hood prop rod, won't stay on hook

I took my prop rod off to paint the engine bay. I've tried every permutation of the spring inside, outside, washers all around and I can't seem to get the thing to "spring" back into place, it just falls of the hook. Can anyone tell me how theirs is set up correctly?

 

bend the prop rod so that u have to push it into place

 

but does the spring go inside or outside?

 

The spring in on the front of the rad cradle.

 

My 74 the spring goes on the inside of the core support

 

http://www.1bad6t.com/Maverick/diagrams/untitled107.gif

 

I have still had zero luck getting this thing to stay on. I must be missing something. It came off the car, was set aside, not bent or stepped on, and now it won't spring into place...

 

It should be snug against the hood latch area when hooked on the "hook". The hood latch area provides the tension.

 

HAHA! Thanks Craig. I don't have the latch or support installed, so there's my problem!
Man, after all the years I've been working on my Mav's, this one had me stumped!

 

if you had posted a pic., we could have had this straightened out for you by post #2...

......

 

I haven't used a prop rod in years..... I love my hood struts