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I have a 1978 corvette, nothing fancy, actually needs alot of work yet. I got it running after sitting for about a year and notice one side of the hood isnt latching. Turns out the previous owner apparently made his own hood strikers. They are actual strikers, but the bolt holes are 1 and 1/2" apart, whereas the bolt holes on the hood are 3" on driver, and 4 and 9/16" on the passenger side. Doing a Google search I find many different pictures, but nothing that appears to work for what I have. Can someone help me figure this out? Are the bolt hole dimensions I gave correct for a stock hood? And can someone direct me to what I need? Maybe some pictures of a stock set mounted? The brackets heade, although not pretty at all, are close, but the driver side needs to move to the outside a little further, as the strike is hitting on the edge amd not letting the catch on the firewall latch when it comes down. Thanks for any input.
It appears you may have a 76 or earlier hood. The 68-76 hoods used a spring loaded male pin on the hood, not the loop latches. Your strikers look like someone's homemade pieces made in an attempt to use the earlier hood.
It appears you may have a 76 or earlier hood. The 68-76 hoods used a spring loaded male pin on the hood, not the loop latches. Your strikers look like someone's homemade pieces made in an attempt to use the earlier hood.
My 78 does not have the holes either. And I recently stripped the paint down to bare glass with no evidence they were ever there. Do you have the matching halves on the firewall?
Note there are no holes in my hood? You obviously have a 76 and earlier hood.
best suggestion, get a new replacement or good used hood that actually fits your car.
Thanks for the advice and pictures. I'm not trying to buy a new hood however, so might break out the welder and make brackets. Does anyone by chance have a picture of the same hood I have, with the bolt spacing I mentioned, 3 inches apart on drivers side, and 4 and 9/16 apart on passenger? Preferably with the strikers in place, so I can see? Thanks again everyone. And let me just say this... once I finally got it started, I set my shop stool behind it, and just sat and listened to that throaty rumbling idle.... and it was music to my ears.
The passenger side one latches BTW. Its the driver side that needed to be moved out another half inch at least for the latch to lock in.... bit I the contraption on drivers side is also to bulky in general, as I tried welding a simple plate to move it, and peeking under I can see the latch is lining up now, but it's not closing enough to actually trigger the lock.
Yes that's the problem. Those holes in your hood, those large ones. On a 76 a pin went into them. The latches on the early hood are in the hood. And pins on the firewall. On the later style. The latches are mounted on the firewall and instead of pins we have the loop or hook.
Basically they are completely opposite. So, not likely anyone will have a pic for you with something jury rigged up.
.You may not wish to purchase a new or used hood. But that's the only way it's ever going to be right.
Best of luck to you.
Appreciate it 4vettes, I see what your saying now. For the time being I will make something work, and keep my eyes open for a different hood. I tell ya, I've had pretty good luck buying used vehicles in the past..... then I moved to Georgia. Whole different breed of folks down here. I bought an f250, one of the rear doors wouldn't open... upon taking the panels off, instead of spending the 16 bucks for the correct part,the previous owner fished the cables through a guarter inch pex plumbing line for a makeshift cable holder. I will never try to understand folks again.
Yes, used ones come up from time to time. Corvette Ben or one of the many Corvette specific salvage yards should have one. They really are not that expensive.
1978 hood striker help
