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Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Jul 1 2006, 09:44 AM

I recently researched all the factory 914 tools for my webpage (see link in my signature below), which now indexes every 914-specific tool I have located to date.

Mark Heard (914Sixer) kindly lent me his OEM Tool P304 rear trunk hood spring lever tool to document. This tool is no longer available to buy new and it works Great! We've all seen the Rube Goldberg alternatives using modified crescent wrenches and socket wrenches, and those things scare me. The length of the lever arm is too short making the work very hard and there is a good chance the spring will slip off. This spring is dangerous and there is nothing like the real tool.

The lever is almost 15 inches long made of 3/8" steel plate, with two precision machined notches. So I had it duplicated at a local fabricator for my own use and will make these available to others. They didnt charge me any more (its mostly labor) to make them out of 1/2 inch material, so the tool I had made is 30% stronger becasue of the extra thickness.

If you want one, paypal me $70. which includes the tool and US shipping at bowlsby@sbcglobal.net

I will get these made up and shipped right away.

Here are some photos:


Attached thumbnail(s)


Attached image(s)

Posted by: SirAndy Jul 1 2006, 02:24 PM

i cut my hood springs a long time ago, otherwise, i'd be in the market for a tool ...
Andy

Posted by: BigDBass Jul 1 2006, 06:11 PM

I thought Z was the tool?

Posted by: jimtab Jul 1 2006, 07:47 PM

To all who have used my "tool" on their hood springs...does this look familiar????

Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Jul 26 2006, 03:26 PM

I need 5 minimum orders to order these, right now I have one person interested. Any interest? Last call.

Email me at bowlsby at sbcglobal dot net

Posted by: brer Jul 26 2006, 03:31 PM

why dont you offer it for rental?
in fact....


why dont we have a club tool rental service where specialty tools can be made available?

the MB site I use does.

Posted by: Aaron Cox Jul 26 2006, 03:46 PM

brer - i had that idea, and brought it past the admin folk, and it came to a concensus that it is too hard to keep track of the items...

Posted by: brer Jul 26 2006, 04:15 PM

that looks like a very useful tool... however I could only really see using it once...


maybe twice when I have to redo it cuz I didn't have the correct tools!

Posted by: jimtab Jul 26 2006, 10:53 PM

Brer, mine has been making the rounds, Olav has it now and when he is done you would be welcome to use it. And the wheel goes round.....

Posted by: boxstr Jul 26 2006, 11:06 PM

Or you can buy rear trunk shox for $40.00 and never have to use the TOOL, plus you will have money left over.
CCLINCAMPSHOX

Posted by: fiid Jul 26 2006, 11:15 PM

We do - pretty much. I have tranny tools (dog teeth removal and alignment jig) if anyone needs them.

Excellent work getting these made up Jeff! Sadly - I don't have those springs anymore.... the turbo got in the way of them....

Posted by: Stieve Jul 27 2006, 12:34 AM

I need one to rent, perhaps a $50 deposit, and a $10 rental charge?

Posted by: Howard Jul 27 2006, 12:40 AM

Doesn't that take all the fun out of changing springs? And Craig is right. No reason to put them back on. Use his Shox.

Posted by: Stieve Jul 27 2006, 12:45 AM

no offense the shox, suck. I have a hell of a time getting them in the correct location on the deck lid, I am only using one, and am tossing them once I get the factory ones back on. I bought a set of gas struts on ebay. So I have just had bad luck on the install on the lid, and the screw heads in the trunk lid gap between lid and rear fender looks crappy.

Posted by: grasshopper Jul 27 2006, 12:48 AM

Hey stieve, when you get rid of them let me know, I will take them.

Posted by: Stieve Jul 27 2006, 12:52 AM

the brackets kinda twist I guess because there cheaply made. I may just go back to the machine shop I worked at in the 80's and make one. I am sure I could make a better engineered strut set up. The brackets used are of inferior quality in my opinon. Not sure who I bought them from on eBay.

