How to remove hood spring latch

[latrucker]

Can anyone tell me how to remove the hood spring latch on the front of the hood. I feel a nut behind it, but there’s no way to get a wrench or socket in there to unscrew it. What am I missing?

 

[BradinEDH]

I did a complete nut and bolt restoration and that is the only thing I could not get apart. I had to mask it off and paint around it. After 50 years it was not coming apart for me. The large nut is like a lock nut to the surface of the hood. I could get that to loosen up but the shaft would not unscrew from the hood. Good Luck! I am curious what the trick is.

 

[m_m70]

I feel a nut behind it, but there’s no way to get a wrench or socket in there to unscrew it.

the nut behind it is welded in. the big nut that you can see is a jam nut. Loosen the jam nut, unscrew the bolt (there should be a slot in the "cone" that you can use a large standard screwdriver into).

 

[DirtDonk]

And good luck with it. My 71 is a piece of cake.
Easily adjustable, and easily removed. My 68 however, I’ve been working on getting that sucker off for two years and no joy.
I’ve tried to make some different tools to put more torque on it than just a screwdriver. But at this point, I’m starting to twist the welded on nut.
Those threads are well and thoroughly rusted into the inner nut.

 

[73azbronco]

what mm 70 says, the big huge sheet metal nut is key. My whole thing is lousy goosy.

 

[NJBronk]

My welded nut had come un-welded. Had to reach in behind with an open-ended wrench or pliers (or my fingers, I can't remember) to hold it in place to unscrew the old one and screw on the new one. Luckly the new one is holding ok with it just being tightened like that.

And penetrating blaster is probably your friend here.

 

[Speedrdr]

AeroKroil or PB Blaster for the win!

Randy

 

[thegreatjustino]

Mine simply came loose driving on the freeway one night...

 

[DirtDonk]

Ha ha! I’ve heard of that more than once over the years!

 

[thegreatjustino]

Ha ha! I’ve heard of that more than once over the years!

Driving back to Stockton from the Bay Area. The hood started bouncing up and down. Thankfully the safety latch prevented it from coming all the way open.