Hood Hinge

This procedure covers removal and installation of the hood hinge assembly on a 1992 Dodge Viper, including hood support and realignment.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Hood hinge assembly (left or right as needed) × 1 — Mopar OEM 04596286 (left) or 04596287 (right)
• Hood hinge spring (if damaged) × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake.
2. Disconnect negative battery cable if hood has lighting or washer nozzle heating elements.
3. Cover both fenders with protective blankets or pads to prevent scratching during hood manipulation.
4. Open hood and secure in fully open position using hood prop or jack stands positioned under hood edges (do not rely on hinges during this repair).
5. Clean the hinge area to identify all fastener locations and hardware condition.

Procedure

1. 1

   Mark hinge alignment positions
   Using a grease pencil or paint pen, carefully mark the outline of the hinge attachment points on both the hood inner panel and the cowl/firewall mounting surface. Draw reference lines across the hinge-to-hood joint and hinge-to-body joint to record the exact factory position. Apply masking tape adjacent to hinge edges and mark across the tape for additional reference. These marks are critical for reinstallation alignment.
2. 2

   Disconnect hood support components
   If equipped with hood prop rod, disconnect the prop from its hood or hinge mounting clip. Inspect the hinge spring mounting points and note their orientation. Verify the hood spring/strut assist mechanism type for the 1992 Viper RT/10 clamshell hood before proceeding, as spring orientation and control requirements depend on the actual mechanism used. Do not attempt to remove springs at this time; they will be controlled during hinge removal.
3. 3

   Support hood weight
   Have an assistant firmly support the hood weight from underneath, or position padded jack stands under the hood corners to carry the full weight. Ensure support is stable and will not shift when hinge fasteners are loosened. The hood must remain stationary and level during fastener removal.
4. 4

   Remove hood-to-hinge fasteners
   Locate the hinge-to-hood mounting bolts on the underside of the hood inner panel. Verify the exact number of bolts per hinge securing it to the hood structure against the 1992 Dodge Viper RT/10 service manual before removal. Remove these bolts completely while your assistant or support stands maintain hood position. Keep bolts organized and inspect threads for damage.
5. 5

   Separate hood from hinge
   With all hood-to-hinge bolts removed, carefully lift the hood upward and away from the hinge assemblies. The hood should separate cleanly. Have your assistant help move the hood to a padded work surface or safe storage location. Place hood inner surface down on protective blankets.
6. 6

   Remove hinge-to-cowl fasteners
   With hood removed, access the hinge-to-cowl panel mounting bolts at the base of each hinge assembly where it attaches to the firewall/cowl structure. Verify the exact number of hinge-to-cowl bolts per hinge against the 1992 Dodge Viper RT/10 service manual before removal. Loosen these bolts while controlling the hinge assembly to prevent it from falling or the spring from releasing uncontrollably.
7. 7

   Control and remove hinge assembly
   As you remove the final hinge-to-cowl bolt, firmly grip the hinge assembly and control the spring tension. The torsion spring will attempt to unload as the hinge pivots free. Carefully guide the hinge assembly away from the mounting surface, managing spring tension throughout. Once free, slowly release spring tension in a controlled manner and remove the complete hinge assembly. Inspect the spring, pivot points, and all mounting surfaces for wear or damage.
8. 8

   Inspect and prepare new hinge
   If installing a new hinge, compare it to the removed unit to verify correct application and spring orientation. Check that all pivot bushings are intact and properly lubricated. If reusing the original hinge for repair purposes (spring replacement, bushing service), perform necessary repairs now. Clean all mounting surfaces on the cowl and prepare them for installation.
9. 9

   Install hinge to cowl
   Position the new or repaired hinge assembly to the cowl mounting surface, aligning the hinge base with the alignment marks made during disassembly. Control the spring tension as you position the hinge. Start all hinge-to-cowl bolts by hand to ensure proper thread engagement. Tighten bolts to specification using a torque wrench.
10. 10

    Position hood onto hinges
    With assistant support, carefully position the hood over the hinge assemblies. Align the hood mounting holes with the hinge attachment points, using your alignment marks as reference. The hood should rest in approximately the same position as marked during disassembly. Support hood weight while starting fasteners.
11. 11

    Install hood-to-hinge fasteners
    Start all hood-to-hinge bolts by hand, ensuring proper alignment with your reference marks. Do not fully tighten bolts initially; leave them snug to allow for final adjustment. Once all bolts are started and the hood position appears correct relative to your marks, tighten bolts progressively to specification using a torque wrench.
12. 12

    Check hood alignment and adjust
    Remove hood supports and carefully lower the hood to closed position. Check hood-to-fender gaps on both sides, hood-to-cowl gap at rear, and hood leading edge position. Gaps should be uniform and symmetrical side-to-side, matching factory specification for the 1992 Dodge Viper RT/10; if the factory figure is unavailable, match the opposite-side gaps as the reference. If adjustment is needed, mark the required correction direction, re-support the hood, loosen the hood-to-hinge bolts slightly, shift hood position incrementally, and re-torque. Repeat until alignment is correct.
13. 13

    Verify hood operation
    Open and close the hood through its full range of motion several times. The hood should open smoothly with spring assistance, hold in the open position securely, and close with controlled motion without binding or rubbing. Check that the hood latch engages properly and the hood sits flush when closed. Reconnect battery negative cable if previously disconnected.

Reassembly

1. Installation follows removal steps in reverse order with these considerations: always refer to alignment marks made during disassembly to minimize adjustment time; torque all hinge bolts to specification in progressive pattern; expect to perform minor alignment adjustment even when using reference marks due to spring tension variables.

Verification

• Confirm hood opens and closes smoothly without binding or interference with fenders or cowl.
• Verify hood panel gaps are uniform on both sides and at rear edge, matching opposite side measurements.
• Check that hood latch engages securely and hood does not move when pressed down at corners while latched.
• Inspect hinge area for proper spring function - hood should stay open under its own spring tension without prop support.
• Confirm no paint damage occurred during service and protective materials are removed from fenders.

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