Hood brackets won't go down

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.