Hood question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 259
Likes: 6
Hood question
I have a 1971 convertible and when I got it the vacuum system for the hood had been removed and was all gone. I was told a 1981 hood would work on the car and allow the wipers to still work since they would come out from under the hood with no problem. They do and thats what I'm using. I still have the 71 hood and it fits better and I was wondering if anyone has had any good ideas to use the original hood and a way to get around the using vacuum wiper door without it looking to stupid? Pictures would be great if you have a great idea. Thank you all.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
what made this system complicated was the vaccum and electrical relays that made the system work.. the wipers would not engage until the door opened and the door would not close until the wipers parked. your issues may be more than just missing vaccum lines.. all the sensors and relays have to be operating and functional and adjusted correctly. you don't want your wipers starting on a closed door, or parking on a closed door.
i suggest you get something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Corvette-Headl.../dp/B000G25KBQ
there are other manual samples out there that are probably better.
read it and memorize it before you tackle the problem.
i suggest you get something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Corvette-Headl.../dp/B000G25KBQ
there are other manual samples out there that are probably better.
read it and memorize it before you tackle the problem.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 259
Likes: 6
The 71 hood was removed completely and the wiper door was completely removed as well. All of the rellays, vacuum lines and canister and everything to do with the wiper door and system was gone. I put the 81 hood on and it goes right up to line up with the fender edge at the windshield perfectly. The wipers come right out from under it just fine, but I think the 71 hood just has a better fit and I was thinking about milling down just enough of the 71 wiper door so that the wipers would come out yet not require the wiper door to have to move. The wiper door would just be bolted in place and then the 71 hood would look correct and the wiper area would not show as bad.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,239
Likes: 74
From: Palatine, Peoples Republic of Illinois
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18
NCM Sinkhole Donor
That would be one hell of a milling job since the door closes flush with the windshield. You would have to remove most of the door and at that point you might as well leave the door off.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
there's a nice help forum on here.. here a link on how to post pics
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/help-forum-31/
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/help-forum-31/
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 399
Likes: 4
From: Suffield CT
not sure if '69 and '71 are same but i have a question to OP ...
what did you do to trick the car the wiper door is open?
you can sorta see in pic of my car the relay has to be clicked in to allow power to the wiper motor....no ?
it is the square corner peice of metal, 2 bolt heads on top, to right of the plug wires....
-ALF out...
what did you do to trick the car the wiper door is open?
you can sorta see in pic of my car the relay has to be clicked in to allow power to the wiper motor....no ?
it is the square corner peice of metal, 2 bolt heads on top, to right of the plug wires....
-ALF out...
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 5
From: Fayetteville Arkansas
to post pics go to photobucket and get free acct. Upload pics to there then copy the IMG code below the pic you have already uploaded to that site. Then paste that IMG code here in the body of your thread.
1. You have a choice to make. Keep the long style hood and leave the present state of the car alone.
2. Re install the 71 hood and wiper door assembly. Sell long style hood and use that money toward the parts to get the wiper door functional again.
Try to get and underhood pic on passengers side so we can see what has been removed from the wiper door vacuum system.
Don't destroy the original wiper door. They are not easily replaced.
Sully
1. You have a choice to make. Keep the long style hood and leave the present state of the car alone.
2. Re install the 71 hood and wiper door assembly. Sell long style hood and use that money toward the parts to get the wiper door functional again.
Try to get and underhood pic on passengers side so we can see what has been removed from the wiper door vacuum system.
Don't destroy the original wiper door. They are not easily replaced.
Sully
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Is the basic shape of the later hood different than the '71 hood? Or does the '81 hood just need better adjustment to fit properly?
If you can get the '81 hood to fit better, that is probably your best alternative, now. But, if you have the wiper door and all it's related hardware and the vacuum actuator for the door is still in place, you could set it up for the door to be opened with the vacuum override switch before you turn on the wipers. You would only have to plumb vacuum from the override switch to the door actuator. Pull the override to open the door, turn on wipers; turn off wipers, then push override back to closed position.
If you do not have the necessary items to make that happen, just keep what you have and adjust hood as best you can.
If you can get the '81 hood to fit better, that is probably your best alternative, now. But, if you have the wiper door and all it's related hardware and the vacuum actuator for the door is still in place, you could set it up for the door to be opened with the vacuum override switch before you turn on the wipers. You would only have to plumb vacuum from the override switch to the door actuator. Pull the override to open the door, turn on wipers; turn off wipers, then push override back to closed position.
If you do not have the necessary items to make that happen, just keep what you have and adjust hood as best you can.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 259
Likes: 6
Thanks for all the help. I do have a photobucket account just didn't know I could use it same I have for Craig List. I don't have any of the parts for the wiper door to work, just the door. All of the components were gone when I got the car. I will post pictures this evening and you can better see whats up. I'm sure the 81 Hood can be made to fit better with the right help, it is hard to do with one person. I have had the car painted but it hasn't been wet sanded and which ever hood I go with will be painted or repaintd at that time. This is my first Vette and I'm having a blast messing with it. It was used as a drag car at sometime before I got it and the motor is a 400 SB with aluminum heads. I put on new intake and carb and exhaust from headers back and just lots of little stuff so far. Thanks again for all the help. Here is a before paint job picture.<a href="http://s1246.beta.photobucket.com/user/jyelverton/library/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg612/jyelverton/IMG_0164.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 383
Likes: 4
From: Charlotte NC
Looks like a fun project / toy car. Does the sb hood fit with the modified intake/carb setup? I would leave the system off and consider a long L88 hood if I wanted a different look. It's a lot of work and $ restoring the wiper system. You'd probably be better off buying one complete from someone.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 259
Likes: 6
Thanks, yes the hood does clear the intake and carb setup. I used a edelbrock intake and edelbrock carb. The air breather came with the car an I don't know what it's from but it looks like a vette breather. I don't have any of the wiper door stuff except the door so I agree that for this daily driver I'm just going to work around it.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
After seeing the 'before' photos, I think your best option is to keep the hood you now have. If you can lower the position of the hinges toward the front of the hood and raise the latch pins at the rear, that hood would fit better. There will be a "dip" at the center of the front edge, but you could build up the glass in that area to match with your nose and have the hood fit well, if you do that work before paint. I'm sure a good "glass man" could 'adjust' that area of the hood for not many buck$. Get it to fit at the corners properly, then see what needs to be done to finish it.
