I have a '24 Roadster. While redoing some other parts, I thought I would replace the hood hook springs, as the front ones are easy to get to now. The ones I got from Langs .. are 2" long. That's longer than the inside dimension of the C-channel frame. I believe if they were installed, they wouldn't be able to collapse enough to give the 'hook' much travel.
The old ones are both different sizes .. one is 1 1/2", the other is 1 3/4". Which one is correct?
The my rear hood hooks don't have ANY springs on them, so THEY're no help! :-)
Thanks,
Dennis
Dennis, John Regan (Fun Projects) makes the correct ones. They are made per the factory drawings and are made from stainless steel to boot. Dave
MY humble opinion is they should be two different sizes. It was by trial and error that I discovered that the hood hooks themselves are actually two different sizes. The repro'ed ones I had were all the same length. The originals on the car were different.
On my touring, not sure on the roadster, but the spring and hooks don't go through the frame at the firewall like they do up front near the radiator.
The hole in the frame is just for clearance--There's no attachment to the frame. Both springs go through the tray and wood. Not sure why they would need to be different lengths.
Parts book doesn't give a length but list 4 springs as same part # 1909/16 changed 1917 on, hood clip x 4, 1 part #
Just for clarification, I meant to say both latches go through the tray and wood. The springs are on the back side of the wood.
Also, the latches don't need much travel. They just need to clear the hood lip. The angle in the recess on the back side of the wood will also cause the latch to pitch away from the hood when un-latched. And the latches will swivel.
Mine is a '24.. the horizontal piece that the hooks go through, sets on wood spacers on the frame. The front may very well have a big enough hole in the frame to allow the spring to go through and 'bottom' on the bottom side of the wood, but seem to work fine with the 1 1/2" springs. The rear hook, however, goes through a bump out on the rear of this horizontal piece (I should go look up the name of it!).., and the hook goes through it, then a hole in the apron, about 1/4" or more away. So, I would think either the hook is longer, or it uses a shorter spring yet, than he front one.
Why don't you just cut them to the length you need?
That's what I did with the front ones. :-) Instead of putting the 2 different ones on, I just cut 2 of the new ones to the 1 1/2". That seemed to work the best. I've not messed with the back ones yet.