Hood brackets won't go down

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DartSwinger

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74 Dart Swinger, took the hood off to black out. Now hood brackets on each side are stuck in the raised-up position. Anyone had this problem? I searched forums but not found anything about it.

Thanks.
 
Because of the spring required to hold the hood up it'l take most of your strength to move them. And they won't stay down unless you take the spring off.
 
Because of the spring required to hold the hood up it'l take most of your strength to move them. And they won't stay down unless you take the spring off.

My wife and I got on either side and they wouldn't budge down at all, I'm wondering if something got jammed.
 
Thats a new one on me.
Have you tried to look at the hinges thru the door opening to see if something fell in there?
Dont know what else to tell ya.
I thought they were the same as my 72 Swinger.
I've had hoods off nearly a dozen a bodies and haven't had that happen.
 
I did the same thing and finally I just sprayed some wd-40 on the spring and the next day it went down. I think the paint froze the spring up.
 
I have had the same issue with my hood hinges. Once I lifted the hood off they snapped up with a bang and that is where they are stuck. I haven't been able to find any info on this issue either. Thanks.
 
looks like you may have to take the fenders off to fix them.
 
Thanks for the suggestions, soaked them in WD40 no luck, might have to remove something to get at them, bummer.
 
It is almost impossible to push the hood hinges down without the hood on. The springs are to counter the weight of the hood and assist in closing and opening. Remember that when you close the hood, you are using the entire length of the hood as a lever, and the hood is usually still not easy to close. Now take away that lever and try to do it with the short stubby leg of the hinge. Not gonna happen without removing the spring. And like Charger70 says, they will not stay down for long, especially if you plan on driving that way. Just my experience. Geof
 
I was able to get my hood closed. I just had to get a little meaner than I thought would be needed. Usually I end up worse off when I take that approach, but this time it worked out and the hinges gave way. A little lube will most definitely help.
 
Help! Newbie here, 72 dart- I see some posts here on this subject, but no real answers. Seems that some of the hinges get stuck in the raised position when hoods are removed and then reinstalled they wont close. I just painted and cut in, now I cant lower the hood. Any advise short of messing up the paint to remove fenders would be really a big hit right now. Cant paint until this is resolved getting the hood back down.
 
Welcome to FABO! Wow, you responded to 3 year old post! To answer your question, you can gain access to the hood hinges through the rear splash shield in the wheel opening and through the door opening. Maybe you can look through there to see why it's stuck. Lube everything real good while you're at it. I wouldn't try lowering the hinges without the hood attached as you can bend the hinge sideways or have the spring pop off doing that.
 
Leverage helps. Get a long steel angle iron and drill some holes to match the hinge. Install some bolts and nuts and pull downward on the steel.
 
That's a good way to bend things. It would be better to look and lube first before you start prying. If the spring is still on the hinge, it's not going to stay down anyway. If you let it fly up too fast, you might damage the cowl. If after you lube the hinges, the hood still won't lower, you probably ought to just get some replacement hinges.
 
That's a good way to bend things. It would be better to look and lube first before you start prying. If the spring is still on the hinge, it's not going to stay down anyway. If you let it fly up too fast, you might damage the cowl. If after you lube the hinges, the hood still won't lower, you probably ought to just get some replacement hinges.

If the hinges were functioning properly with the hood attached, they will likely function without it attached.

I thought the original poster took the hood off the car to black it out with paint. If so, why would he want to lower the hinge during that process, anyway? Am I not seeing something?
 
I had this happen to me when I took my hood off once... the spring is a coil and when I took the hood off they snapped back to a point that they were unwinding instead of winding when the hood was closing (or the other way around) we had to kind of bounce them to get them rotating the right direction. I hope this makes sense I tried the force thing with the hood attached and snapped the bolts off... you might be able to pry the spring in the right direction.
 
I found out from a real Mopar guy, that the hinges will not budge unless the hood is aligned properly, I mean it takes some time to get gaps on fenders & rear hood height adjusted. This will most likely take two folks one to hold while the other loosens hinge/hood bolts and re-tightens. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it my self. One minute it wont go down at all. The next adjustment it went down like it really should. No fuss, no damage. Adjustments!:happy7:
 
I found out from a real Mopar guy, that the hinges will not budge unless the hood is aligned properly, I mean it takes some time to get gaps on fenders & rear hood height adjusted. This will most likely take two folks one to hold while the other loosens hinge/hood bolts and re-tightens. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it my self. One minute it wont go down at all. The next adjustment it went down like it really should. No fuss, no damage. Adjustments!:happy7:

First and foremost the fender to hood gaps have NOTHING to do with the hinges other than the diagonal fit. As long as you get the correct gap along the rear edge of the hood and the cowl things will go easily. The straightness of these gaps are determined by the hood latch. There is a lot of side to side slop in these hinges no matter what you do! That is the exact reason the rubber bumpers along the inside of the fenders are there. These bumpers line the hood up while closing to prevent the hood from hitting the edges of the fenders.
Jus sayn'!
 
To fully respect hood hindges you would have to witness hoods ruined by those who dont respect the strength of the hindge spring
Back in the day, those land yachts with monsterous hoods (Thunderbirds, Grand Prixs, etc.. ) had to have extermely strong hindge springs. Rookies doing something simple as oil change grab the left front corner of a hood instead of going another step or 3 to the front center. They bent the left corner of the hood when the right side hindge refused to cooperate with their method of closing the hood.
 
Boy, this is an oldie, but it looks as though this begs to be addressed. Think about it. A real Mopar guy in Washington? Who'd a thunk it. For those that are having trouble consider this. When removing the hood check it out and see if it's closing nicely before you remove it then mark the bolt up pattern of the hinge flange on the hood with some sort of marker. When ya go back with it you will know the original placement. I dont jack with the hinge after the hood is off. Very strong. Remember the hood is about 5 ft long. That's a big lever. If i want to exercise the hinge while hood is off i get a pipe that will fit over the front of hinge. Just a small amount of movement is all that is necessary. DONT pull the hinge all the way down and let it snap back. Just flex it a few inches. Someone is gona hurt themselves or tear something up. IMO no need for this. Paint around it. If your gona work on the hinge do so in the right sequence of restoration. When the fender and door is off. Be careful. Those things can kill an idiot or mame him for life.
Small Block
 
I have shut hoods with no fenders on the car. I must be a miracle worker. Just kidding ya. Welcome to fabo.Maybe you could have worded it a little better, I would like to think i am a real Mopar guy.
 
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