Bonnet won't open?
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: DOWN UNDER!!
Bonnet won't open?
Hey fellas,
My bonnet has jammed itself closed somehow on my '74... Has this happened to anyone else and do any of you know how to pry it open again?? It isn't the spring jamming up, I've had that previously. This time the lever won't even pop it open to the first click, it's somehow completely jammed shut
Help before I get the sabre saw and make a mess of my nice new radiator support panel!!
Cheers,
Jais
PS will also post this into the aussie chapter forum
My bonnet has jammed itself closed somehow on my '74... Has this happened to anyone else and do any of you know how to pry it open again?? It isn't the spring jamming up, I've had that previously. This time the lever won't even pop it open to the first click, it's somehow completely jammed shut
Help before I get the sabre saw and make a mess of my nice new radiator support panel!!
Cheers,
Jais
PS will also post this into the aussie chapter forum
Post Fiend
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From: Big Sky Country
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Faster than me!
Mike beat me to it! I had to do the same thing to my 74 yesterday. A good pop with your fist should hopefully free it up. Good Luck!
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Try just applying downward pressure to the middle of the hood (right above the latch) and then release it. Do not over torque the release handle, they will bend.
Otherwise you might be able to unbolt the complete latch assembly thru the grill?
Otherwise you might be able to unbolt the complete latch assembly thru the grill?
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From: Louisville,Ky.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,219
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From: Colorado Springs
No fists! Use your forearms with a firm burst of pressure on the edge where the metal creases. Otherwise you will dent it in a way which is only obvious from the side looking across.
I have seen hundreds of trucks with "fist" dings peppered all over the nose of the bonnet!
Do it right or do it wrong it's up to you.
I have seen hundreds of trucks with "fist" dings peppered all over the nose of the bonnet!
Do it right or do it wrong it's up to you.
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Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 14,333
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From: Stanley, VA
No fists! Use your forearms with a firm burst of pressure on the edge where the metal creases. Otherwise you will dent it in a way which is only obvious from the side looking across.
I have seen hundreds of trucks with "fist" dings peppered all over the nose of the bonnet!
Do it right or do it wrong it's up to you.
I have seen hundreds of trucks with "fist" dings peppered all over the nose of the bonnet!
Do it right or do it wrong it's up to you.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: DOWN UNDER!!
thanks guys 
got it by pulling the grille apart and unbolting the latch assembly.
now it sits really really high... I replaced the hinges with a pair that were fine on an XLT I pulled apart a while ago and fixed the latch, but yeah it sits super high, there's about 1.5" gap between it and the guard. If you press it down it sits where it should but then it springs back up again... for now I've just raised the latch to make it sit evenly but it's driving me nuts.
Has this happened to anyone else? How did you fix it? Adjusting the hinges up and down doesn't seem to make any difference...
Cheers
got it by pulling the grille apart and unbolting the latch assembly.now it sits really really high... I replaced the hinges with a pair that were fine on an XLT I pulled apart a while ago and fixed the latch, but yeah it sits super high, there's about 1.5" gap between it and the guard. If you press it down it sits where it should but then it springs back up again... for now I've just raised the latch to make it sit evenly but it's driving me nuts.
Has this happened to anyone else? How did you fix it? Adjusting the hinges up and down doesn't seem to make any difference...
Cheers
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Ideeho
Make sure your hinges are lubed up good and not binding. Lube every pivot point on them with WD40 or good penetrating oil and work the hood up and down. Repeat till it works smoothly. I have found that if the hinges are sticky, it will make the hood hard to open and will not allow the rear of the hood to go fully down when you close it. After you get it working right, lube it all up with spray type white lithium grease. I usually lube all of it up every time I change my engine oil to keep it from happening again. Hope this helps!!
Thread Starter
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Senior User
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From: DOWN UNDER!!
hahaha the hood is the roof lining over here :P (or the part of the anatomy that houses the clitoris LOL)
Thanks PEB, I'll try giving it some more lube again. I drowned them in WD40 before bolting them on and when that dried out I sprayed a HEAP of Lanolin on it all so they'd work smoothly but it didn't make any difference to where it sat. I'm home in 3wks so I'll let you know how I go when it happens
Thanks PEB, I'll try giving it some more lube again. I drowned them in WD40 before bolting them on and when that dried out I sprayed a HEAP of Lanolin on it all so they'd work smoothly but it didn't make any difference to where it sat. I'm home in 3wks so I'll let you know how I go when it happens