HELP! My hood doesn't open, hinge issues

[anvilmaster]

I own a 1984 300D Turbo. Ok, I would post pics, but, since my hood doesn't open, I can't really take any useful ones. Here is what happened. The place where the hinge attaches to the car on the Driver side corroded. My hinge unattached from the car body. My stepfather took the spring off the hinge (the hood wouldn't close) in order to allow the hood to shut. So, today I purchased a new fuel filter, and I went to open my hood... to make a long story short- I can find no way to open it. Also, how would I repair such a problem? Can I weld a plate there and reattach the hinge? Thanks