37 Hood Ornament

Here is a good one for you problem solvers. I went out to check the oil on my 37 LZ, twisted the hood ornament (hood release) and it simply came loose. It looks like a bolt holding it down came off. The threads are in great shape, in other words, it is not damaged, so putting it back the way it was will be no problem once I get the hood up. But how can I spring the release and open the hood without damaging anything?

Ace

I obviously meant nut and not bolt in the above post.

ace

Got the hood to open today, using a long screwdriver and replaced the missing nut.

Ace

Dear Ace,I believe that handle is a lot like the one on a 37 Ford.On the Ford you put a washer with a tab on it and then put the nut on and bent the tab over one flat of the nut,never allowing the nut to back off.diz

Diz,

My original washer and nut were long gone, but what you suggested was exactly what I did when I fixed it today. Thanks for comfirming what seemed logical to me. Of course I have found that logic does not work that often in the old car game.

ace