Heavy hood, how can I make it easier to open?

Before changing springs for stronger tension, or shorter springs. You should look at the brackets, and locations on both ends. I’m not familiar with 359’s. Doesn’t matter. Same principles apply. When hood is closed, springs are stretched out to their fullest length. Sometimes they get put back in the wrong spot, after a repair. If You can lengthen the distance between both ends of the spring, where it’s attached, so the spring stretches out more, when closed. It will open easier. If you can’t increase the distances, another way, though less desirable,( more of a quick fix ). Would be to bind a few coils (however many it takes) together on each spring, on one end, both ends, in the middle. Whatever seems to work best. Don’t want to stress the ends too much, and have them break. Could be dangerous, if it hits you. A few inches in the distance makes a big difference. Ideally, they should be stretched enough to open easily, and still fully close. Post a picture if possible, with hood open, and each end of spring where they’re attached. Might be a simple fix.

 

I didn’t know you already replaced everything with new. I thought of binding them with a couple SS hose clamps temporarily.Then with something stronger. Little U bolt things from Hardware or TSC I also thought they were old and weak though. Not sure how prone Pete’s springs are to breaking. My WS would break every few yrs. sometimes doing slight damage under the hood. Bad design. My Freightliners are 20 yrs old original. I was just trying to throw some ides out there. I considered putting a couple garage door springs inside of my WS springs, same length. Wish I knew more about the Pete’s design. I always thought the Pete’s aluminum hood was a lot lighter than other fiberglass hoods. If so, had to be something you can do.

 

I was thinking something like these. 2 on the ends of each spring.

 

There is an art to adjusting a Pete hood. Most put it too far back which is actually set by the rubber mounts on the J brackets. The side rollers you just want snug. It should also sit square when open and not hang off 1 cable so to speak.


You can modify springs add #### what ever till hell comes home. You may make it easier to open but you still haven’t corrected your major concern. Proper adjustment is the life of a Pete hood. Once they start shaking apart there is no reversal and it gets spendy.

 

I’ll get you a measurement

 

I have no idea. I’ve never had a 379. Just trying to throw some ideas out there.