Hood Support Help for Aussie Please !
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Hood Support Help for Aussie Please !
Guys I live in Australia so walking down to my friendly Ecklers shop just doesn't happen. I've bought 3 new repop hood supports and none of them fit. I have what I believe is the correct support for a 1972 (it's definatly a 1972 Corvette I can give VIN number) it has the 2 holes at the bottom.
The problem APPEARS to be with the alignment of the support. My mount point has two captured screws rather than nuts (This may be the root of the problem ?) and if I attempt to mount the hood support the top part of the support which should bolt to the hood is about 5 inches away (towards the center of the car) from where it should be to match the 2 mounting holes.
I have looked at 2 different supports and the angles in the bottom mount part of the bracket appear to be identical.
I'm wondering if the mount point on the car could have been altered in some way although I can see no evidence of crash damage or bent/wrong parts there.
Anybody else have a similar problem ?
Cheers
Gene
The problem APPEARS to be with the alignment of the support. My mount point has two captured screws rather than nuts (This may be the root of the problem ?) and if I attempt to mount the hood support the top part of the support which should bolt to the hood is about 5 inches away (towards the center of the car) from where it should be to match the 2 mounting holes.
I have looked at 2 different supports and the angles in the bottom mount part of the bracket appear to be identical.
I'm wondering if the mount point on the car could have been altered in some way although I can see no evidence of crash damage or bent/wrong parts there.
Anybody else have a similar problem ?
Cheers
Gene
Pro
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 520
Likes: 5
From: Front Range
yes, I ran into this problem because I installed an aftermarket hood, with the hood prop mounting plate located in the wrong place. There are two alternate locations for the hood prop mount on the hood itself, about 5 inches apart like you mentioned.
It's too bad they don't just offer *both* mounting holes on aftermarket hoods... then again I wouldn't have known any better at the time to order the right part.
I tried every combination of hood props from 1968-1976 and couldn't get one that works right. Eventually I just ended up drilling out new mounting holes in the hood, and inserting a small drilled/tapped back plate via a 3/4" x 2" slot I cut in the side of the hood ledge. Then I taped up the slot, and while it's not pretty, it's better than having no hood prop.
good luck
It's too bad they don't just offer *both* mounting holes on aftermarket hoods... then again I wouldn't have known any better at the time to order the right part.
I tried every combination of hood props from 1968-1976 and couldn't get one that works right. Eventually I just ended up drilling out new mounting holes in the hood, and inserting a small drilled/tapped back plate via a 3/4" x 2" slot I cut in the side of the hood ledge. Then I taped up the slot, and while it's not pretty, it's better than having no hood prop.
good luck
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Thank you Kind Sir for the fast reply. I had begun to suspect mounting another plate from the mount holes on the hood would be my only option. I had no idea it could be an aftermarket hood. There was slight damage around the hood mount point as if a support HAD been mounted there in the past.
Cheers
Gene
Cheers
Gene
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Hhhmmn. Just re-read your reply but don't think it's right. WHen I said the support was about 5 inches towards the center I meant the center of the car. It's just like the damn things are bent. I know some of the supports are longer and would mount in a different spot to the 72 support but the ones I have would mount on the hood out near the middle of the hood. Where there is no "rib" section to mount let alone screw holes to mount them.
It's got me beat.
Cheers
Gene
It's got me beat.
Cheers
Gene
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Yes - but I'll need to work out how to show them. I can put them up on my server if that's the only way to do it. Will take some time though as we're in the middle of an upgrade. I can e-mail them anywhere.
Picture is of a stock 72 support. Sold by Corvette Central. I also have the later one for 73-78 which is a slide out affair and would be longer when fully opened.
First one I bought from Zip (I'll NEVER do business with those crooks again !) and it had the long oval hole at the bottom mount.
Still wondering why my parts manual shows 2 screws to mount and mine has 2 screws instead of nuts in the bottom mount location.
Cheers
Gene
Picture is of a stock 72 support. Sold by Corvette Central. I also have the later one for 73-78 which is a slide out affair and would be longer when fully opened.
First one I bought from Zip (I'll NEVER do business with those crooks again !) and it had the long oval hole at the bottom mount.
Still wondering why my parts manual shows 2 screws to mount and mine has 2 screws instead of nuts in the bottom mount location.
Cheers
Gene
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
Could you send me pictures of both the hood mounting points and the hood supports you have?
I've got a 68 with a 72 bigblock hood and went through a few hood supports myself before finding that at the very least 68 and 72 hoods and supports don't mix well.
I may have the support you need or at least be able to show you what it looks like (maybe)
Rick
I've got a 68 with a 72 bigblock hood and went through a few hood supports myself before finding that at the very least 68 and 72 hoods and supports don't mix well.
I may have the support you need or at least be able to show you what it looks like (maybe)
Rick
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
From: Boulder CO
Originally Posted by XLCH
Yes - but I'll need to work out how to show them. Gene
Of course, you might have to send me a couple of bottles of Drayton's Port if I can help!
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
Local help?
XLCH,
Maybe someone local can help, at least to show you what a stock one looks like. There are some forum members in Australia who would be pleased to help. I'm in Melbourne, where are you?
Regards from Down Under
aussiejohn
Maybe someone local can help, at least to show you what a stock one looks like. There are some forum members in Australia who would be pleased to help. I'm in Melbourne, where are you?
Regards from Down Under
aussiejohn
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
Mine are a bit different, I'm almost positive that the hood is off a 72, the car is a 68 and after trying a number of hood supports this is what my local vette shop came up with. I seem to remember them telling me it was a 72 hinge.
http://cfupload.stevesdomain.net/images/4fef1fc34.jpg
http://cfupload.stevesdomain.net/images/5ba625d3c.jpg
Hope this helps,
Rick
http://cfupload.stevesdomain.net/images/4fef1fc34.jpg
http://cfupload.stevesdomain.net/images/5ba625d3c.jpg
Hope this helps,
Rick
