n]

I put new springs on my 41 Ford, they only helped a little, I think the Merc hood is longer then the Ford, you could try those gas support rods. The previous owner of my car had two pieces of nicely painted and marked pieces of wood, cut to hold up hood and trunk.

[47Merc]

If someone had a green book they might be able to check and see if the Mercury springs are a different part No. to the Fords. They probably aren't.

The photos below are one way to fix the problem.

Another is to try Mr 40. He has hood lift kits for 40's so may make them for 46 - 48. I'm going to be looking for a set for my Mercury.

http://www.mr40s.com/mr.-40-s-stuff.html

[Graeme / New Zealand]

I don't think the springs are any different. I replaced mine with some from Drake. I also had the hinge rivets peened by a blacksmith to tighten them up.

GB

[42merc]

Ford & Mercury hood springs are the same part number.
I own a Merc & my spring fix was to cut the loop from one end of the spring & bend up the next loop using an oyx- accet torch. Do not quench.
Worked for me. Has been working for many years.

[Darrell S]

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I bought the springs and new hinges from Drake, Ford though. My hood now stays up and sits down in the rear much better.

[supereal]

If new springs don't help the hood to hold up and drop properly on the cowl when the hood is lowered, it is likely that the pivots are worn and/or loose.

[fordor41]

make sure the wave washers are on the bolts. they "help" hold the hood up if you can get the correct combination. At least that is the way my 41 ford was.

[Drbrown]

Prior owner put new hinges and springs on my '47. It hangs a bit too low to work on the engine. With more important items to work on, I use a cut-off broom.

[RKS.PA]

Second fordor41 re the "wave" washers. Got new springs....and hinges...from Bob Drake for my '47 Ford, but the new springs solved my problem by themselves and were much easier to install than the complete set-up would have been. Subsequent hood removal and replacement for engine rebuild went much smoother than expected!!!

Good luck.....Dick.

[[email protected]]

Thanks for all of the great input.

Bill in Sharon, Conn.

[40larry]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

I have a 48 Mercury convertible. I have put two different sets of hood springs on it but they are too weak to hold up the hood. There are no hood springs listed specifically for Mercury, so the ones available through vendors are listed for 46, 47 ,48 Ford. My guess is that the Mercury hood is heavier and it may require different springs.Has anyone had any luck finding springs that work?
Thanks,

Bill in Conn.

The springs for the Mercury are different. The factory painted these green to identify them. I used to see these occasionally at the swap meets. I did not know this until many years ago a Mercury expert called me looking for new springs that were painted green. He told me that is how you know the stronger spring. Good luck. there still must be some of these around.
40larry

[40larry]

Originally Posted by 40larry

The springs for the Mercury are different. The factory painted these green to identify them. I used to see these occasionally at the swap meets. I did not know this until many years ago a Mercury expert called me looking for new springs that were painted green. He told me that is how you know the stronger spring. Good luck. there still must be some of these around.
40larry

The mercury parts book shows a Mercury part number for springs used on 1939 to 1948 Mercury hoods. It is 99A-16789 and two are required. It also shows the Ford spring 91A-16789 as used on only the 1941 Mercury and one or two are required. This makes no sense to me but that is what the book says.......40larry