I took off my hood a while ago to “observe” the fan blade after it flew off, since it bent and I was going to drive it about an hour at highway speeds to get it to my work. Not the best decision, but I felt like I could catch it before it went through my radiator again.

I got it up to my work safely, and I pulled it in and put the hood back together. I put the shims back in the same place they came from, and I lined the hood latch up exactly where it came from, but I didn’t rivet back that part of the hood latch. I closed the hood shut, and to make sure I could open the hood, I went inside and pulled the latch. But it just pulled like the hood was open. There was no engagement or resistance or anything, and now my hood won’t open.

So, what did I mess up here? Could the hood latch not be lined up and that’s why I can’t open the hood? But what confuses me is that the hood is completely shut, and the lever inside just doesn’t work anymore, conveniently after I put the hood back together.

I know I can take the headlights out and get to the latch bolts and open the hood up, but I’m more concerned with what I did wrong and how to make sure this doesn’t happen again

 

Did the hood release handle "spring back" when you released it? Perhaps the cable slipped out on the latch end.

Otherwise, I have no clue. Don't think you can be sure until you get the hood open.

 

"but I didn’t rivet back that part of the hood latch"

Are you referring to the part where the cable attaches? If you drill out the rivets and didn't reattach that to the hood, it'll just slide back and forth instead of moving the rods. Never had to do it myself, but I understand you can pull the headlights out to get to the latches.

 

I think so? There’s two bolts that hold the latch on the hood, and then there is a “plate” that was riveted in that I didn’t rivet back. It would make sense, because the hood lever just pulls like it’s not attached to the hood latch. Regardless, one of these days I’m going to pop it back open and see what I did wrong

 

You mean these two? Yeah, that would likely do it.

 

Yup, that would be the ones I didn’t put back in. What exactly does that do by the way?

 

I have read before on this forum that it is possible to reach up from underneath the truck and activate the normal release lever

I dont know whether this meant just with hands, or whether some tool, or wire is required to activate it, they didnt say it did

maybe it depends on how long and thin your arms are, (and other body shapes)...worth a try

 

When you pull the cable, the cable pulls the arm, the arm pulls the rod that connects to the 2 latches. Like Lawsoncl said, with no rivets, the plate will slide back and forth rather than pull the rod.

 

Yeah, that would actually make a ton of sense. Thank you

 

I got it open!

The way I did it was since I have a 4 cylinder, I had a lot more room in the front to reach my arms up to the latch cable. I had my boss slam down on the hood right as I pulled the latch, and it popped open!

When I got my hood open, i riveted that plate back to where it was, latched each of the latches, pulled the lever, and now my hood opens again.

Now, next step is to pull the engine and trans and do a rebuild!

 

Hey, you finally found a benefit to having the a 4-banger!