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After 2 years my 63 roadster was recently returned with a new engine. It runs great and I love it. However, I haven't been able to close the hood and keep it securely latched. The right side, the problem side, will close and stay latched but as soon as it's driven it pops up. The left side stays latched as it should. I've adjusted the rubber stoppers on both sides but it won't stay locked down. I haven't tried adjusting anything else for fear of really knocking it out of alignment. Any suggestions?
Make sure the small spring is in place on the lever that moves and catches the male pin to lock it down. While you are in there, bend the end of all the wires 90* that protrude through the small brass barrels that secure the wires. Dennis
If the hood is flush with the fenders, then adjust the pin of the portion on the hood. You can screw it out a small amount to get it to latch better.
I tried to adjust the pin and it wouldn't budge. 2 years ago I could just drop the hood from 6 to 7 inches and it would fall right into place and latch quite smoothly. The pin you're referring to is it kinda cone shaped?
Yes, the cup shaped washer with notches around it is actually a lock nut. I just went out and used a screwdriver to loosen the lock nut on R66 and then you can lengthen the pin turning counter clockwise and then re-tighten the lock nut.
If it worked fine 2 years ago, I would look to see if the cable is hanging up or the pull T-handle under the dash is not returning to the correct position. R66 needs a bit of help to push the T-handle back to the closed position.
Good luck
From: Edmonds Washington (Stunning view of Olympic Mtns and Puget Sound)
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I had the very same issue with mine also popping up. Realized the previous owner had installed new hood seal and rather than cutting off at corners it wrapped around both sides a foot. Cut seal off at corners and never popped up again. Make sure seal is like mine. begee22
After 2 years my 63 roadster was recently returned with a new engine. It runs great and I love it. However, I haven't been able to close the hood and keep it securely latched. The right side, the problem side, will close and stay latched but as soon as it's driven it pops up. The left side stays latched as it should. I've adjusted the rubber stoppers on both sides but it won't stay locked down. I haven't tried adjusting anything else for fear of really knocking it out of alignment. Any suggestions?
I had same problem finally I found that the air filter was hitting the inner hood (you could see the rub marks! So I sanded down a small section of the inner hood where it was rubbing and painted black- problem solved!
I had same problem finally I found that the air filter was hitting the inner hood (you could see the rub marks! So I sanded down a small section of the inner hood where it was rubbing and painted black- problem solved!
This is often the problem with a new engine. The drivetrain is slightly offset to the right putting the air cleaner closer to the hood on the right.
If that is not the problem, use your finger to work the hood latch and ensure the spring pulls it back completely. The hood cable actuates the left side latch with a separate cable then connecting the left latch to the right. That slave cable can jam over time. Since it is unlikely the shop adjusted the hood pins and the latches are not designed to be adjusted, either your air cleaner, latch, or latch cable are most likely the problem.
You can put a few lumps of clay on air cleaner and close hood. Look to see if squished, They were not likely to change hood latch adjustment, but the new motor mounts don't sit down as nicely as the old ones and that could raise the engine slightly
I had the very same issue with mine also popping up. Realized the previous owner had installed new hood seal and rather than cutting off at corners it wrapped around both sides a foot. Cut seal off at corners and never popped up again. Make sure seal is like mine. begee22
After reading your suggestion I thought that that's it. But before I cut the weather stripping off at the corners as you mentioned I wanted to see how stripping looked on other 63's. It took awhile to find one, thus my delayed response, and saw that they all wrapped around the corner like mine. I then looked at old photos and saw that it was always that way. It closed so nicely before it was reinstalled that I don't think it is the stripping. I'm thinking that the only thing that has potentially changed from before is the hinge mechanism where the hood is attached to the body. So it's still a mystery. Thanks for your input.
I had same problem finally I found that the air filter was hitting the inner hood (you could see the rub marks! So I sanded down a small section of the inner hood where it was rubbing and painted black- problem solved!
I thought about that and lined the top of my air filter with clay. It revealed that there was no contact. Thanks for the suggestion.
This is often the problem with a new engine. The drivetrain is slightly offset to the right putting the air cleaner closer to the hood on the right.
If that is not the problem, use your finger to work the hood latch and ensure the spring pulls it back completely. The hood cable actuates the left side latch with a separate cable then connecting the left latch to the right. That slave cable can jam over time. Since it is unlikely the shop adjusted the hood pins and the latches are not designed to be adjusted, either your air cleaner, latch, or latch cable are most likely the problem.
I've confirmed that the air cleaner doesn't rub on the hood by placing clay around the top of it.
It could be the latching mechanism. However I'm having trouble understanding how the right cable acts as a slave cable or how one can tell if its jammed. Thanks for your comments.
The small spring seems to be in place. When closing the hood I notice that when pushing down of the right side there are 2 clicking sounds and it stays locked down. On the right side there is 1 click and it stays down until it is driven or vibration and it pops up.
From: Edmonds Washington (Stunning view of Olympic Mtns and Puget Sound)
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by FLNGOOD
After reading your suggestion I thought that that's it. But before I cut the weather stripping off at the corners as you mentioned I wanted to see how stripping looked on other 63's. It took awhile to find one, thus my delayed response, and saw that they all wrapped around the corner like mine. I then looked at old photos and saw that it was always that way. It closed so nicely before it was reinstalled that I don't think it is the stripping. I'm thinking that the only thing that has potentially changed from before is the hinge mechanism where the hood is attached to the body. So it's still a mystery. Thanks for your input.
Your research is dead WRONG. All '63 hood rubber (and maybe '64) extend along backside and stop at each corner NOT curving around hood.
1st pic - '63 shop manual
2nd pic - '63 AIM
3rd pic - Nolan Adams Vol 2
4th pic - My '63 NCRS Topflight
Make as factory and problem solved unless a different issue. begee22
The small spring seems to be in place. When closing the hood I notice that when pushing down of the right side there are 2 clicking sounds and it stays locked down. On the right side there is 1 click and it stays down until it is driven or vibration and it pops up.
The 90 degree bend has always been there.
Did you adjust the pin? Here is how you use a screw driver or any tool, best if square, to loosen the lock nut.
Rotate CCW to loosen and CW to tighten.
Hood latch problem
Dennis
begee22
