C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

C3 Hood latch

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 31, 2024 | 07:40 PM
  #1  
Dogmark's Avatar
Dogmark
Thread Starter
Instructor
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 166
Likes: 28
From: Western new York
Default C3 Hood latch

Help pass side won’t release! On a 69
Reply
Old Jan 31, 2024 | 08:05 PM
  #2  
grumman41's Avatar
grumman41
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 82
Default

It’s been a while since got “locked out” of my 71 but there is a hole you can push a small screw driver thru. See if you can remove your side grill and reach up thru there.
Reply
Old Jan 31, 2024 | 08:17 PM
  #3  
Dogmark's Avatar
Dogmark
Thread Starter
Instructor
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 166
Likes: 28
From: Western new York
Default

It seems to be unlocked, but I can’t open it
Reply
Old Feb 1, 2024 | 03:03 AM
  #4  
grumman41's Avatar
grumman41
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 82
Default

Is one side still latched possibly?
Reply
Old Feb 1, 2024 | 04:58 AM
  #5  
Dogmark's Avatar
Dogmark
Thread Starter
Instructor
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 166
Likes: 28
From: Western new York
Default

Yes, the passenger side when I pull on the release cable it seems to come up a little bit but not completely
Reply
Old Feb 1, 2024 | 05:29 AM
  #6  
Rescue Rogers's Avatar
Rescue Rogers
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,159
Likes: 9,287
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Default

Google stuck corvette hood, if our search function is fixed do an advanced search here for it. If none of those methods work you can reach up from below and undo the 2 nuts holding the pin to the fire wall...its 9/16 or 1/2 inch i believe....its a tough reach but can be done
If its releasing but just misaligned get an assistant to hold to drivers side closed and ull thevrelease. When the passenger side pops up go stick you fingers in there and see if the angle has aligned the pin better so it released, then have the assistant pull the release again to release the drivers side. Sometimes this works
Reply
Old Feb 1, 2024 | 06:59 AM
  #7  
Dogmark's Avatar
Dogmark
Thread Starter
Instructor
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 166
Likes: 28
From: Western new York
Default

Rescue Rogers thank you. I’ll give that a try. Just gotta find an assistant.!
Reply
Old Feb 1, 2024 | 09:02 AM
  #8  
A10pilot's Avatar
A10pilot
Melting Slicks
Supporting Gold
Veteran: Air Force
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,750
Likes: 333
From: Southampton MA
Default

Maybe this will help. I have a '69 as well and the same thing happened to me.

If the center cable is still connecting the two latches, there is a way to get the pass. side latch to release.
Carefully lift the driver's side ( flexing the hood a little ) and slide a long screwdriver under the hood
from rear to front to activate the latch by striking the flat spot on driver side latch. I put the screw driver up against that
flat part of the latch.

Then, because the latch on the pas. side is loaded with a force from the slightly flexed hood, you
will need to gently strike the screwdriver handle ( like a chisel ) to get it to pop and release the
stuck latch.




Hope this helps.
Mike
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Feb 1, 2024 | 07:30 PM
  #9  
Dogmark's Avatar
Dogmark
Thread Starter
Instructor
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 166
Likes: 28
From: Western new York
Default

Update! Success ! The hood being about 1 inch higher than the fender on the driver side was enough to push the hood toward the passenger side, allowing it to release all the way
Reply
Old Feb 1, 2024 | 08:09 PM
  #10  
Rescue Rogers's Avatar
Rescue Rogers
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,159
Likes: 9,287
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Default

Congratulations!!!
Have you seen the thread on how to make an alignment tool? Its a stacked dowel configuration the one end fits in the hood latch hole, the other is drill to center on the pin..
Reply
Old Feb 1, 2024 | 09:29 PM
  #11  
Dogmark's Avatar
Dogmark
Thread Starter
Instructor
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 166
Likes: 28
From: Western new York
Default

No I haven’t but now that’s the newest task on my list
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To C3 Hood latch





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:14 PM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE