Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Forum
Trans Am Information => Trans Am Tech => Paint and Body => Topic started by: someonestoe on July 19, 2006, 08:10:55 PM
-
I admit i need a bunch of help on this resto. I just bought myself a "BRAND NEW" 76 trans am, and it is beautiful (in my eyes). First things first, i can't get the damn hood open, i know it seems stupid and simple and your thinkin "This guy wants to restore this vehicle?" well it's more complicated it's been sitting since 91 and everything is cracked dusty and unreadable. Now i know that you can pop the hood up through the front grill but i don't know how to unlatch it. Is there a lever inside? If so there are 2 little levers down by the e brake and neither of them seem to do anything and one is broken off and hanging down. I really don't want to have to cut the hood for this is one of the few parts of the car that don't need no body work. So any help on this o so simple problem would be greatly appreciated.
-
no dont cut the hood....youll have to pull the cable again....thats how it works...pull once to pop the hood then pull again to release, sometimes youll have to push down on the hood a little so the latch can clear the slot.....but that should open it up for you...also it sounds like your car is a non-a/c model which describes the two levers by the e-brake....they should be a vent in the kick panel....
-
Just one lever to pull, outside. The hood should pop open, then keep pulling the same lever and raise the hood.
Most likely its stuck because it is rusted. If it will, pop it open enough to spray the latch inside with some WD40. You may need some help, so get somebody to hold open the hood while you spray it.
Next, try and spray the hood hinges on both sides. Raise slowly on the hood or you may bend it if your not careful.
BTW, welcome to the board.
-
Sometimes, I have even had to go up from the underside of the car to get it to open. I have to go in there with a screwdriver from underneath the car to pop thew latch by hand. The last one I did was a 78, so it was easier to remove the grille and come in from the side, but on the 76, the grilles are installed from the rear so you can't really do that.
-
If it's really stuck, I've read someplace from someone very clever that you take out the trim around the headlights to get to the latch with the hood closed. It moves drivers side to passengers side. You should be able to move it with a screwdriver.
I used to think that the u spring wasn't strong enough to pop the hood up. Then I figured it was the hinge springs. But I finally figured out it was that little latch.
But everyone here is correct. It's a bad design. They tend to catch. If it pops but doesn't open all the way, pull the handle again and pull the hood up with your other hand. Sometimes that works.
1976 is a great year.
Hey, once you get the hood open you'll wish that sticky latch was your only problem :D
Edit: Well the Hitman has been there done that.....taking the grill out won't work for you.
-
Thanks a bunch you guys it looks to me that it's rusted shut if the case is that one lever up front should unlatch it too. So i think a bit o WD40 should get the job done. Either way i have a lot of work to do! She may be a bit messed up but she's still flippin sexy man! I love these cars!