Hey All

OK, put the hood down for the first time since my frame on restoration was completed and the hood is now stuck and wont open. What I am able to see under the front of the hood is, the passenger side rad support ear was not cut at a angle (new support from Eklers) like the drivers side is.The hood hinge bolt on the passenger side closest to the rad was not angled and the bolt is stuck on it.One of the flat sides of the bolt is flush on the ear of the support. In turn, this raised my hood up a 1/4 inch in the front and slid the hood over the the drivers side.

I have come to the conclusion the only way after a week screwing around is to pull the bolts on the hood hinges to allow me to move the hood and get in unstuck. Problem is, how the hell do you get these 4 bolts out? Please consider that on the passenger side, one of the edges of the bolts is flush with the rad ear and a socket will not go on.

 

Pictures, if possible would help us help you.
Did you install the rad support? If you did then you know the way it's installed. Maybe you can loosen up all the rad support bolts and get enough play to move it around enough to get the hood to clear. Once you get it up you can take it off and fix what needs fixing.

 

I agree...photos help.

What year is your car????

How easy or hard did the hood want to close when you closed it???

Are the wheels/tires on your car and it sitting on level ground???

DUB

 

its a 75 sorry and right now the front is on stands, it was level ground an it closed ok. See pic below.

 

Here is a pic of what I am up against.

 

Pic posted

 

Not knowing where your stands are located..I can tell you that you can be putting the front clip under stress...and even though the hood closed...it is now pinched.

I can say... I NEVER EVER close a hood when it is up on stands.

I really can not see much of anything in your photo...get more light on it.

I know you wrote that when the hood closed...it caused the hood to raise up.

DUB

 

The car was flat on the ground when I closed the hood. Its on stands under the control arms now so I can get to the bolts. What tools are used to un do the bolts for the hood hinges.

 

Think I'd try a very long pry bar and see if it could be gently persuaded.

 

If you look at the hood line Dub youll see what I mean, the whole front of the hood is shifted to one side. If I can get those bolts out of the hinge then it should allow the hood to slide over and line back up.

 

fan shroud stops the rad from coming down loosened up the bolts and tried that.

 

I up loaded 2 pics that should give you a clear picture of what I am up against

 

In your pictures it's really hard to tell what is going on. I know it's probably a real bitch to get a good enough picture.

In you last picture you said that the hood shifted to one side (appears the passenger front has shifted left). Have you tried to grab the hood close to the windshield and push/pull it to get your "shift" out while also trying to open it? The hood is super flexible and maybe you just need to flex it a bit to get it to open.
I'd try standing on the drivers side and pull the hood towards you slightly and maybe it will be enough to get it loose.

 

I appreciate you posted the photos...but I agree it is really hard to see what is going on there.

I am having a hard time trying to figure out how the hood hinge is binding with the radiator support. But as you stated...the part may have been made incorrectly which can throw everything off.

I have tried exactly what 'theandies' wrote and that is pulling and pushing on the back of the hood from side to side to get it to release.

I do know that I have had to get at the front bolt of the hood hinge where it is bolted to the hood before many times. I have also removed it. When it comes to the rear bolt of the hood hinge where it is attached to the hood...that is where one of those swivel head GearWrenches can come into play or modifying a box end wrench to get up in there.

I have had to also get in and l loosen the two nuts that hold the latch on the drivers side at the firewall. This is ROYAL PAIN but I have done it and you are basically doing it all by feel.

Also it appears that these hood hinges are not new and have been slotted more than what GM provided in the hinges. If these hinges are not new not new or have lot of 'play' in them. I suggest that they get replaced...or you can have problems in getting the hood to stay where you want it when adjusting it.

I swear that I could get to these bolts in your photo...due to generally...If I can see the head of the bolt I can find way to get to it.

DUB

 

The passenger side latch feels free. I can raise and lower that corner of the hood by the windshield about an inch up and down. The drivers side latch, which is opposite corner from where it is stuck on the rad support, is stuck and will not even give me a 1/8 of an inch movement up and down.

Any idea"s

 

This is my first Corvette. I have done a almost complete frame on restoration on this car and everything has been a first for me. Not knowing how everything goes or should be has been a interesting learning curve. But, last week when it came a live for the first time was a great feeling. All the work I have done looks great, great parts and the car sits perfectly (like a 1/8 at best difference in fender height difference from one side to the other and im sure its the garage floor causing that difference) and its the darn hood jamming me up (pun intended) from driving my car....uggg

 

I can say that when I am putting the hood back on for the final time ..regardless if I have had it in and off a dozen times.

When it is the final installation. I tread lightly and carefully so I do not run into what has happened to you...because...it has happened to me before. And I did not have the luxury of having the internet to find help...because it was not around at that time.

Not that having the internet makes this any easier...

DUB

 

If the rear latch on the drives side is disconnected when you pull the handle but the passengers side won't disconnect, lift up on the hood on the drivers side and feel on the underside of the hood for the flat tab from the latch. It is just like a normal front hood latch on a regular car, push it towards the front of the car and it should release the passenger side latch. If it is really stuck you might have to use a large screw driver or hammer handle to push it.

 

I would grab the hood and move it side to side if possible from the passenger side because you have that sided released. Do not raise the passenger side too much when doing this.

I have given all I got on this and there no exact answer.

DUB

 

When you get it open, loop wire or hook coat hanger pieces or something to the hood latches and thru the access hole by wipers. AND LEAVE THEM THERE. Everybody should do this. so they don't have to do this: