Hood stuck not your same old issues
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Joined: Feb 2011
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From: charleston sc
Hood stuck not your same old issues
I have an 86 vert that was wrecked. I replaced the hood and front bumper. In an attempt to get everything lined up, I loosened the hood hinge mount bolts AND the HINGE PIN BRACKET bolts.
My cables were almost too loose before the accident. Someone shut the hood all the way. The latches will not release. I tried: (all while shaking pounding and pulling up on the hood) the release lever until it cracked. I used two pair of pliers on the cables individually, one to hold the jacket the other to pull the cable. I made the hood release rod tool. Finally I removed the fender well got my hand onto the release lever.. and it will not move. So I fished a piece of wire around the lever out through the cowl by the wipers. I pulled the wire until it almost broke. ALL WHILE "EXERCISING" THE HOOD.
WHERE DO I GO NOW FOLKS??? Piano wire to cut through the springs and pin? Saw the hood in half?
Im almost broken...
My cables were almost too loose before the accident. Someone shut the hood all the way. The latches will not release. I tried: (all while shaking pounding and pulling up on the hood) the release lever until it cracked. I used two pair of pliers on the cables individually, one to hold the jacket the other to pull the cable. I made the hood release rod tool. Finally I removed the fender well got my hand onto the release lever.. and it will not move. So I fished a piece of wire around the lever out through the cowl by the wipers. I pulled the wire until it almost broke. ALL WHILE "EXERCISING" THE HOOD.
WHERE DO I GO NOW FOLKS??? Piano wire to cut through the springs and pin? Saw the hood in half?
Im almost broken...
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
if you use the "tool" as intended, it WILL move the lever in the latch box and let the spring pins free. Its not fun, its not easy. It can take hours. It takes patience and practice. The other option is a hole saw and $3500 for a new hood. Used ones are lots cheaper but never in your color...
BTW
this is why we make emergency cables....
BTW
this is why we make emergency cables....
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 216
Likes: 1
From: Hemet California
I need a set of the emergency cables. I ordered a set from two different venders six months ago and both say they are still on back order. let me know if any one knows a vender that has them in stock. I did rig up some temporary ones just in case.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 75
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From: charleston sc
Again, I can place my hand on the release lever. I have a wire wrapped around the lever and can pull on it from outside the hood toward the center of the car (exactly like an emergency release cable). I even placed the tip of the "tool" on the lever and pulled the lever while turning the tool.
What i believe is that because the pin and plate are so loose, they have shifted over so far that the lever CANNOT disengage. I plan on trying to work it back over to the outside of the car.
The working area is so tight that i do not think you can get a wrench onto the pin plate bolts.
Please keep the ideas coming. I do not want to cut this hood off!!
What i believe is that because the pin and plate are so loose, they have shifted over so far that the lever CANNOT disengage. I plan on trying to work it back over to the outside of the car.
The working area is so tight that i do not think you can get a wrench onto the pin plate bolts.
Please keep the ideas coming. I do not want to cut this hood off!!
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
Maybe $20 spent on the cables...
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Again, I can place my hand on the release lever. I have a wire wrapped around the lever and can pull on it from outside the hood toward the center of the car (exactly like an emergency release cable). I even placed the tip of the "tool" on the lever and pulled the lever while turning the tool.
What i believe is that because the pin and plate are so loose, they have shifted over so far that the lever CANNOT disengage. I plan on trying to work it back over to the outside of the car.
The working area is so tight that i do not think you can get a wrench onto the pin plate bolts.
Please keep the ideas coming. I do not want to cut this hood off!!
What i believe is that because the pin and plate are so loose, they have shifted over so far that the lever CANNOT disengage. I plan on trying to work it back over to the outside of the car.
The working area is so tight that i do not think you can get a wrench onto the pin plate bolts.
Please keep the ideas coming. I do not want to cut this hood off!!
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: charleston sc
Solved!
Guys i lucked out.
I took off the tire, removed the upper fender well attached to the hood and wall able to pull it out. Then removed the rear portion of the lower fender well in front of the battery and was able to access the latch assembly from below. With ample room, i loosened the ENTIRE pin using an open end 1.5 inch wrench (the flat short kind that look like bicycle wrenches). The hood popped open and so did a TASTY ADULT BEVERAGE.
THANKS FOR THE ADVICE PEOPLE
I took off the tire, removed the upper fender well attached to the hood and wall able to pull it out. Then removed the rear portion of the lower fender well in front of the battery and was able to access the latch assembly from below. With ample room, i loosened the ENTIRE pin using an open end 1.5 inch wrench (the flat short kind that look like bicycle wrenches). The hood popped open and so did a TASTY ADULT BEVERAGE.
THANKS FOR THE ADVICE PEOPLE
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