does your hood pop up?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,590
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From: ft myers FL/Munising MI
does your hood pop up?
I changed the hood shocks on my 85 because the hood starting getting heavy to lift.....they work great for putting in back down, but little change lifting it...my question is:....when I pull my release, I have to pull the hood up out of the locks.....should they actually pop out a little when the release is pulled....thinking the springs on the hood mounts could be weak....or maybe that's just the way it is....hate to buy new ones if it won't help....any advice would be appreciated...
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From: Overland Park Kansas
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When adjusted correctly, the hood should "pop". If binding at all, the hood might not LET the springs pop it up. The nuts on the pins allow the pins to be centered in their mounting hole. If there is a small amount of drag, a bit of lithium grease would help.
I wouldn't let this condition persist as you might end up with a hood that gets stuck closed. That isn't fun. People have installed cables to the release receivers so it can be released that way too.
I wouldn't let this condition persist as you might end up with a hood that gets stuck closed. That isn't fun. People have installed cables to the release receivers so it can be released that way too.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 325
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From: Princeton Jct. New Jersey
When I pull the release cable on my '84 the hood does come up a little, maybe 1/8" or so. To close it so both retainers latch I have to drop it from about 30 degrees open or the right retainer latch doesn't catch. Try a little grease on the pins and latch and see if that helps. As for the shocks, mine does have one short damper on the drivers side near the radiator next to the left hinge. Fairly sure '85s had the same.
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From: Compound in the Grove, Ga.
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All the C4's I've had the hood only pops up about half an inch or so than you had to lift it from there. If after it pops up you feel the latches catching or binding as you lift they need adjusting.
It should rest on the hood latch springs after unlatching. The small hood shocks do very little in fact I think they were discontinued after or around 90.,
It should rest on the hood latch springs after unlatching. The small hood shocks do very little in fact I think they were discontinued after or around 90.,
Last edited by FASTAZU; Jul 18, 2014 at 05:42 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 60
From: ft myers FL/Munising MI
I have the little tool and have practiced it....what i'm saying is that I have to pull up while I hold the release open to get it free...what I'm hearing is that you should be able to pull the release and then lift...I'll try some grease, although there's a lot on them now.....I was actually wondering if the hood springs were the problem...never hear anybody complaining about them except me....I've always been able to get it open, and do it a lot, but it doesn't "pop" when you pull it....don't really feel anything when I pull the release.....thinking now the emergency cables might be in order...anybody convert them to hood pins?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,181
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From: Puyallup Washington
If it does not pop up about 1/2 inch then you need to find the cause of the problem. Make sure the latches and corresponding parts on the hood are clean, the latches are moving freely, and put a good grease on them. If that does not work, then your springs are weak (which I would doubt) or your hood may need a slight alignment done.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,590
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From: ft myers FL/Munising MI
just read a thread...going to put some grease on the hood points...then see where they touch when you close the hood...going to try it tomorrow...probably going to be the issue..
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From: Anaheim CA
When my car was new the hood would pop up about 1/2" on both sides when I pulled the release lever. Many years ago I spun out in an autocross and went into a gravel stop barrier (better than hitting a wall of tires). Apparently this tweaked the frame because the passenger side no longer pops up. I have to grab the edge of the hood and pull the release while lifting to get it open.
I want to make this work right. I have been looking at the situation but I can't figure out a way to zero in on the misalignment. It seems the hood stud drags inside the latch mechanism and prevents the springs from pushing the hood up.
I want to make this work right. I have been looking at the situation but I can't figure out a way to zero in on the misalignment. It seems the hood stud drags inside the latch mechanism and prevents the springs from pushing the hood up.
Last edited by Cliff Harris; Jul 19, 2014 at 12:33 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,216
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From: Michigan
Mine pops fine on drivers side and use to on the pass side, until I pulled too hard one time and stretched the cable. The cable can be adjusted some, but mine was already at max so I made & installed some safety releases and bought a new cable. I haven't got around to installing the new cable with the laundry list of fixes or mods that need to be done. For now I just pop the drivers walk round and lightly push down on the pass side and pull the release.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 63
Likes: 1
Hood Pop Up
If the spring pin is adjusted to low, it will lock but not release. If it is too high, it will not lock.
I had the problem of one side not releasing. I removed the pin and spring assembly and cleaned it. It still would not release. After looking at it, I tried adjusting the pin up (toward the outside of the hood). All works as it should now.
I had the problem of one side not releasing. I removed the pin and spring assembly and cleaned it. It still would not release. After looking at it, I tried adjusting the pin up (toward the outside of the hood). All works as it should now.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,708
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From: indy indiana
my 86 pops up. don't need to hold anything after cables release. darn heavy tho to lift it the rest of the way. And yes, hood is still stuck closed. Still trying with the tool I bought.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 60
From: ft myers FL/Munising MI
When my car was new the hood would pop up about 1/2" on both sides when I pulled the release lever. Many years ago I spun out in an autocross and went into a gravel stop barrier (better than hitting a wall of tires). Apparently this tweaked the frame because the passenger side no longer pops up. I have to grab the edge of the hood and pull the release while lifting to get it open.
I want to make this work right. I have been looking at the situation but I can't figure out a way to zero in on the misalignment. It seems the hood stud drags inside the latch mechanism and prevents the springs from pushing the hood up.
I want to make this work right. I have been looking at the situation but I can't figure out a way to zero in on the misalignment. It seems the hood stud drags inside the latch mechanism and prevents the springs from pushing the hood up.
this is exactly what mine does....there was a little body work on the passerger side...must have been hit...going to put a little grease or paint on tip of hood stud to see where they touch...
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
The springs are adjustable (if the grease doesn't work).
It seems the hood stud drags inside the latch mechanism and prevents the springs from pushing the hood up.
Still trying with the tool I bought.
OK, I'm back. I measure the insertion from the lower corner of the windshield vertical trim. The length of my rod from that poing it ~12 1/2". Also, the rod should be worked in under that thick black WS between hood & body.
Once you have located the hood pin/spring by "feel", press the rod tip down on the inside of that rod and rotate to release the pin.
Last edited by 65Z01; Jul 19, 2014 at 11:18 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 60
From: ft myers FL/Munising MI
took a look at the problem finally yesterday.....pins are aligned ok....it can only be weak springs....going to look around for stronger ones...considering the weight of that damn hood, they don't look sturdy enough....i'm sure a local spring shop can find an upgrade.....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 60
From: ft myers FL/Munising MI
I tried a quick fix today....put a washer under the spring by the base...shorted the spring by maybe 1/2 inch...compressed it, but it made no difference....it's obvious if you want the heavy hood to pop up, those springs have to be much heavier.... i'm not going to screw around with it anymore since they do work and i'll wait until I get some type of emergency cables on them before I screw around and lock my hood down and be unable to get it up... old enough to know i'm more than capable of doing that.....a locked vette hood
is not a faux paux.... plain dumb a** attack. especially if you've done it to yourself...
is not a faux paux.... plain dumb a** attack. especially if you've done it to yourself...