you could try an elastic band instead of a spring, try a model shop they sell small thick elastic bands for securing model aircraft wings and they are fuel proof and last a long time.
I used one to close my diesel throttle arm on the diesel pump under the bonnet until I could change a freyed cable.
RichardW
I coated the underside of my estate with waxoil using a big sheet of plastic on the driveway held down by bricks to drive onto, I then sprayed the underside of the car with one of these cheapy electric spray guns from machine mart about £15
I heated the 5 litre can of waxoil on a camping stove
(Do not leave this unattended I tried to burn my shed down by spilling some,
it is highly inflamable always remove the lid of the can when heating it).
to thin the waxoil down poured it into the sray gun container and added a 1/3 of white sprit to the waxoil gave it a stir and it sprays onto the car beautifully when it is hot.
(you wont need any hair wax for weeks afterwards).
it has kept the rust at bay for six years so far, it is even worth taking out the spare wheel rack to do the boot floor properly.
the electric spray guns dont have a rubber seal on the canister so tipping them upside down makes them leak.
make sure that the spray gun comes with a bendy nozzel which can be bent up to 45 degrees whilst the gun is kept level on the plastic sheet, falling wax oil will lubricate the sheet so the gun can be slid over it. It took about 1 hour to spray it.
After about two days the whole of the bottom of the car goes black where the rust has been killed off.
I even sprayed the engine bay but I didnt spray the strut tops I painted the waxoil on because the white spirit attacks the rubber cones if your not careful.
To save monery recently and wax oil my sons Visa van I took an old waxoil 5 litre can 1/3 filled with cheap clean engine oil
1/3 filled with a melted down cheapy candle and added 1/3 white spirit, and a small piot of rust eater, it worked as well as a £29.99 can of wax oil. the mixture stayed soft for weeks but it killed the rust very well all be it a little more slowley.
a summer job really as the cold air in the winter will block the spray gun nozzel quickly.
if you flush the gun with white sprit afterwards it can be used again another day, they are great for spraying the fencing with creasote or waterbase to actually thinking about it a 2 and a 1/2 litre can of wax oil would be enough to spray a xantia estate.
regards
Nigel.
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