TR4/4A Tr4 bonnet latch bracket [highly technical] help!

[Willie_P]

Some years ago, I removed the square bracket that affixes to the firewall of my 62 TR4 to paint it and was somehow successful in removing the small coil spring that winds around the pivot shaft of the actuating lever which releases the hood pin (which is connected to the hood itself) in order to open the bonnet.

many years later I am reassembling the car (after a full resto) and have no clue how to get this tiny little spring back on. Does that actuating arm separate from the bracket housing somehow, and thus the pivot shaft is removable (so that I can get the spring back on)? do I have to find a way to pry the spring back over the pivot shaft?

to clarify, I am not writing regarding the hood pin/spring that is attached to the underside of the bonnet.

thanks for the help. -wp

 

[Tr3aguy]

Pictures may help!

 

[Geo Hahn]

In case this will help, here is a shot of where you want to end up:

Note -- that photo was taken using a mirror so things are reversed.

Ideally the relaxed spring would slip over that post and you could simply stretch the hook over the latch once it is in place... but probably not that easy.

Maybe you can 'thread' (or 'screw') the spring on by starting it over the post and winding it down into position.

 

[Vila]

A complete restoration can be overwhelming, so I would recommend the following for future restorations.

I hate to say this but this is one of those examples of taking to many pieces of a car completely apart early in a restoration with on intention to restore them within a few days.

To many small parts sitting around for years to remember how to get back together or a chance of loosing them.

If you do another restoration I would recommend one of two ways to totally restore a car.

1. Take larger assemblies off and put it in the box as is. Then when it is time to restore the part, completely take it apart and you should be able to get it back together within a day or two and don't need to remember how to assemble thing years later. Example: Take the hood latch off and put it in a box complete. Then when it is time to restore the part; take it apart, refinish it, and put it back together within day or two.

2. When I did my restoration I would take items off the car, restore them and put them back together immediately, before taking another part off. Then I stored the refinished parts away until it was time to put them back on the car. By the time I got the car completely apart almost everything was restored and sub assemblies were put back together. When the body and frame were finished the car went back together very quickly, since all the parts that had to go back on were already restored.

At my age I have a hard time remember how to put things back together the next day. I would also recommend have a logic order to each sub-assemble. As you take the an item apart lay the parts out in a line in the order they came apart and as you refinish the pieces put them back in that order. Then when you do the reassembly, just go down the line and assemble the part in the reverse order of how you took it apart. I also suggest lots of pictures for complicated parts.

Vila

 

[charleyf]

I have found that my pictures do not always show the detail that I need upon reassembly. So I now use a notebook ( the actual paper type) and make diagrams with the detail that I need for proper reassembly. But as is often the case, one does not notice a subtle detail until you go to put it back together. So then it is time for BCF.
Charley

 

[Rut]

Yep, a digital camera is a life saver for reassembly as well as a great way to document what has been done. When someone tells me they 'restored' an lbc I'm considering I ask for the photo album documenting the process...if they don't have it they didn't do it!
Rut

 

[Willie_P]

as an update, we used the method of prying open the spring and slowly (very dangerous with a flathead, mind you) winding onto the shaft. it did indeed work! thanks for all the advice.