I recently cleaned up and painted the front end of my car. Removed the upper hood pin, lower latch assembly, radiator support, and cowl support. Bought, painted and installed a new grill. All looks great.
I WISH IT WORKED AS WELL AS IT LOOKS.

Here is the problem

I reinstalled everything. When I put in the top hood pin and lower latch the alignment was a little off and the hood was not closing. So I brilliantly opened the latch and pushed the hood down. NOW IT WONT OPEN!!!
What now. I attempted to pull the latch and push up from underneath, Nothing !!! Pull from the top Nothing !!! What to do ???? Any help, ideas, suggestions.......I'm lost

See if you can get a screw driver on the hood latch pin from behind the grill and unscrew it out of the hood. Not sure if it will work or if it's accessible, but it's what I would try.

See if you can get a screw driver on the hood latch pin from behind the grill and unscrew it out of the hood. Not sure if it will work or if it's accessible, but it's what I would try.

Great idea! My guess is the lip on the hood pin is catching on the side, front, or back of the latch assembly. If you can't unscrew it per above post, I'd try moving the hood slightly left/right while trying to open it. Might need to do that carefully from the fender gaps with shims.

Try having someone push down the hood while you pull the latch. The pin may be screwed in to far putting in a bind.:cool:

Try having someone push down the hood while you pull the latch. The pin may be screwed in to far putting in a bind.:cool:

Try this, I always have to push down on my hood to open it.

I GOT IT OPEN !!!!! With some pushing, pulling, and cursing....:D

Thanks for the ideas:beers:
The problem now is that I can not get the hood pin to set into the hole on the latch assembly. It seems like the pin cannot be adjusted forward enough. Upon closing the hood the pin hits the top of the little catch that is supposed to hold the pin on closing. It appears that the pin should be in front of that catch and move it back (spring loaded) as the hood comes down. I tried filing the catch a little, but the pin is still hitting the top. Should I try and bend the pin? raise or lower the pin (can't see how that will help) ANY more HELP !!! HOW DO I SET THIS MESS UP???

If the hood latch worked correctly before and you reassembled using the same parts it should still work. Once you decide which way things need to go loosen the bolts on the latch assembly and pin assembly. There is usually a little play between the bolts and bolt holes. Move each in the appropriate direction and re-tighten.

Kevin,I had this happen before.I had to longate (oval) the 3 hood pin assem. holes to give me more room to center the hood pin to the hole.I also used a 3/4"- 1/2 round metal file to smooth the birrs off the 1/2 round hood latch before painting.:yes:

I don't think it was woking properly when I got the car (Dec 08). he bottom portion of the latch assembly broke a couple of days after I got the car. I had it rewelded to the top plate and it seemed to work properly. I also purchased a new (used) top pin with a spring. I measured the pin length and it appears to be the same as the old one. My thought was that the latch originally broke due to the stress over the years. I thought the spring would reduce the stress on the latch and pop the hood up. This obviously did not happen. What Now???

I would suggest picking up a new latch assm instead of welding,or further messing with it.After age and abuse,some things need to be replaced.

I don't think it was woking properly when I got the car (Dec 08). he bottom portion of the latch assembly broke a couple of days after I got the car. I had it rewelded to the top plate and it seemed to work properly. I also purchased a new (used) top pin with a spring. I measured the pin length and it appears to be the same as the old one. My thought was that the latch originally broke due to the stress over the years. I thought the spring would reduce the stress on the latch and pop the hood up. This obviously did not happen. What Now???


A correctly welded latch plate that works freely shouldn't be a problem. I have slipped a short piece of pipe over the pin to 'tweak' it the correct direction to adjust for a slight alignment problem.

Good to hear your hood's open. Sounds like previous damage or abuse before you got the car. The pin should sit square off the mounting flange, both looking from the front and from the side. You can tweak this with a piece of pipe as Dan says or "tap" it with a large hammer. If you have to go to forward off square, the latch may not hold sufficiently. If adjusting the pin does not work, maybe loosen the rad support up top at the fenders and pull it forward.