Hood won't pop
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
From: Hartland WI
Hood won't pop
Last fall I took my hood completely off for some engine work. Since reinstalling I've had a problem with my driver's side catch not releasing properly. Trying to fix it today. I was adjusting the striker on the driver's side (the thing that looks like a cone bolted to the top of the firewall). Anyway, I made a small side-to-side adjustment and closed the hood. Now, I cannot get the darn thing open at all.
When I pull the hood release the passenger side still pops up. I took off the driver's side louver and can reach my hand up and manual operate the release. Even when I do this it won't pop up. What are my options here? I've tried pushing and pulling the hood from side to side along with cursing at it. All to no avail. Any other ideas? I can't think of anyway to get this to release. Appreciate any input.
When I pull the hood release the passenger side still pops up. I took off the driver's side louver and can reach my hand up and manual operate the release. Even when I do this it won't pop up. What are my options here? I've tried pushing and pulling the hood from side to side along with cursing at it. All to no avail. Any other ideas? I can't think of anyway to get this to release. Appreciate any input.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 6
From: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
I'd like to read the replies you get on this topic as well.
It happened to me the other night. I got lucky and it released with a little more push/pull and a lot more cursing. There must be a better way!
It happened to me the other night. I got lucky and it released with a little more push/pull and a lot more cursing. There must be a better way!
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 893
Likes: 7
From: Hazerswoude-Rijndijk Zuid Holland
I had that to,
The issue is that the mushroom pin is behind some of the metal parts. I had to go and remove the grille in front of the wiper door and go in with a wrench, unscrewing the nuts of the mechanism took me 45 minutes or so. The the smart *** I am thought I aligned it right and closed the hood again, guess what, yep, another halve hour gone. Look in the archives there is a good article about it how to align the hood mechanism.
In short remove the hood metal part, tape the hole and put some creon or graphite on the mushroom pin, spot the marking and adjust it(the body part) accordingly, THEN install the hood part.
Good fortune and patience young grasshopper
The issue is that the mushroom pin is behind some of the metal parts. I had to go and remove the grille in front of the wiper door and go in with a wrench, unscrewing the nuts of the mechanism took me 45 minutes or so. The the smart *** I am thought I aligned it right and closed the hood again, guess what, yep, another halve hour gone. Look in the archives there is a good article about it how to align the hood mechanism.
In short remove the hood metal part, tape the hole and put some creon or graphite on the mushroom pin, spot the marking and adjust it(the body part) accordingly, THEN install the hood part.
Good fortune and patience young grasshopper
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
From: Hartland WI
I had that to,
The issue is that the mushroom pin is behind some of the metal parts. I had to go and remove the grille in front of the wiper door and go in with a wrench, unscrewing the nuts of the mechanism took me 45 minutes or so. The the smart *** I am thought I aligned it right and closed the hood again, guess what, yep, another halve hour gone. Look in the archives there is a good article about it how to align the hood mechanism.
In short remove the hood metal part, tape the hole and put some creon or graphite on the mushroom pin, spot the marking and adjust it(the body part) accordingly, THEN install the hood part.
Good fortune and patience young grasshopper
The issue is that the mushroom pin is behind some of the metal parts. I had to go and remove the grille in front of the wiper door and go in with a wrench, unscrewing the nuts of the mechanism took me 45 minutes or so. The the smart *** I am thought I aligned it right and closed the hood again, guess what, yep, another halve hour gone. Look in the archives there is a good article about it how to align the hood mechanism.
In short remove the hood metal part, tape the hole and put some creon or graphite on the mushroom pin, spot the marking and adjust it(the body part) accordingly, THEN install the hood part.
Good fortune and patience young grasshopper
If I take that plate off that is secured with the 4 bolts in the picture..does that give me access to the release mechanism? I swear at the rate I'm taking stuff off I'm going to have a pile of pieces that used to be my car but I am still going to have a stuck hood mechanism
I think I might try some more wiggling and jiggling to see if I can budge it loose. If not I might try removing some more parts...
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 893
Likes: 7
From: Hazerswoude-Rijndijk Zuid Holland
No that is the mystery compartment, opening that will be Pandora's box and release the corvette spirit, to never return!!!
With mine I had a small opening between the hood and the body. Mind you mine is a 72
With mine I had a small opening between the hood and the body. Mind you mine is a 72
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
From: Shoemakersville Pa
Had the same problem with my 69 a couple of weeks ago the passengers side would release but not the drivers side. I tried jerking the hood from side to side to no avail. Luckily I still did'nt have my grill installed. reached up through the grill opening on the drivers side and removed the hinge bolts on the hood side of the hinge. It was a PIA but I did'nt know what else to do. Once that was loose I could move the hood enough to release the catch. Stupid thing is I acctualy had to do this 3 times before I had it adjusted correctly.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 893
Likes: 7
From: Hazerswoude-Rijndijk Zuid Holland
So I'm not alone in the stupid department, mind you just had a typo on ebay and bidding 5223 Euro for a 80 bucks item. Luckily nobody could see!!
Last edited by cajos; Mar 27, 2007 at 04:10 PM. Reason: link
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 6
From: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
I thought of taking off the wiper door cover as well. Problem is that there is no direct access to the release mechanism from there. It looks like this...
If I take that plate off that is secured with the 4 bolts in the picture..does that give me access to the release mechanism? I swear at the rate I'm taking stuff off I'm going to have a pile of pieces that used to be my car but I am still going to have a stuck hood mechanism
I think I might try some more wiggling and jiggling to see if I can budge it loose. If not I might try removing some more parts...
If I take that plate off that is secured with the 4 bolts in the picture..does that give me access to the release mechanism? I swear at the rate I'm taking stuff off I'm going to have a pile of pieces that used to be my car but I am still going to have a stuck hood mechanism
I think I might try some more wiggling and jiggling to see if I can budge it loose. If not I might try removing some more parts...
I took that plate off the other night hoping it would give me access to the brake booster bolts. Guess what I found? Nothing!! It was a blind hole, meaning the fiberglass was not cut out beneath the plate.
I didn't cut anything, so who knows where it leads.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
From: Hartland WI
Just to post my solution...Had to loosen the front hinge bolts from underneath. Took a little contortion but was finally able to loosen both hinges to the point that the hood had enough play to allow the hinge to pop free. What a pain
