72 Demon Hood Hinge Question

Last fall I was closing my hood and heard a very loud BANG as if a gun went off ....... the back of the hood on drivers side next to the cowl will not go down flush. Up about one inch. I took the inner fender out and of course I can see down through the fender and through the door to see...... I have had a light inside there right up next to the hinge and spring ....I see nothing wrong. No break in spring ...nothing off .... hood stays up when I open it. Everyone keeps saying its the spring, that would make sense with the loud BANG but I see nothing wrong ..its not unwound anywhere...it looks just like the passenger side.

I guess my questions are.. Would the spring keep the hood from shutting flush with the cowl? Anybody had any issues like this ...... And..Am I going to HAVE to take the fender off to remove the hinge? The hinge does rub the side of the fender as it shuts but nothing really bad.