Anyone know how to go about removing the studs that the hood hinges pivot on properly? It looks like they're pressed in from under the dash but when I went to knock them out with a hammer it seems to be bending in the metal plate that they protrude through. Do I need to cut and drill them out or is there a more effective way?
Can't seem to find anything in the
service manual about it. Section 3-48 has a diagram that shows them and calls them a "WELD STUD" but doesn't mention how to remove them.
I'm in the middle of replacing my old bent & fatigued hood hinges with a good pair I found and I noticed the driver's side stud was a little crooked. Since everything is apart I wanted to take the opportunity to swap these studs out with a legit threaded shoulder bolt, pair of PTFE washers and a nylon lock nut and ditch the silly spring/star washer thingies.
Thanks!