Hood Latch Drama - Corvette Forum : DigitalCorvettes.com Corvette Forums

ndv · 10-31-2012, 05:21 PM

The good news, hood is mounted and aligned as good as it gets until its blended with the rest of the body.

The bad... or at least frustrating.

The driver's side, when latched, rides a little high and has a lot of "spring" to it. It appears I can adjust the height, down in this case, via a screwdriver and some sort of 3 pronged wrench. Am I mistaken?

Second, when I pull the hood release, the driver's side pops up but I almost always have to reach in and push the spoon a little further to release the passenger side. I've adjusted the cable using the plate with holes to the point that the driver's side can still latch but it won't release the passenger side. The release just doesn't seem to have enough travel.

Am I looking at cable stretch, either the release cable or the one between the latches?

Any insight appreciated.

72SBVet · 10-31-2012, 06:20 PM

Funny thing mine is doing just like yours. My hood gaps aren't adjusted so trying to open it is a pita.....if my brother gets it open I'll post a response of how he did so.

ndv · 10-31-2012, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72SBVet

Funny thing mine is doing just like yours. My hood gaps aren't adjusted so trying to open it is a pita.....if my brother gets it open I'll post a response of how he did so.

My gaps can only be fixed with body work I think. Both front fenders have been replaced; I did one this year and a previous owner did the other one.

When I "pop" the hood, the driver's side releases but I have to either wiggle the hood or reach in and push the spoon further for it to pop.

The Rat · 10-31-2012, 11:21 PM

I see you cut out the front of the hood scoop. Do you have a plan to keep the rain from coming in and I don't mean just when your driving?

72SBVet · 11-01-2012, 04:20 AM

I know my fore and aft aren't exactly perfect on mine so I think that's where my problem lies. The hood was sort of put on until the final alignment that was suppose to be done on it, but I completely closed it when I loaded it up so that it wouldn't become a windsail. I know my main hood cable has stretch in it so that doesn't help.

rtj · 11-01-2012, 04:20 AM

Make sure the latches center on the lower post. Oil everything latches, cables, et cetera.

The latch probably has too much " bite.

walleyfisher · 11-01-2012, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtj

Make sure the latches center on the lower post. Oil everything latches, cables, et cetera.1640 N ST Rd 7
Lauderhill, FL 33313

The latch probably has too much "bite."

Open the hood and put masking tape across the holes in the lower latches. Then put grease on the points of the upper hood latches, then close the hood until the points come in contact with the masking tape and see if the points leave a mark that is centered in the hole. if not adjust the lower latches, re-tape, re-grease the points and try again until the two latches are centered.

If the latches are not centered, the hood will be "pulled" towards the most off centerd side causing th latches to operat as you discribed. This is a fidly deal but when you have it right you will see the difference. good luck

ndv · 11-01-2012, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rat

I see you cut out the front of the hood scoop. Do you have a plan to keep the rain from coming in and I don't mean just when your driving?

I'm just going to do a humidity type screen. The 68 mustang has rear facing turn signal cut-outs at about the same place in relation to the engine and air cleaner. No screen, just a couple bars across it, hasn't been a problem for it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72SBVet

I know my fore and aft aren't exactly perfect on mine so I think that's where my problem lies. The hood was sort of put on until the final alignment that was suppose to be done on it, but I completely closed it when I loaded it up so that it wouldn't become a windsail. I know my main hood cable has stretch in it so that doesn't help.

I'm going for a semi-final fit here. And by that I mean it will be the body shop's responsibility to line it all back up when they are done

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtj

Make sure the latches center on the lower post. Oil everything latches, cables, et cetera.1640 N ST Rd 7
Lauderhill, FL 33313

The latch probably has too much "bite."

Quote:

Originally Posted by walleyfisher

Open the hood and put masking tape across the holes in the lower latches. Then put grease on the points of the upper hood latches, then close the hood until the points come in contact with the masking tape and see if the points leave a mark that is centered in the hole. if not adjust the lower latches, re-tape, re-grease the points and try again until the two latches are centered.

If the latches are not centered, the hood will be "pulled" towards the most off centerd side causing th latches to operat as you discribed. This is a fidly deal but when you have it right you will see the difference. good luck

I'll see about doing this tonight. Thanks for pointing me in the direction of using tape etc. From what I've seen everything is fidly about putting a new/original hood back on a car. Took me 2-3 sessions before I had the hinges right. Even then I had to modify them a bit so the new hood lined up.

All good stuff so far. Any thoughts on adjusting that driver's side spring down to remove some of the "spring" in the hood when I push down on that side?

walleyfisher · 11-01-2012, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndv

All good stuff so far. Any thoughts on adjusting that driver's side spring down to remove some of the "spring" in the hood when I push down on that side?

You do this by screwing the point into the latch. By screwing the point in you are compressing the spring causing the hood to be "pulled" down towards the body. If you look at the ends of the points there is a screw driver slot to screw or un screw the points in the upper latch.

I also think there is a "jam" nut on the threaded shaft below the point

ndv · 11-01-2012, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walleyfisher

You do this by screwing the point into the latch. By screwing the point in you are compressing the spring causing the hood to be "pulled" down towards the body. If you look at the ends of the points there is a screw driver slot to screw or un screw the points in the upper latch.

I also think there is a "jam" nut on the threaded shaft below the point

That's what I thought but thanks for confirming for me!

Looks like I'll have to open up that slot on the top some how. Over the years, it looks like it's taken a beating.

ndv · 12-03-2012, 07:27 AM

No pics, so it probably didn't happen....

I got the hood installed and latching properly on all counts though I think it could use a bit of grease to smooth things out.

The masking tape trick worked like a champ. Not only did it fix the latching issue on the driver's side, but also fixed the release issue.

I was also able to adjust the height of the driver's side at the windshield by compressing the spring as suggested. I had to take a cutoff wheel to open the the slot up after years of abuse though.

AirbornSilva · 12-03-2012, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walleyfisher

Open the hood and put masking tape across the holes in the lower latches. Then put grease on the points of the upper hood latches, then close the hood until the points come in contact with the masking tape and see if the points leave a mark that is centered in the hole. if not adjust the lower latches, re-tape, re-grease the points and try again until the two latches are centered.

If the latches are not centered, the hood will be "pulled" towards the most off centerd side causing th latches to operat as you discribed. This is a fidly deal but when you have it right you will see the difference. good luck

great idea, I never thought about that! Guess I'll be doing that soon