Hood latch spring = annoying

[WildHorse]

K, officially getting annoyed with have to drop the hood from like a foot high for it to close. Looked for aftermarket springs, to which, there are none AFAIK. So, to reduce the tension of that torsion spring, I have to reduce the wire diameter by grinding it down, correct ? Thanks.

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[Elp_jc]

A better fix would be to cut 1 loop, no? But yes, that spring is stupid stiff; don't understand why. I don't mind having to drop the hood a foot up, but my fear is eventually breaking something from the (mostly plastic) hood release mechanism. It takes a ton of force to open the hood, and I open it after every time I use the car (to hook up battery charger to the pigtail I installed nearby -no need to remove battery cover). I'm doing it now with sudden force, to minimize the stress on the system, but it's still too much IMO.

Please let us know if you end up doing something about it. I thought about it, but decided not to mess with it at the end. Good luck if you do .

 

[WildHorse]

A better fix would be to cut 1 loop, no?

No. Cause there's two attaching points at either end.
Here's a vid

 

[Elp_jc]

No. Cause there's two attaching points at either end.

Indeed; thank you for posting that video. But no mention how it was done. You'd have to be very precise, since if you chew more than that, spring could snap in 2 pieces. And was it removed to grind it all around? Or just the top of the spring in place? I probably not going to attempt that hack job (ha ha), but glad it worked. Wish one of the vendors simply made a weaker spring, like the clutch one (which I find perfectly fine, by the way).

 

[WildHorse]

Indeed. But no mention how it was done. You'd have to be very precise, since if you chew more than that, spring could snap in 2 pieces. And was it removed to grind it all around? Or just the top of it in place? I probably not going to attempt that hack job (ha ha),

The spring is easy to take off. I believe in the vid I said I ground the bottom of the spring. You don't want it to weak so it can still pop open the hood. there's 1.5mm of material left ( measured with a digital caliper). It's not going to break. I also don't do hack jobs. i grinded it, then sanded it. Looks factory fresh.

 

[Farkel]

... my fear is eventually breaking something from the (mostly plastic) hood release mechanism. It takes a ton of force to open the hood, and I open it after every time I use the car (to hook up battery charger to the pigtail I installed nearby -no need to remove battery cover). I'm doing it now with sudden force...

I had the same issue until I got the Steeda aluminum release lever. It has an ergonomic shape so it feels better when you grab it. With the new lever, the pull got smoother and required less effort. And yes, there's still a bunch of plastic in the mechanism.

 

[Rapid Red]

I had the same issue until I got the Steeda aluminum release lever. It has an ergonomic shape so it feels better when you grab it. With the new lever, the pull got smoother and required less effort. And yes, there's still a bunch of plastic in the mechanism.

I don't buy all that ergonomic crap. But agree with the feel being substantially better and more positive.

 

[Beezpony]

K, officially getting annoyed with have to drop the hood from like a foot high for it to close. Looked for aftermarket springs, to which, there are none AFAIK. So, to reduce the tension of that torsion spring, I have to reduce the wire diameter by grinding it down, correct ? Thanks.

I really wish the hood was able to stay open without the little rod like most little cars have. It is very heavy and should have some counterbalance to make it easier to open and stay open. Given its weight, very dangerous.

 

[Bikeman315]

I really wish the hood was able to stay open without the little rod like most little cars have. It is very heavy and should have some counterbalance to make it easier to open and stay open. Given its weight, very dangerous.

Wish granted!

https://www.americanmuscle.com/redline-plus-hood-struts-1516.html

 

[ORRadtech]

I had the same issue until I got the Steeda aluminum release lever. It has an ergonomic shape so it feels better when you grab it. With the new lever, the pull got smoother and required less effort. And yes, there's still a bunch of plastic in the mechanism.

I'd like to get the Steeda lever in red as a cosmetic up grade but it doesn't come with a center cap and I don't want to look at the nut. Seems kinda cheesy to me to leave that out for what they're asking.

I really wish the hood was able to stay open without the little rod like most little cars have. It is very heavy and should have some counterbalance to make it easier to open and stay open. Given its weight, very dangerous.

Prop rods are just a way for Ford to save a few $$. I don't think it's particularly dangerous but do agree the car should have come with struts. Struts are a great little mod and not too expensive. I have the Redline ones on mine and love them.

Nothing about the spring or drop to latch bothers me. But I do wish the hood would pop up just a bit higher when it's released. It's a bit hard for me to squeeze my old arthritic finges in there to release the safety catch.

 

[GeigerZ]

Wish granted!

https://www.americanmuscle.com/redline-plus-hood-struts-1516.html

This is my first mandatory mod done after purchasing Mustangs.

Totally agree that this should be factory.

 

[Elp_jc]

I'd like to get the Steeda lever in red as a cosmetic up grade but it doesn't come with a center cap and I don't want to look at the nut. Seems kinda cheesy to me to leave that out for what they're asking.

I feel the same way. It'd actually feel like a downgrade to me, just for that reason. Plus with all the other plastic parts still there, it makes no sense to replace it IMO. If something breaks, it's not going to be the lever IMO, but we'll see .

And when I saw the amount of deflection on the hood on struts, I removed them almost immediately. It's obvious Ford needed to beef up the hood to use struts, and that's probably why they didn't do that. Rather use the rod (with an insulator now), and avoid eventual damage, since I leave my hood open all the time car is in the garage (hooked up to a smart charger). In addition, you can still see the freaking rod (or where it was, if removed), so obviously not an OEM look. Ha ha. I actually like the rod now; it adds to the 'old school' theme, along with the manual parking brake, and stick shift, but to each his own .

 

[WildHorse]

Great little side effect with my little mod, next to no effort to pull the hood release.

 

[19gtaz]

I really wish the hood was able to stay open without the little rod like most little cars have. It is very heavy and should have some counterbalance to make it easier to open and stay open. Given its weight, very dangerous.

Years ago I stopped to help a girl with her car and she opened the hood and as I was looking at the battery she dropped the hood on my head. She felt bad but that was back when most cars did not have a prop rod. Ouch!

 

[Rapid Red]

I'd like to get the Steeda lever in red as a cosmetic up grade but it doesn't come with a center cap and I don't want to look at the nut. Seems kinda cheesy to me to leave that out for what they're asking.

Remember the black cap removed ? It fills the hole, nut all gone.


I like the sound of the hood drop, also keeps one's grimy little hands off the paint.

One thing about the prop rod............ it never wears out. Trying to grasp leaving the hood on a block of wood over night? What's the point?

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