How to Replace a Car Hood

If you have gotten into a front-end collision or would like to upgrade your hood to one that is lighter or one that has a hood scoop, you will need to replace your hood. Replacing the hood seems like a task for a body shop but is actually one of the simplest things you can do on your vehicle if you have a helper to give you a hand.

Things You'll Need

  • Helper
  • Ratchet
  • Sockets
  • New Hood
  • Open the hood and prop.

  • Instruct your helper to go to one side of the hood while you remain on the other.

  • Use an appropriately sized ratchet to loosen the two bolts at the base of the hood where it attaches to the hinges that allow it to move up and down.

  • Give your helper the ratchet that you were using and instruct him/her to remove the other two bolts holding the hood. Make sure to hold the hood firmly while your helper is removing the final two bolts.

  • Grasp the hood firmly and pull the prop rod out of the hood.

  • Remove the hood from the hinges and place it out of your work area.

  • Install the new hood on the hinges and prop it with the prop rod.

  • Tighten all four bolts with a ratchet.

  • Close the hood.