Posted by: Stieve Jul 27 2006, 12:55 AM

Why is the tool notched at both ends, and why is there a hole in it?

Posted by: brer Jul 27 2006, 01:20 AM

Do you still have to cut the trunk seal to make it clear?
That was probably the main reason I didn't get them.

Posted by: Stieve Jul 27 2006, 01:21 AM

nope

Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Jul 27 2006, 07:27 AM

The notch slips around the torsion spring. The lever is strategically bent for maximum travel, so each end does one side L or R, they are symmetrical, but one end will not do both sides. The hole is only to hang it on the wall...

Posted by: bmunday Jul 27 2006, 07:39 AM

I bought mine on my 74, no problems mounting, they worked great. I did however cut the seal Before I asked for help. I think it was Jim that put the brackets upside down, (could be wrong), but someone did. That way you didn't have to cut anything. I might hve just jumped the gun and notched it before removing my head from my ass....

ANyway they worked great, and plan to buy another set here shortly...

Posted by: Stieve Jul 27 2006, 09:03 AM

Thanks, just wanted to make sure. Ok So any thought on the tool rental?

Posted by: rdauenhauer Jul 27 2006, 02:55 PM

Jeff no Im in the crowd that would use it once maybeee twice.
Jim Im at the stage I need to install these on the LE so lemme
know Ill pay the shipping
Rental of these special tools is the way to go, What about the Krusty one?

Posted by: jimtab Jul 27 2006, 11:23 PM

As soon as Olav is done with it you are welcome to use it...only need to get it and get it back to me. No rental for non members of the non club....

Posted by: Stieve Jul 27 2006, 11:33 PM

So do I count on this list? Or do I need to fab my own?

Posted by: boxstr Jul 28 2006, 09:18 AM

CAMP 914 rear trunk shox DO NOT mount to the trunk lid. And they are not sold on ebay.
Craig C. Laughlin CAMP 914

Posted by: Leo Imperial Jul 28 2006, 09:39 AM

I have used the JIMMYTAB TOOL. Still a pain in the ass, but it works.

Jim - can you fly out here and do it again? It came off again. I'll make a BBQ

Posted by: jimtab Jul 28 2006, 06:43 PM

I'd love to...but alas I pissed away all my vacation time at WCC and beyond....have some Satriales pork for me....

Posted by: Dario Mar 9 2018, 03:27 PM

Jeff

Are you still making the tool?
I would like to buy one.
Thanks
Dario

Posted by: russmoffat Aug 24 2021, 06:11 PM

Sounds like maybe this tool never got enough orders? Does anyone have one they want to sell or rent?

Thanks,
Russ

Posted by: 914Sixer Aug 24 2021, 06:13 PM

6" drive bar and 10mm socket will do the same job

Posted by: maf914 Aug 24 2021, 06:25 PM

914rubber has the tool previously sold by McMark.

https://914rubber.com/rear-trunk-spring-pressure-relieving-tool

Posted by: windforfun Aug 24 2021, 06:30 PM

Posted by: Mikey914 Aug 26 2021, 10:27 AM

Agreed, enough folks wanted them McMark made them, we still have some of his.

Posted by: mepstein Aug 26 2021, 11:12 AM

I purchased one. It’s a great tool to have in the 914 toolbox.

Posted by: second wind Aug 26 2021, 11:34 AM

So Jeff's tool looks fantastic....but if the 914 Rubber tool does the job saving the money makes sense. Jeff's tool has two notches and the 914 Rubber tool appears to have only one. It obviously works but could someone please explain it too me? Thank you very much.
gg

Posted by: jrmdir Aug 26 2021, 01:45 PM

914Rubber tool is flat and can be flipped over so the slot points the right way on either side.

Factory bars are angled out toward the rear of the car so if you flip it over it will be pointing to the front of the car and not have leverage. Thus the opposite direction slot on the other end.

Ron