hood popping open
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 186
Likes: 11
hood popping open
Driving my 69 coupe, at times I just cannot avoid some pot holes and just awful roads here in New England. Several times when I get back in the garage I notice the hood has opened. Any suggestions? Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,267
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi MYb69,
Is it one side, both sides, does it vary?
Could it be that the 'catch' on the female latch (on the hood) isn't fully grabbing the stud on the male latch on one or both sides?
You can check that by pushing up and down on the rear hood corners with the hood closed.
If the 'catch' isn't fully set sometimes that motion will let that corner of the hood open.
Be very careful if you start to adjust the latches so that you don't end up in a situation that the hood release doesn't release one of the latches.
Regards,
Alan
Is it one side, both sides, does it vary?
Could it be that the 'catch' on the female latch (on the hood) isn't fully grabbing the stud on the male latch on one or both sides?
You can check that by pushing up and down on the rear hood corners with the hood closed.
If the 'catch' isn't fully set sometimes that motion will let that corner of the hood open.
Be very careful if you start to adjust the latches so that you don't end up in a situation that the hood release doesn't release one of the latches.
Regards,
Alan
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 904
Likes: 46
From: Crestline CA
For what its worth...I fought with this for quite some time on my 68. Adjusted the latch countless times, finally found a adjust that worked pretty good but on big hits it would still pop open on one side. Replaced the hood seal and the problem nearly disappeared.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
Hi MYb69,
Is it one side, both sides, does it vary?
Could it be that the 'catch' on the female latch (on the hood) isn't fully grabbing the stud on the male latch on one or both sides?
You can check that by pushing up and down on the rear hood corners with the hood closed.
If the 'catch' isn't fully set sometimes that motion will let that corner of the hood open.
Be very careful if you start to adjust the latches so that you don't end up in a situation that the hood release doesn't release one of the latches.
Regards,
Alan
Is it one side, both sides, does it vary?
Could it be that the 'catch' on the female latch (on the hood) isn't fully grabbing the stud on the male latch on one or both sides?
You can check that by pushing up and down on the rear hood corners with the hood closed.
If the 'catch' isn't fully set sometimes that motion will let that corner of the hood open.
Be very careful if you start to adjust the latches so that you don't end up in a situation that the hood release doesn't release one of the latches.
Regards,
Alan
and the MOST important statement that Alan wrote...in my professional opinion.
WHY is this so true....because I have encountered this issue on many of the 1968-1972's.....BOTH coupes and convertibles.....and what I have also noticed...that even IF the mount secured to the cowl is tight ....you can grab the pin and actually see the mount FLEX when you manually try to move it...and often times...the effort to move it is not that great.
SO..Alan's statement is PARAMOUNT....or you can actually run into the hood LOCKING DOWN! And it is a ROYAL PAIN in the backside to get it back open again.
YES...the rear hood seal advice is also sound advice.
This is also ASSUMING that the hood under structure is not cracked in any way....and the hood hinges are good and solid....because if the pivoting portion of the hood hinges are worn...the hood can move.
Also keep this on mind. Sometimes you might have to live with it. You have to consider metal fatigue and what the Corvette has been through...and there is often times no way to stop this issue.
DUB
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 904
Likes: 46
From: Crestline CA
.you can grab the pin and actually see the mount FLEX when you manually try to move it...and often times...the effort to move it is not that great.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 186
Likes: 11
I never even thought about that. Just to see I went out to my car and checked it out and indeed the right side(the one I was having problems with) moves very easily despite being firmly bolted down. BTW, I seem to remember a couple of TSBs in 68 regarding the hood. The first one was about release cable adjustment(likely a band-aid type fix put out by GM to make up for the condition talked about in the second TSB). The second was about thin fiberglass under the right side of the cowl where the hood pin mounts.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 43,136
Likes: 155
From: Thomson Georgia
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 104
Likes: 15
From: Bennington VT
I had the same problem on my '70. The way I fixed the problem was to put a piece of painters tape over the female latch opening, and then slowly put the hood down on the latch. Do not close the hood. When you pull it pack up, you can see were the male end of the hood is touching the female side. This will tell you how you need to adjust the latch to make sure it is centered. This was an easy fix for me and I haven't had a problem since.