Stuck hood
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
Stuck hood
Hi guys , I have a 1973 that I have had for about a year and a half . So far I have rebuilt the front end and the steering along with new shocks,brakes and tires. I installed my new motor last month and finally got everything hooked up and running good ( I move slow). Yesterday when I put my hood on I thought I had it pretty close but it must be off a little because when it latched the passenger side latch will not release. The driver's side is released but not the passenger side. I've searched the threads and know about the access hole in the back of the hood. I tried that but didn't have no luck so I got a 4 foot piece of 1\8 rod and bent a hook in it so I can reach across from the driver's side and release the latch but it is still hung. I'm out of ideas so I thought I would see if this has happened to anybody else .
Last edited by cooltx73; Mar 20, 2017 at 07:36 PM. Reason: Misspell
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,295
Likes: 1,681
From: Long Island
Remember if the drivers side is open the passenger side latch will not be activated. There is a tab that pushes the latch to open the passenger side. You can manually push the latch on the driver's side hood lock to open the passenger side.
Sometimes the lip on the male end gets stuck on the latch.
Depending on how sloppy the hinges are you may be able to wedge the hood rear wood and it may pop.
If it's a really sunny day you can park the car in the sun and let the hood expand - maybe enough to open.
If the hood is too far rearward push forward on the hood and try to pen it.
The last resort is to grind off the bolts that hold the hinge to the body, a real PIA but doable.
Since the driver's side is open I would try to move the hood while pushing on the latch opening tab.
Sometimes the lip on the male end gets stuck on the latch.
Depending on how sloppy the hinges are you may be able to wedge the hood rear wood and it may pop.
If it's a really sunny day you can park the car in the sun and let the hood expand - maybe enough to open.
If the hood is too far rearward push forward on the hood and try to pen it.
The last resort is to grind off the bolts that hold the hinge to the body, a real PIA but doable.
Since the driver's side is open I would try to move the hood while pushing on the latch opening tab.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 695
Likes: 55
From: Palm Desert California
Heycooltx73, I had the same problem on my '73 with the passenger side stuck shut. After a couple of days pulling , pushing and jerking I finally went under the front and loosened the bolt ends as they came through. I used a needle nosed pair of vice grips and they were easy enough to turn. after a few turns the hood popped open. Hope this helps.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
I have an update on my stuck hood. After four days of pushing and pulling and a lot of cussing I wound up cutting the bolts off of the right side hinge and it just popped open like nothing was ever wrong. Thank you to the forum. Now time to move on, being a fairly newb I learned you just don't throw these hoods on and and start adjusting them. You need to be very careful and try to line up your hood as close as possible before you lower it down. Also I'm thinking about running my new bolts from the underside up and welding the nuts on the top side of the bracket. As long as the threads don't go above the nut and interfere with the hinge this should work. Does anybody see a problem with this. My wife said why don't you take it to a corvette specialist, I said this forum has plenty.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,295
Likes: 1,681
From: Long Island
When you go to put the hood back on - put a short section of PVC pipe over the Male and align the hood. Will stop it from locking with the head of the pin under the latch. I cut it about 1/2" longer than the male pin.
There is also a thread where you can make a tool to align the hood.
There is also a thread where you can make a tool to align the hood.