i don't understand how it came off the hinges at the firewall

 

I'll go look right now............BRB

 

How could I forget...........the hood is attached to the hinges with 2 bolts each side with the 'adjustment shims' in between. There's also the struts, the wiring and hoses for the windshield washers.

Were those bolts loose? If not they probably ripped the mounting points off the hood........used hood time!

BTDT also with a Chev truck that the starter kept sticking, was always getting under the hood to 'tap' the starter and one time didn't latch it all the way..............flew up in front of the windshield but didn't come off which made it hard to see to say the least............no fun at all.

 

Yes - I'm having I hard time visualizing this too...

The 2 bolts each side to the hinge mechanism aren't going to shear too easily... then there are 3 more each side for the hinge to the body all pretty secure. I thought the hood bolts went right in the side of the hood itself not a welded on bracket (will need to take a look) - how did this come off without wrecking something... odd! (but good!)

I'm also amazed you think it will go back together OK too - you were really lucky! - but more damage may be apparent when you get it on and ~aligned.... the hood is not very strong on its own.

Assume you also have wires & washer hoses ripped out as Malcolm says...

Pictures? especially of the hood attach point and hinge? The hinges may be wrecked too so check..

Alan

 

Ouch, that sucks. I had that happen in my first car, a 69 Datsun 510. Hood didn't come off, but it was warped pretty good. I knocked it into shape and ran with it for a couple of months until I had to replace it due to an unfortunate encounter with a relatively solid Chevy Nova....

 

and hood shocks ... need pics please

 

Ahh - I remember more...

The hinge bolts go though holes in a pocket (welded on?) on the side of the hood - into this pocket slide a (~) 1/4" X 1/2" x 4" metal plate with the threaded holes for the 2 bolts to screw into - this allows for the hood adjustment...

Did this whole pocket plate rip off? - its it still bolted to the hinges?

Is it in fact designed to rip off under these circumstances.. wow - that would be some eventuality planning? How smart were these German engineers...?

Alan

 

Having been a BMW and Mercedes Benz club member outside the U.S. I assure you the Germans did this for crush zone/cockpit integrity purposes.

 

Looks like this was due to more than just leaving the hood unlatched. You are missing a lot of bolts. I've driven down the freeway with the hood popped, but the safety latch prevented anything bad from happening.

 

Wasn't me, but in high school a buddy of mine had a '53 Chevy pickup. He had just spent weeks cleaning it up, stripped and painted Candy Apple Red. It was beautiful, for about three days. He was hauling a** down the highway when that great big hood flew off. It happens.

 

I had the same thing happen to me a few years back in my 78 Scirocco. I had the hood tied down with speaker wire after a truck backed into me. I was driving back to school on the interstate passing a semi when Wham! Who turn the lights out?

I managed to get her pulled over and tied back down, but after that it always looked more like a bird bath more than a hood. I actually drove this car to the junk yard when I was done with it after spending an afternoon trying to blow the engine or drop the tranny first. Amazing drive train, too bad the exterior was wrecked, and the interior destroyed by thieves breaking my window and stealing my stereo.

It’s a good think you or some else was hurt. As we say in the Hoosier land… no blood, no foul!

 

Hey Guys,
Just stepped out for a bit, caught up with everything.
Okay checked again, no damage to roof, back hatch or even the attenna. There are a couple of scratches on the hood but nothing catastrophic. Worst damage looks to be on the hood closest to the firewall, slightly bent back on the two corners.
The wiring for the washers and hoses just popped out, no physical damage is apparent, that is the wires and tubes are still perfectly intact.
Now when I look at my hoodless car(89) I see the big, brassy colored hinges(that is what they look like to me), lots of bolts like everyone is talking. On top of the hinges in the hood down position there is a silver piece of metal with what looks like welds(could be smeared bolts?) and this metal outline matches perfectly with the unpainted part where this "dealy" attaches to the hood.
Anyone? I guess a couple of pics are in order.
Oh yeah struts are probablu FUBAR'd!

 

need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics

 

need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need picsneed pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics need pics

can someone tripple this please

 

The silvery thing could be a spacer shim. Hard to say from description.