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I'm the newest member of the "Oh $**T, now I can't get the hood open on my 73 Corvette! " club...I was trying to align the anchor points on the firewall. Thought I had it, when I pushed down on the left side, I knew it felt too tight. Is there any chance I can get it open? Thanks for any suggestions.
On some model yrs you could remove a plug in the cowl area and trip the lock with a long handled screwdriver.
Other yrs required reaching the release cables from underneath.
Your best bet right now, is to get this thing up on ramps.
Using the brightest halogen you own, try to orient a coat hanger in just the right spot to snag the release cable.
You really could use a helper pushing down on either corner of the hood while you start pulling. Might get lucky.
Tried removing the plugs on my 73, with the long rod, and it’s almost impossible. The best way … is to remove the rocker panel then the bottom triangular splash shield. You will then be able to reach your arm up into the area of the hood latch and move it with your fingers to open. After I opened the hood I tried to use the long rod method through the hole, the metal bar was not rigid enough and all the bends you have to make are not easy. Oh, don’t put the removed items back on the car UNTIL you are 200 % sure the hood will open, ask me how I know. Since this will happen again, I found some Velcro tape and placed it on the latch, so my fingers know exactly where to push when the latch needs to be pushed. Read all, the posts with the pictures, it wasn’t to bad of a job.
The problem is, the wire going to the latch is still good. So when you pull the hood release, the latch is moving. If you get to the latch with your hand it probably still wont open. It sounds like the pin is just stuck. Try pulling the hood release while you pull up on the hood somehow.
That was what I had to do, but then I tried to reposition the anchor pin, and I made it much worse. No good deed goes unpunished. Thanks for the reply.
Try pushing down on the hood above the latch and pulling the opener at the same time to possibly relieve pressure on the latch. Best to have two people doing this.
Worth a try plus all of the other suggestions given in above posts. Good luck hope you get it open.
Did you try pulling and wiggling the hood while pulling the hood release? It sounds like the rod is just stuck and not locked.
Thats the way mine opened. Had my helper push and pull the hood while I reached up thru the fender and pushed the lever. Dont animal it, just slight up and down.
Finally popped open. I made that L shaped tool. That never worked for me
Last edited by 0311 jarhead; Oct 26, 2021 at 11:26 AM.
To adjust the hood pins to the latches. I taped a piece of paper to the latches on the hood. I marked where the circle/hole on the latch is. I then used a bit of grease on the point of each pin. Closed the hood just enough so the pin would mark the paper. Now you can see where the pin needs to be adjusted to hit the center of the hole/latch.
Two issues when you can't get the hood to open. 1. The hood release cable is broken. 2. The hood pin is just stuck.
Requires different methods to get the hood to open.
My hood got stuck after I'd removed and reinstalled it. One of the worst 'sticks' I ever had; I could release earlier 'sticks' by removing and reaching up through the fender grates.
This one was so bad, I had to go into the front wheel wells to free up the front hinges and give me fore and aft movement that got it unstuck. On the passenger side, the hinge bolts were attached with nuts that I was able to spin off. The driver's side was tougher. The hinge bolts were threaded into weld nuts; I had to use a sawzall and a grinder to remove the weld nuts. I reinstalled that side with nuts and new bolts. Ugly, but it worked.
Hello, and thanks for responding. I was able to unbolt the hinge from the hood, on the drivers side, got access where the splash guard would be. I will try to spin off the nuts on the passenger side. The ones I am looking at are square. Not sure if they are welded on. Don't see any obvious indication that they are welded. I just ordered a camera scope to look into that little access hole on the fire wall, might try pushing the latch with a tool. Thanks again.
Frank
In the words of a fairly famous politician “I Feel Your Pain.” Here are some pictures of the hood bolts, and latches on my stock 73.
I hope this helps, let us know if you need any other photos. Good Luck
The taped “Arm” is what’s needs to be pushed toward the head lights
Stuck Hood!
