81' Hood Closing Help !
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 98
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From: Edmonton AB
81' Hood Closing Help !
Hi All,
Recently touched up the underside of my hood with some black paint.
I didn't totally remove hood from the car but did take off the brackets which lock into the latches to clean them up.
I "thought" I had marked there exact location so I could bolt them back in place....well....apparently NOT !
I am having a HELL of a time trying align the brackets and get the hood to close properly in the latches ??
Any suggestions on how to align these F....G things !!
I have given up !
Thanks !!
Recently touched up the underside of my hood with some black paint.
I didn't totally remove hood from the car but did take off the brackets which lock into the latches to clean them up.
I "thought" I had marked there exact location so I could bolt them back in place....well....apparently NOT !
I am having a HELL of a time trying align the brackets and get the hood to close properly in the latches ??
Any suggestions on how to align these F....G things !!
I have given up !
Thanks !!
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,705
Likes: 983
From: Orlando FL
On my 71, I put masking tape over the holes of the hood latches, and left the bolts loose so they could slide around a little. SLOWLY lower the hood, and the pin will make an impression in the tape. That should help show which way to move them to get them to line up with the pin. This worked very well for me, I hope it helps you! 
Last edited by oldgto; Sep 26, 2014 at 05:53 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Trial and error. Align them on your witness marks and snug them. Keep opening and closing the hood and making minor adjustments until they catch and the hood opens freely. Tighten the bolts down at that point.
If there were shims under either catch, they should be reinstalled.
If there were shims under either catch, they should be reinstalled.
