The passenger side release won't disengage all the way for hood to come up. First what can I do to get hood up and secondly how is hood supposed to be adjusted correctly ?

Thanks,
John

 

I know on my '77 there are a couple of holes from the wiper compartment into the engine bay hood latch area. There are plugs in them. Supposedly they are there so that the latches can be reached with a screwdriver to release them. Don't know if the '72 has the same feature.

 

Have a helper pull the release handle while you push the hood in different directions and it may release. There are dozens of threads on this topic, do a search. I found that after releasing the hood, unless I pushed the handle forward to reset the latch, I would have your problem occasionally.

 

Hi JM,
Since one side of the hood has released you might try lignin the free corner just enough (be careful!) to reach in from the back of the hood with a hook (bent coat hanger) and grab the cable that travels from the left side latch to the right side latch.
By tugging on this cable strongly you'll at least be sure that the latch is opening fully and by pushing on the right corner of the hood it may release.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

It's this cable you're trying to grab and pull with the hook.

 

John..DO take a peek on passenger side of the hood in the recess where wiper arm lies..SEE IF you can see the 1" black rubber plug in the barrier to the engine compartment.
IF so, use a short phillips head screwdriver.."4" blade) to gently push the rubber plug into engine compartment..Then it's a straght in shot to the P/S hood latch..which is depressed downward to release the hood there. Once you get the hood opened..take a good look at the cable that crosses from driver's side to pass.side latches.Close the latches manually( not the hood yet!) and see if both latches release or IF the crossover cable might need to be adjusted-shortened a bit.lightly lube the latch mechs.
Sometimes..the crossover cable gets stretched so the hood open cable doesn't actuate both latches properly..IF cable is good but needs shortened, you must undo the P/S connection and shorten the cable recrimping the end so it's tight and refastening.

IF the hood has ever been off.. for accident repair, engine work etc,...often when reinstalled..it isn't reinstalled so the hood fits between fenders correctly..and if that's that's case..That should be corrected.
There are also 4 rubber bumpers that adhere in the side channels of the fenders to best align the hood up-down with fender edges..AND the hood stop big bumpers and springs..

When checking hood alignment, don't completely close latch the hood..or IF YOU DO, before you close it..attach a couple of pull strings to each side of the crossover cable so they can be pulled from below should the hood fail to unlatch properly.. A couple of plastic coated short cables attached to the hood latches so they can be pulled to release hood from below are also a good idea as a quick simple means to unlatch the hood should it ever fail to unlatch again for any reason..Jim

 

QUICK NOTE.. your 72 latch mech is virtually the same as my '78.and you DO have the push-out rubber plug on yhe firewall-cowling that gives access to the latches..P/S is straight thru..D/S is trickier..
Here's a pic from Corvette Centrals website..that will show you how things are set up..

http://www.parts123.com/corvettecent...50g&ukey=13010

THEY also sell an emergency hood release cable affair which is like the one I told you about above..as well as a variety of parts to repair adjust so hood opens-fits properly..Jim

 

Hi,
Here's the Service Bulletin in which the procedure for, and the tool to be used to release 68-72 hoods, is addressed.
This is the procedure suggested for cars with wiper doors and grills and both latches stuck
Regards,
Alan

 

ALAN.. thanks..that should be a STICKY on the C3 forum..and WHEN are you going to finish your book ?..All the best, Jim

 

You can also reach up from under your vette if you have long arms. You will need to take the splash shield off if you have one. I've done this a few times on my 69 and 72.

 

jnb501..after insuring all latches and cable are lubed..adjusted..put a spring on the driver's side latch mech so it pulls the latch and crossover cable completely back when you use the D/S hood release..that brings the hood release cable and handle back properly after the hood is opened..hope that makes sense..but it'll eliminate having to push the handle-toward the engine compartment after you've opened the hood..Jim

 

Hi,
I believe there was/is a spring on the driver's side male latch that pulls the hood release cable under the dash back to the closed position.
Regards,
Alan

 

There is a return spring, but it doesn't offer enough force to fully retract the after-market handle and cable that was used. My hood kept becoming stuck on the passenger side until I realized the issue. I never could explain why it occurred, but once I started manually retracting the handle the problem disappeared.

 

Many years ago, that silly handle/bracket assy failed, and I hooked a piece of steel coat hanger and a piece of hose with the ends wrapped over both ends...up top and down LO.....

properly adjusting the catches, and case closed.....!!!!!