Help - Hood REALLY Stuck!!!!!
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
!!!!!! Nothing gives. I took the day off and have been to three (3) mechanical garages, two (2) well recommended auto body shops, and two (2) Chevy dealerships and they have all said "your hood's stuck."
The last Chevy Dealership had a autobody/collision repair center and they agreed to take a strong billable look next Monday. However, the shop Manager said the time spent will be billed with no promise that they can open or keep from breaking anything. Everyone agrees that the latch/cables work but that the hood latch mechanism seems to be stuck on the pin. This is going to be a $500 ordeal! Ugh - This makes me sick. There goes my extra cash that was going toward my front end suspension rebuild and a moth of lost summer vette time.
Word to the wise - don't mess with the hood.
The last Chevy Dealership had a autobody/collision repair center and they agreed to take a strong billable look next Monday. However, the shop Manager said the time spent will be billed with no promise that they can open or keep from breaking anything. Everyone agrees that the latch/cables work but that the hood latch mechanism seems to be stuck on the pin. This is going to be a $500 ordeal! Ugh - This makes me sick. There goes my extra cash that was going toward my front end suspension rebuild and a moth of lost summer vette time.
Word to the wise - don't mess with the hood.
Take a print of this thread to the repair center when you go...
Good luck
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 363
Likes: 3
From: Norwalk Ca
My hood acts up sometimes also. Every once in a while, the drivers side pops up and the passenger side is still closed. This works for me when this happens:
1. Push the hood latch inside the car back in.
2. Close the drivers side so it catches again.
3. Then try popping the hood again. It may take a couple of trys.
1. Push the hood latch inside the car back in.
2. Close the drivers side so it catches again.
3. Then try popping the hood again. It may take a couple of trys.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta GA
Resolved!!! Thanks Ted - Tjhuyser
Hero for a day and thanks Ted!!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Pro
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 720
Likes: 1
From: Holtwood PA
The fix was to think first. If you look at the hood and see which way it's off, then kinda feel on which side the pin is hooking, you can push the hood enough (if you're careful and lucky) in just the right direction to have it slip past...no biggie..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,056
Likes: 8
From: Redruth Cornwall
So was anything loose? the pin or mechanism etc etc?
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Pro
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 720
Likes: 1
From: Holtwood PA
no nothing was loose, the hood was just out of alignment...and yes it is adjusted properly now..that hood might have been repaired before..there is a low spot on the drivers side midle of the hood not sure..but she opens up just fine now...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 892
Likes: 0
From: GA
Another good trick... at least on my 1970...
I remove the driver side vent (egg crate) and reached up underneath the latch mechanism. I can grab the pivot latch and move it.. then I pushed up on hood. It works everytime. For me, it was the cable pull. The screw came loose so the cable wasn't pulling the latch.
The second time it was definately the alignment. This time the new cable moved the latch assembly but the pins were not aligned and were still grabbing the underside of the hood. I was able to get passenger side up a little. Grabbed it with my hand and kind of just tweaked it to one side. Try not to pull up too much or the pressure will not allow the hood to move to the side... It is either to pins still grabbing through the latches that are offset or the cable pull. Now if I could just get the damn spring tight enough to return the hood handle in the car when I pull it out...
Hope this helps...
Anthony
I remove the driver side vent (egg crate) and reached up underneath the latch mechanism. I can grab the pivot latch and move it.. then I pushed up on hood. It works everytime. For me, it was the cable pull. The screw came loose so the cable wasn't pulling the latch.
The second time it was definately the alignment. This time the new cable moved the latch assembly but the pins were not aligned and were still grabbing the underside of the hood. I was able to get passenger side up a little. Grabbed it with my hand and kind of just tweaked it to one side. Try not to pull up too much or the pressure will not allow the hood to move to the side... It is either to pins still grabbing through the latches that are offset or the cable pull. Now if I could just get the damn spring tight enough to return the hood handle in the car when I pull it out...
Hope this helps...
Anthony
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta GA
Yeah - Ted did nothing greatly different that eveyone else but he was the ONLY one that was able to get it done. And the dang Chevy dealer was going to rape me over the work! Thanks again Ted.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 755
Likes: 1
From: Hobart Tasmania
I had a similar problem some time ago on my '72 when the cable broke. The suggested remedy was to put a long handled screwdriver through the access hole in the firewall and release the mechanism after manually lifting the wiper door. It worked but the screwdriver was a bit awkward.
After all that I got a piece of stainless steel rod and bent it the exact shape needed so it didn't hit the windscreen or scratch anything, and put a small rubber plug on the end of the rod it it ever happens again.
Then all the mechanisms got some silicone grease.
After all that I got a piece of stainless steel rod and bent it the exact shape needed so it didn't hit the windscreen or scratch anything, and put a small rubber plug on the end of the rod it it ever happens again.
Then all the mechanisms got some silicone grease.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 100
Likes: 17
From: Sioux Falls SD
Had the same problem with my 75 same side. It took 3 guys guys to get it open. One at the hood release one at the dr side and me at the lh side. .As the guy pulled the release cable the dr side guy reached inside and pulled the cable. then I wiggled the hood side to side and up and down and the hood popped up. it looks like the cable had stretched and needed to be adjusted. I moved the pin to pull more tension to the lh side catch.
