Simple question - Am I overlooking the obvious?

[nbn]

49 Plymouth

 

Engine developed a nice little knock when it's warmed up, engine needs to come out.

 

How to pull hood? I see the 6 bolts at the cowl, 2 are external and can be removed from the engine bay. The remaining 4 are internal and must be removed from inside the car, the only issue is that I can not locate the bolt heads to get a socket onto.

 

Am I overlooking and obvious access point? 

 

Seems basic, maybe my brain is too tired to see it.

[dpollo]

You do not need to remove the hinges.    There are 6   1/4 inch bolts  (7/16 heads)  3 on each side fastening the hood to the hinges.  There may be an additional bolt in the center of the hood, holding it to the cross brace.   Mark the position of the hood relative to the hinge so you can put it back exactly as it came off.

 

If you undo the hinges from the body, my guess is that you will find it very challenging to ever make it fit again.

[allbizz49]

Marking the original bolt location is great if the hood alignment is how it should be. As a body and paint guy, I almost always readjust them. They seem to always need a little tweaking.

[Bryan]

On a Dodge D24 Since I was afraid to pull the whole hood off in one piece, I took the halves loose (bolts along the center with each half raised).  Then you take the 2 off in the very back and 2 in front..The middle chrome piece slides backwards and each hood half slides forward individually.   Don't know if Plymouth is the same.

[Bryan]

Oops...and the chrome piece has an extra bolt in front.

[Bryan]

Got to go to bed, on east coast.  If you are trying to pull the whole front end off..the side panels on each side of the engine must be removed to get to the rear vertical bolts for the fenders. But I'm speaking of a 48 Dodge.

[MarcDeSoto]

I think 41-50+ Plymouths have alligator one-piece hoods.  Dodge was the last MoPar mark to have a split hood opening sideways until the new 49 models.  

[nbn]

22 hours ago, dpollo said:

You do not need to remove the hinges.    There are 6   1/4 inch bolts  (7/16 heads)  3 on each side fastening the hood to the hinges.  There may be an additional bolt in the center of the hood, holding it to the cross brace.   Mark the position of the hood relative to the hinge so you can put it back exactly as it came off.

 

If you undo the hinges from the body, my guess is that you will find it very challenging to ever make it fit again.

DPOLLO! You are a rock star!

 

I've pulled many hoods in my past (automotive, of course) and it never occurred to me that the bolts were on the lower edge of the hood. I was looking everywhere BUT there. 5 minutes and the hood was off. Thanks.

[MarcDeSoto]

Dpollo, you are right.  I took off the hood and the hinges with the strainer that goes across.  Yes, it will be hard to get it back on right, and you have to put the heavy hood springs back on too!