hood latch question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 254
From: Catlett VA
hood latch question
1968 convert with replacement BB long style hood w/o ww door. Left side latch is OK. The right side hood latch keeps releasing when the car hits even small bumps, rough road or any other vibration. I have adjusted the male part of the latch up and down and adjusted the rubber bumper screw also. I have new release cables and believe they are adjusted properly- no slack so they will open the hood, but only tight enough to just make contact when fastened. With the car standing, I can bounce the hood up and down on the right and the latch stays closed. First little bump when driving usually releases it and the right side hood pops up. Before I blindly start adjusting the position of the bracket on the hood and bracket on the fender are there any suggestions?
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 104
Likes: 15
From: Bennington VT
I had the same problem. Take a piece of painters tape and cover the female bottom side of the latch. Slowly lower the hood to see where the male pin is going into the latch opening. Don't close the hood, but lower enough to make an indentation in the painters tape. That will show you how you need to adjust and center the latch. It can be adjusted side to side as well as back to front. 10 minute fix!!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 254
From: Catlett VA
latch question
I had the same problem. Take a piece of painters tape and cover the female bottom side of the latch. Slowly lower the hood to see where the male pin is going into the latch opening. Don't close the hood, but lower enough to make an indentation in the painters tape. That will show you how you need to adjust and center the latch. It can be adjusted side to side as well as back to front. 10 minute fix!!
RA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 904
Likes: 46
From: Crestline CA
I fought with my 68 for months trying to solve this exact same problem. Finally figured out that the fault was that the fiberglass on the body is very thin where the right side pin plate attaches to the body and can be flexed by hand(common 68 problem, and I believe there was a TSB released to fix this). What ended working for me was NOT to adjust it the way the manual says to, ended up moving the pin plate as far rear and inboard as possible and that seemed to have pretty much solved it. Still unlatches on very big hits like very rough railroad crossings but not nearly as bad as it was(used to unlatch when just pulling out of the driveway as was very frustrating).
Good Luck, Doug
Good Luck, Doug
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 254
From: Catlett VA
hood latch
I fought with my 68 for months trying to solve this exact same problem. Finally figured out that the fault was that the fiberglass on the body is very thin where the right side pin plate attaches to the body and can be flexed by hand(common 68 problem, and I believe there was a TSB released to fix this). What ended working for me was NOT to adjust it the way the manual says to, ended up moving the pin plate as far rear and inboard as possible and that seemed to have pretty much solved it. Still unlatches on very big hits like very rough railroad crossings but not nearly as bad as it was(used to unlatch when just pulling out of the driveway as was very frustrating).
Good Luck, Doug
Good Luck, Doug
RA
