[C1] Hood Latch
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,001
Likes: 1,056
From: Arlington TX
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 Restomod of the Year Finalist
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Hood Latch
My hood won’t stay latched on the left side and pops up when cruising on my 59. I’ve tried adjusting it to no avail. Neither the male or female shows any significant wear and they’re not lubricated. Which typically wears out, the latch on the car or the hood?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,200
Likes: 4,187
From: Kannapolis NC
The male prong on the hood may not be long enough to snap under the movable parts in the latch. I'd loosen that lock nut, turn the slotted prong half a turn counterclockwise and then tighten the nut back and see if that improves it. Also make sure that when you release the hood latch it's going all the way in and those parts are moving freely when you push and pull the hood release.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,720
Likes: 904
From: Warminster PA
Try adjusting the cable for the latch side to make sure it is closing all the way. Then, as has been suggested, Adjust the hood part for different levels of engagement.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,001
Likes: 1,056
From: Arlington TX
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 Restomod of the Year Finalist
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
First, I turned the male prong 180 deg. And that didn’t fix it. Yesterday I backed it out several turns and went to a car show 25 miles away. Hood stayed closed the whole way so I think that did it. Thanks to everyone for your great help as usual!
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 15,479
Likes: 8,957
From: northern california
C2 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
It's not yet clear which style of '59 hood latch your car has. The early style which used a friction pin to retain the hood or the latter style with a positive locking pin?
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Kannapolis NC
If it's important to you, you'll have to really free up the cable sliding in the housing and the levers on the firewall. Friction is what overcomes the spring tension pm the latches to pull it back in. I just always push mine in when I pull it out. The friction could also be the male pin not exactly centered in the latch side so that it's rubbing, or the cable pull not pulling the latches far enough to clear the male pin fully. I have just pushed mine automatically every time I open the hood, on many cars.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 15,479
Likes: 8,957
From: northern california
C2 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Yes, that's the early style, the one I referred to as a "friction pin". That style was used from the days of the earliest C1s thru some time in '59. Wear on the pin will eventually always cause the latching plate to lose its grip on the pin.
You seem to have solved the problem for now. If so, congratulations! If the problem returns, consider using a file, say a triangular file, to cut a few notches in the pin. Those notches will give the latching plates something to grip.... for a while longer.
You seem to have solved the problem for now. If so, congratulations! If the problem returns, consider using a file, say a triangular file, to cut a few notches in the pin. Those notches will give the latching plates something to grip.... for a while longer.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,001
Likes: 1,056
From: Arlington TX
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 Restomod of the Year Finalist
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Yes, that's the early style, the one I referred to as a "friction pin". That style was used from the days of the earliest C1s thru some time in '59. Wear on the pin will eventually always cause the latching plate to lose its grip on the pin.
You seem to have solved the problem for now. If so, congratulations! If the problem returns, consider using a file, say a triangular file, to cut a few notches in the pin. Those notches will give the latching plates something to grip.... for a while longer.
You seem to have solved the problem for now. If so, congratulations! If the problem returns, consider using a file, say a triangular file, to cut a few notches in the pin. Those notches will give the latching plates something to grip.... for a while longer.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Scottsdale AZ
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 207
Likes: 77
From: San Joaquin Valley, CA
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I have a ‘62. When I PULL the hood release handle to open the hood, the handle does not “retract” back into closing position by itself: I have to PUSH it in manually. Is it supposed to retract on its own?
Thank you.
Thank you.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 207
Likes: 77
From: San Joaquin Valley, CA
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,001
Likes: 1,056
From: Arlington TX
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 Restomod of the Year Finalist
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
It may have when it was new, don’t know. The springs don’t have enough power IMO. I’m satisfied to just push it manually.