1957 Side Vent Control arm spring install | Ford Thunderbird club group 1955-2005 T-Bird models

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1957 Side Vent Control arm spring install

  • Thread starter Thread starter TbirdFan76
  • Start date Start date
TbirdFan76

TbirdFan76

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Thunderbird Year
1957
I'm having trouble reconnecting the spring to the cowl vent control arm. I've tried stretching it with a screwdriver using leverage against the control arm assembly. I can get it up by the upper hole but have not figured out how to turn it get the end of the spring into the hole.

I've also tried using pliers but can't stretch the spring with it.


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TbirdFan76 said:
I'm having trouble reconnecting the spring to the cowl vent control arm. I've tried stretching it with a screwdriver using leverage against the control arm assembly. I can get it up by the upper hole but have not figured out how to turn it get the end of the spring into the hole.

I've also tried using pliers but can't stretch the spring with it.


View attachment 33593
Click to expand...
It looks like you need to rotate it 180 degrees. The way it's positioned in your photo the non-hook side of the hook (in your red circle) is going to hit the metal of the arm when you try to put the hook side of the hook thru the hole up top.
 
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Tom Alpers said:
It looks like you need to rotate it 180 degrees. The way it's positioned in your photo the non-hook side of the hook (in your red circle) is going to hit the metal of the arm when you try to put the hook side of the hook thru the hole up top.
Click to expand...
So are you saying the end of spring in the circle should should be connected to bottom hole OR to disconnect the spring from the bottom hole and rotate it 180 degrees and reconnect the same end from the opposite side of the hole?
 
it is quite a challenge indeed . it took me a full hour and contortions to do it and i wish i had a 3rd hand at times. i used a small channel-lock wrench to stretch, grabbing base of hook at spring, and then a flat-head screwdriver at hook apex to manipulate to hook into place.
 
TbirdFan76 said:
So are you saying the end of spring in the circle should should be connected to bottom hole OR to disconnect the spring from the bottom hole and rotate it 180 degrees and reconnect the same end from the opposite side of the hole?
Click to expand...
Yes, disconnect at the bottom and rotate 180 and put the bottom back in, then the top will go into the top from the proper side and not hit the metal arm when it moves.
 
I reached out to CASCO Restorations asking for any suggestions to connect the spring. Shawn suggested a small vice grip might work.

Went to a home improvement chain store and picked up a 6 inch needle nose vice grip. It worked great and I had the spring connected in less than a minute.

Also @Tom Alpers the suggestion to rotate the spring was spot on.

Problem resolved!
 
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