Stripped hood nuts - What to do?

[eSJayDee]

Just installed my hood after painting the car & alas, two (one on either side; one fwd the other back) of the nuts in the hood that hold it to the hinges appear to be stripped. (bolt goes in fine, but it never fully tightens. I've tried several bolts (all used) so unfortunately, I assume it's the nuts)
Looking at my spare hood, I can't figure how to remove/replace these nuts w/o cutting open the hood.
Best I can figure, about the only alternative is to take off the hood (it's quite inconvenient trying to get/find someone to help) then try to tap/chase the nuts.  I assume they're 5/16"  (it's been a long time since I've had to size nuts & bolts), should I retap/chase w/ that size or go up to 3/8" or, shudder cringe, something metric.

TIA

[Charger-Bodie]

i guess if it were me , at the point you are at with it being painted and all id tap all 4 of them to 3/8 and go from there atleast they will all be the same and it will tighten.

[bill440rt]

Why not just use those threaded inserts? I forget the technical name (nut-serts?), but they are designed to repair stripped out threads. They screw into the existing hole, & give you new threads to screw into. I believe they are stainless, so they will be stronger than what you have now. Once the hinges are bolted in place, you'll never see them.

[hemi-hampton]

If I remember right They are called Heli-coils. I had to use some on my Heads. LEON.

[eSJayDee]

I forget the technical name (nut-serts?)

Yes, indeed as Hemi sez, they're heli-coils.  That option occurred to me & is probably the best route to go.
It unfortunately likely requires removing the hood, or at least have someone there to hold the hood up while I work on it, which is of course, the deficiency (the 2nd person) that makes it so annoying to remove the hood in the 1st place.

Thanks for the input guys.  If I don't see or think of anything better, it's heli-coils for me.

[Charger1973]

Ive never been a fan of heli-coils...  Seen them strip out a few times and I just dont trust them.  The one that stands out the most in my mind was the time I bought a master cylinder for my 68 Coronet and got it installed and went to attach the brake lines and as I started to screw the first one in, the heli-coil came out instead.  I was pretty pissed when I saw that.  I had to take it back out and drive back to the parts store to return it and order another one and then wait 2 more days for it to get there.     Personally I would not feel comfortable having those things hold my hood in place...