I understand the T/A hood is heavier.

There's a small diameter spring with more coils, and a larger diameter spring with less coils.

Which ones go on which car?? Originals only please, as I've heard the reproductions are mixed up.

How many coils does each spring have?

Tav

Must be a difference as each has a different part number.....AAR is 3586215, TA is 3586214.
I know for a fact the TA spring has 36 coils, dont have an AAR spring to compare.
Perhaps an AAR owner will chime in.

You have an original T/A? Could you measure the outside diameter of the coils, just for comparison? I've got a set of lightweight springs around here somewhere, but not sure what they're off of.

Tav

Unless you want them for "Showing" I'd leave those puppies off!! Make a prop rod or two and save your hood. IMHO

Looks like 1 1/4 inch outside diameter on the TA springs when measuring across center, circumference about 4.5 inches and length coil to coil not counting hook is 6.5 inches.

I bought some reproduction springs, got to look at my part number I got.. anyone have a pic of the underside of an original, my hood looks like it was made with fiberglass matting. not very neat in appearence. I seen some repros and they look real nice on the inderside.

A few years back I ordered a set of reproduction AAR hood springs from year one. Part # A0112B
I painted them to match the car, but because of hood warpage issues, they are rarely ON the car. Mostly they just lay around here on a shelf. These reproduction AAR springs measure 36 coils long, 1 3/8 outside diameter, and 6 3/4 length not including hooks.

That's remarkably similar to original T/A hood springs.

I started to look into this once before when I first bought these springs, but I've lost my notes from back then. From what I could tell, it looked like the repro spring manufacturer had mixed up the T/A vs. the AAR and was selling them to various distributers mislabeled.

Now I'm working on a T/A, and am considering ordering a set of repro T/A springs just to see what I get.

Will someone with original AAR springs please take outside diameter and length without hooks measurements and post them here so that we can compare.

Thanks
Tav

My originals are 1 5/16 in diameter and 5 3/8 long from coil to coil.

I have a set of original AAR hood springs. They measure 5 1/2" long, 33 coils, 1 5/16 OD, the spring thickness measured with a micrometer is .166 . I have a set of NOS TA hood springs, purchased from Chrysler in the 70's, no dealer sticker but I know who bought them. They measure 6 1/2" long, 36 coils, 1 5/16 OD, the spring thickness is .180 . The spring thickness is more on the TA springs I have, not sure if the over the counter springs were the same as the production line springs, they are gold cad plated. The hooks are also different between the two springs! These springs are unique to just the AAR and the TA.

Thank you all very much for your information!!

I've checked the spring thickness of my reproduction AAR springs, and it's .19 (thats with paint). Again, it more closely resembles an original TA spring.

Anyone know who makes the reproduction springs? I had that info before, but like I said, I've lost my notes from back then.

I'm going to look into this further. I'll post updates here.

Tav

70 E body hood hinges are the same regardless of whether they came on a challenger or barracuda.

What would be the result of putting the springs on the wrong car? When I ran my reproduction springs (resembling T/A springs) on my AAR, I didn't notice any adverse effects other than hood warpage. I suppose the warpage would be more severe since these springs are for a heavier hood. Would using AAR springs on a T/A hood then result in less warpage? It would still warp right?

Tav

I guess while I'm on the topic of springs, I'll post the data for steel hood springs also.

barracuda: 24 coils, .215 spring thickness (with paint), 1 3/4 outside diameter, 5 1/8 long (without hooks)

challenger: 22 coils, .240 spring thickness (with paint), 1 15/16 outside diameter, 5 1/4 long (without hooks)

Tav

Alright, I just received a set of "AAR" hood springs from year one. Here's a pic of them. They appear to actually be TA hood springs in every way.

I guess this problem hasn't been fixed since I discovered it in 2002!

Tav

Here's the pic of AAR springs from the year one website. Is THIS what AAR springs are actually supposed to look like?

Tav

OK, thanks. Would someone post a pic of a real AAR spring. I have measurements, but a pic would be nice.

Still, the spring they sent me is like a TA spring, not an AAR spring. I'm going to be calling them about this and see if I can get it all sorted out. They've been misleading their customers for at least six years with this mix up, and it needs to be fixed.

Tav

here it is
both springs

Well, after further review of the pics. mine looks just like the ones in the year one pic, not the one above. Mine are original on my car I bought in 76.

Thanks for the correction fastmark, and especially for the pic of both springs together tomr!

Does anyone remember who the manufacturer of the reproduction springs is? Someone on the E body Web board told me about 6 years ago, but I'm not sure where my old notes went.

Tav