Guys I have just run into a glitch for the first time ever on Cpteddies car. Came close many times before but this time it happened to both "bolt plates".
If you hadn't noticed yet both the hood and the trunk have glued in steel plates with 1/4x20 nuts welded to them so you have something to bolt the parts on. The problem is sometimes the welder doesnt do as good a job as he should or the glue/inner fiberglass isn't done real well. IF you have any trouble at all putting in a bolt on any of the holes- STOP - get a 1/4x20 tap and clean out all four holes. In Ed's case the bolts had welding slag in the threads and the fiberglass holding them in was-well shall we say very poor. Both his hood plates fell down inside the hood, mandating I cut the entire hood apat, cut off the nuts that were welded to the plates, install new nuts and then fiberglassed everything back together. This job is NOT for the beginner and he shouldn't have to do it, but it happens.
Hinge section cut out-you can see the plates laying loose:
Totally cut out -ready for grindiong for new material:
Hood section cut out-ready for prepping:
I use a massive amount of "Marglss" or "Duraglass", on both the hood and the cut out piece, clamp them back together agaain. When dry I re-tap the nuts to make sure all the fiberglass is clear from the the threads
Finish out the body work and in this case re-prime!
Like I said you shouldn't have to do all this, but it happens. Before you bolt up tap out the holes and hopefully you wont have to go through this little nightmnare!
DV