I need to strip the paint off of a set of top coated hood hinges. I have a blast cabinet, but progress is fairly show and getting in and out of the springs is not entertaining.

I have thought about a tub with aircraft stripper and perhaps paint thinner/acetone/something to dilute it with so I can partially submerge the part.


What methods have you used and what do you recommend?

For springs, I stretched them open enough so all the surfaces could be reached, then used a liquid paint stripper on them... (can't remember the brand off hand?)

Here is a pic of how I did mine, use a floor jack , and just jack it up to stretch them out enough.

(This was for my Torana, but you get the jist of it at least )

Hot tank.

I gooped mine up well in aircraft stripper then wrapped in plastic to keep the vapors in. After an hour or two pressure wash. I remember I had to do mine twice to get 3 paint jobs off.

After stripping, clean with emory cloth, rust stop primer, regular primer and paint. The new paint has held up well.

I've got a piece of flat stock with notches on each end and a slight twist. I cut it long enough to stretch the spring out so all the coils are separated. I use my bench vise to install it. I blast, prime and paint.

Don't overthink this. Put the spring back into the hood hinge and open the hinge. The hinge will stay open. This stretches the spring. The hinge and springs can be blasted and painted in this manner.