Stuck hood.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 10,787
Likes: 0
From: My own state of mind
Stuck hood.
Any shortcuts to getting an '87 hood open that's stuck? The passenger side is unhooking, but the drivers side won't release. The hood release has been pulled as far as it allows. Can I grab the hood cable and yank on it to get it free from underneath the hood?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,300
Likes: 4
From: Mississauga, Ontario Corvettes were built to be driven...not trailered
St Jude Donor '07-'08-'09
Been there, done that and have the T SHirt with all the swear words on it to prove it. 
Last time this happened to me I took the bottom panel off behind the DS front wheel...the one that protects the battery (took the battery out) and a buddy with a small hand was able to wiggle his way up there and shimy the release tab loose. After that I bought one of those hood openers in Carlisle and wouldn't you know it I haven't had to use it since!!
Good luck
Last time this happened to me I took the bottom panel off behind the DS front wheel...the one that protects the battery (took the battery out) and a buddy with a small hand was able to wiggle his way up there and shimy the release tab loose. After that I bought one of those hood openers in Carlisle and wouldn't you know it I haven't had to use it since!!Good luck
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 10
From: Lufkin Texas
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
You can go in near the base of wiper with a peice of coat hanger and hook the tab but you need to know where to go in and where you're reaching. It's Monday 820 pm central. I'll be going home from work soon and can give you a pic in an hour or so that will help then. I have it saved to a floppy.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 10
From: Lufkin Texas
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Originally Posted by skateparkdave
You can go in near the base of wiper with a peice of coat hanger and hook the tab but you need to know where to go in and where you're reaching. It's Monday 820 pm central. I'll be going home from work soon and can give you a pic in an hour or so that will help then. I have it saved to a floppy.
Like this..
Then fish it over the lip of metal latch housing and feel for cable or latch tab like in this pic and pull.
It takes some persistance and perseverance and maybe a lil cussing but it can be done. If you study the last pic or print it to look at for reference of angles and such while your doing it, it may help. It will also help if you have a partner to slightly lift the already released passenger side. Not enough to crack the fiberglass
Just a tad so you can see a little with a flashlight and find your way.When you get it open notice that the cable ends at latches have an plastic adjuster (in first pic behind orange zip tie) with a lock nut at end. If your cable is not broken you can loosen the lock nut at end and adjust the catch in a tiny bit, careful, not too much, and then grease them both and it should fix the problem.
Hope this helps and good luck.
Dave
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: miramar florida
stuck hood
just happened to me two weeks ago, the pictures and description with the coat hanger over the wipers is right on the money, but you may need something stronger than a coat hanger. I made two tools out of some rods that I had laying around, one imitating the tool from GM, that did not work and scratched the w/shield pilar and the other a plain hook of about 1/2 to 3/4 " and about 18" long, it takes a little time best if you have a friend's corvette with the hood open so you can look at it as you work, good luck and let us know how you did
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 10
From: Lufkin Texas
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
I did it several times with the hanger wire before I got my cable properly adjusted. Yes it's the stout hanger wire, not one of those flimzy ones. But it's kind of like getting the door open on a car with a hanger back in the 70's when you locked the keys in. You sometimes need to be able to bend it a little here and there to get the right angles. Something too stiff could actually hinder you.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 2
From: The Black Hole LA
If you can't get the hanger you can take the wheel off, then the fenderwell off, then you can get your hand up close. You can then use an open end wrench to loosen the three bolts that hold striker plate to the hood. You can only get about a half turn each time so a little patience is required. I've had to do this several times, the first time I cussed for a long time, the next times it only took about 30 minutes.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,629
Likes: 7
From: Lawrenceville PA
I have had similar problems on my '86, only the driver's side pops up and the passenger side doesn't. I usually have my wife help with the hood opening. She'll pry up on the passenger side while I release the hood with one hand and pry up underneath the hood on the driver's side with the other hand. I haven't had to resort to the special tool yet, but I think I'll pick one up a Carlisle this year. Who designed this anyway? 
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 12,109
Likes: 50
From: SW Michigan
Originally Posted by 1986pacecar
I have had similar problems on my '86, only the driver's side pops up and the passenger side doesn't. I usually have my wife help with the hood opening. She'll pry up on the passenger side while I release the hood with one hand and pry up underneath the hood on the driver's side with the other hand. I haven't had to resort to the special tool yet, but I think I'll pick one up a Carlisle this year. Who designed this anyway?
you need to adjust your striker and bumpers it shouldnt be that hard to get open..
to the original poster, are the cables broken ?
Have you had this problem before?
if the cables are not broken you might need to just adjust the hood striker and the bumpers not that hard to do...
when you open the hood it should pop up with little to no effort
johnny
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,691
Likes: 1
From: Framingham MA
Originally Posted by 1986pacecar
I have had similar problems on my '86, only the driver's side pops up and the passenger side doesn't. I usually have my wife help with the hood opening. She'll pry up on the passenger side while I release the hood with one hand and pry up underneath the hood on the driver's side with the other hand. I haven't had to resort to the special tool yet, but I think I'll pick one up a Carlisle this year. Who designed this anyway?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 10,787
Likes: 0
From: My own state of mind
Originally Posted by hz900
If you can't get the hanger you can take the wheel off, then the fenderwell off, then you can get your hand up close. You can then use an open end wrench to loosen the three bolts that hold striker plate to the hood. You can only get about a half turn each time so a little patience is required. I've had to do this several times, the first time I cussed for a long time, the next times it only took about 30 minutes.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 10
From: Lufkin Texas
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
So you couldn't find your way in there with the hanger huh? That sucks man, I feel for you.
If you have the battery ect.. removed. Then study that 3rd pic on my last comment. See the black tab where I have the hanger hooked? You should be able to get over the top of the catch housing from underneath with the battery out of way with a screwdriver or something from the cruise control side and push the tab forward towards the wiper blade base. This will set her free.
It will take a little finageling and maybe a little force but if you look at the pic and figure out what your objective is, you should be able to do it.
Good luck,
Dave
If you have the battery ect.. removed. Then study that 3rd pic on my last comment. See the black tab where I have the hanger hooked? You should be able to get over the top of the catch housing from underneath with the battery out of way with a screwdriver or something from the cruise control side and push the tab forward towards the wiper blade base. This will set her free.
It will take a little finageling and maybe a little force but if you look at the pic and figure out what your objective is, you should be able to do it.Good luck,
Dave
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 2
From: The Black Hole LA
Originally Posted by Golden80
I tried doing this, but I can't find any way to get to the third bolt. The third is behind the stud that the hook catches. I have everything removed including all the shielding, battery, battery holder, and cruise control.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 12,109
Likes: 50
From: SW Michigan
well when all else fails call in the reforcements!
http://www.gordonkillebrew.com/
under products
$20.00--1984-96 Corvette Hood Opening Tool. Used to open hood when cable(s) malfunction. You can open your hood in less than five minutes without damaging your car.
HINT: Treat this tool like a fire extingusher, always keep it in the car. You never know when you will need it. Velcro it to the carpet someplace out of the way!
http://www.gordonkillebrew.com/
under products
$20.00--1984-96 Corvette Hood Opening Tool. Used to open hood when cable(s) malfunction. You can open your hood in less than five minutes without damaging your car.
HINT: Treat this tool like a fire extingusher, always keep it in the car. You never know when you will need it. Velcro it to the carpet someplace out of the way!
