What is the procedure to remove and install new tension rods? Is the hood has to be removed?

Thanks,

I don't know of any other way to do it, since you need to remove the hinges from the body first. That would mean the hood has to come with it. Make sure to mark the location of the hinges (where they attach to both the body and the hood) to make alignment easier during re-assembly.

NO!!

While you can remove the hood from the hinges and hence the car, you can't remove the hood WITH the hinges. Those torsion bars twist against EACH OTHER.

To swap out the torsion bars, first remove the hood, or have someone help you hold it very steady. Then simply unlatch the torsion bar by it's vertical component that pushes against the hinge. That is, pull on the rod, and move it towards the center to get it away from the push bar and you'll have released it from being compressed.

Remember that it will be under torsion stress so get a good grip on it. Protect yourself and the general area in case you slip / or you lose grip on your tool. A good pair of vise grips will do, or if you're worried about marring the paint, wrap a rag or piece of rubber around it and then use the vise grips. Can't recall how much, but I don't expect it to be more than 30 lbs or so.

Then do the same on the other (if replacing both). Now, just carefully weave the rod out from behind the grill and hood and unhook it from the other hinge.

25¢

Enrique