Looking for some insight. On my 72 Skylark there appears to be a missing spring for the hood. After I pull the release handle to release the primary catch, the hood does not pop up an inch or so like I would expect. I have to hold the release handle out while lifting on the hood in order to then pull the handle and release the secondary catch. Maybe I am wrong, but I having to hold the hood up in order to pull the handle to release the secondary latch does not seem right. I am thinking there is a 'pop up' spring missing on either the latch itself or maybe the hood?
Thanks, that is what I was thinking. I have searched online (Year One, OPGI) and cannot find anything available. Seems odd....
The spring is attached to the hood when you open it...there is a pair of slots that it slides into. If there is no slot, you have a 70 hood...and there is no way to add the spring without surgery.
I wonder if I have a 70 hood. How can I tell? Clearly my car is a GS tribute so the hood was added later. I have seen there are differences in the ram air vents and it appears 1971 was unique, but 1970 and 1972 were the same? Are there other differences to help tell the difference? I am familiar with the 2 metal tabs to hold the pop up spring. I just completed a frame off resto on a 1977 Chevy K10. It has the pop up spring, but in this case the spring attaches to the radiator support vs the hood. Otherwise same concept.
If the hood has the tabs it's a 71/72 The grill on the driver side is different on the 72,..it has less open holes to accommodate the triangle shaped snorkel on the driver side in 72,..which was done to allow room for the smog pump
I have confirmed my hood is in fact a 72 (has the spring tabs and leading edge trim). But I cannot find anyone who remakes these springs. Does anyone know of a source? Are they the same, or close enough, to any other car to work?
It looks like the P/N you are after is 1237436. Here is a view from the Parts Manual. Hope that helps.
I couldn't locate a spring that claimed it would fit. However, I took a gamble on the this one. It fits perfectly and works properly now.
It doesn't hurt to leave the spring off. Some prefer to so that it doesn't leave a mark on the radiator cover.
