Took the hood springs off the hinges on the 1966 Satellite to bead blast them. Now how do I get the springs back on? I looked in the shop manual and they have instructions for hood installation, but nothing about installing the hood springs.

No one?
I can't get them to stretch enough by hand and do not see anywhere to try to leverage. Thought perhaps someone had a trick that I was missing.

You're goiing about it a little backwards, but we can still fix it...

You need a piece of 1/2" square tubing with some small v-notches ground into the ends. The goal is to get the tube to be inside the spring and holding it in a partially extended configuration. Measure the distance between the hooks when the hood is open, and add about 3/4". That will be the length of the tube. Find 2 rigid points about 3 feet or so apart, anchor the spring to one and a good rathcet strap the the other. hook the other end of the ratchet strap to the spring and start ratcheting until you stretch the spring enough to get the tube inside the spring and inline with the hooks so as you slowly unratchet (do not just release it!) it will come to rest on the notches in the tube in a partially extended position. Take that assembly and install it on the hinge and then "close" the hinge (easiest if it is installed on the car hood and all) and the spreading action of the hinge's spring mounts should take the spring and stretch it out, releasing the tube.

Real easy method-
hook the back of the spring on the hinge, then pull on the front of the spring from the front of the car using a loop formed using a 1" belt ratchet strap. Have a helper guide the spring to hook on the hinge.

I've always used an old fan belt. Hook the rear of the spring on the hinge and loop the belt on the front hook. While someone is holding the hood up, pull the belt and ease it in place.

Justin
"CornDog"

Put the end of the spring in a vise, and flex the spring slightly sideways.. This will create a gap between the winds of the spring. Jam washers in the spaces. Now flex the spring the other direction, and fill the gaps in the other side of the spring with more washers. You'll have to do as many of the winds as you can, but it will get long enough to reach. When you get it on, start closing the hood, the spring will expand, and the washers will start to fall out.