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I need the little spring that tensions the safety lock on the hood latch of my '48 sedan. Does anyone know where I can get one or will I have to make or have one made?

I would suggest you keep an eye on ebay for a replacement and also consider making your own spring. MY 41 is especially difficult to MAKE the hood open with a broken release cable or other latch impairment. You just cannot reach any part of the hood latch mechanism through the grill and must remove a front tire, an inner fender, and reach blindly up to the hood lock plate with a long screwdriver to pry at the spring lock lever. With a lot of patience and luck the lock lever can be pried open releasing the hood.

I made my own 1941 safety latch spring release when my spring broke, another common occurrence from rust and years of usage. I used a spring I got at Ace's Hardware, some washers, a nut and bolt, and a cotter pin. See attached 1st five pictures.

Has anyone tried this truck latch spring on ebay? Truck spring

Here is how I modified my hood release cable so in an emergency I can open my hood. It consists of a wire running down from where the hood release cable attaches to the hood lock plate, a block of wood on the end of the cable, and everything tucked behind the baffle at the bottom of the radiator. More pictures attached.

Good luck, Mike

Thanks, Mike. I took your advice and made my own spring. I took a spring from the hood latch on a junk '46 Ford. It is entirely different from a Chevy spring but it works. So far it holds the hood down and the hood doesn't pop up like it used to do. Maybe I'll visit my neighborhood ACE and see what they've got and see if they have a spring that is stronger than the Ford spring.

My hood release cable works just fine, thank goodness. Never had any problem with it.

Regards,
Mickey

Mike
That is a great idea for an extra release cable.
Do you have a more detailed picture of the point where the extra wire attaches on the plate?
Thank you in advance!!

Here are some more pictures which I hope better explain the hook up for the hood release and emergency release. I installed the extra cable as a backup.

Make sure you read the captions under each picture for clarification.

Thanks, Mike

Thank you Mike
Now is 100% clear how you made it I will try it too !!