[MBQUESTION]

I HAVE A CUSTOMER'S '84 300SD IN THE SHOP FOR A HOOD REPLACEMENT. WE HAD TO GO FROM ALUM HOOD TO A STEEL HOOD BECAUSE THE ALUM HOOD WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND AFTER GOING 6 ROUNDS WITH USED HOODS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ALUM WERE ACTUALLY STEEL, WE WENT WITH THE STEEL HOOD. WE SET THE SPRINGS UP TO THE HIGHEST TENSION BUT THEY WILL NOT HOLD THE HOOD ALL THE WAY UP, IT WILL FALL DOWN HALF WAY. WE ORDERED NEW SPRINGS HOPING THAT WOULD SOLVE IT BUT THEY WERE ACTUALLY WORSE. I CALLED MB PARTS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SPRINGS WE GOT ARE THE ONLY ONES AVAILABLE. HAS ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEAS AS TO WHY THE SPRINGS WON'T HOLD THE HOOD UP ALL THE WAY. I UNDERSTAND MOST 300'S CAME WITH STEEL HOODS, SO WHY WOULD WE BE HAVING SUCH A PROBLEM WITH THE SPRINGS? ANY HELP WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATED. I AM AT A LOSS AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO TELL MY CUSTOMER. THANK YOU

 

[markusfmeyer]

I would assume that the springs for steel hoods are totally different than the springs for aluminum hoods, not just adjusting existing springs. I know for a fact that the trunk springs are different, as Axel and I just took out the trunk springs on my SEL wreck for him to try on his SEC, because even though he has the aluminum trunklid, with the spoiler, it is heavier and keeps falling down. So the springs for the steel trunk (aka SEL) are more heavy duty and should help keep the trunk up.

So in your case, get the springs that go with the steel hood, don't just try to adjust the springs for the aluminum hood.