1949 Hood Install

[JoeKeys2010]

I am trying to put the hood back on my 1949 Kaiser.  Each side has 4 bolts, two on the inside and 2 on the outside.  I can get the bolts in on the inside bolts but not having so much luck on the outside.  I cant seem to get the hole in the hood to align with the threaded part of the hinge.  The springs are still attached.  I read the maintenance manual but I still cant all the bolts in.  Do the springs have to come off or is there a trick to getting the hood back on?

[joefrazer]

I had trouble with my 49 as well. I noticed that the hinges didn't line up flush with the hood so the bolts would never "catch" and thread in. I ended up using a small drift to force the hood and hinge holes to align and that allowed one of the bolts to thread in. Once one went, the rest went in as well.

[JoeKeys2010]

Did you leave the springs on?

[joefrazer]

Yes, I installed the springs before I put the hood on the car.

[JoeKeys2010]

Ok. Thanks. Mine is giving me a fit. Im leaving Texas and going back to Georgia. So if I don’t figure it out I’ll just strap it down on the trailer.

[JoeKeys2010]

I figured it out. Got the car back home to Texas. Getting ready to start driving it again.

[Jerry Wilbeck]

GREAT THAT YOU FIGURED IT OUT.
How about telling the rest of us dummy's how you did it with some photos?

[JoeKeys2010]

Don’t have step by step photos but I put the bolts through the hinge to the top of the hood first and snugged them up. Then I pushed the springs down on either side as if I were closing the hood. That seemed to be the trick. Then with the hood nearly closed I pulled and pushed until I liked the side bolts up with the hinge.

Probably more luck than skill.  Bottom line it’s on and lines up.

[Jerry Wilbeck]

Thank you very much for the explanation.