Hood won't close easily...
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,064
Likes: 1,166
From: N. Alabama
Hood won't close easily...
I thought the alignment looked pretty good and the engagement was positive once closed but it seemed that every time I dropped the hood from a few inches to close, one side would inevitably not latch down. I would have to push with palm of hand from top (somewhat inboard to avoid cracking unsupported edge). While lubing all the hinges and cables on my vehicles I squirted a little on what I thought were fairly well lubed hinges anyway. Well the hood locks now without any hesitation. A little lube goes a long way. 
Oh yeah, I use the motorcycle chain spray lube for most of these items with great success.
Oh yeah, I use the motorcycle chain spray lube for most of these items with great success.
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Good tip. Not a bad thing to do every few years to keep things in good working order. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
That's a real good idea to keep all the parts lubricated.
I'm not a fan of dropping the hood to the latches. I prefer to lay hood all the way down, while standing on one side of the car. Then placing my hand flat & directly over the top of hood at latch/catch area and press down till you feel & hear it latch. Then walk around to the other side and do the same.
Now that I have a carbon hood, I have no choice but doing it in this manner.
I'm not a fan of dropping the hood to the latches. I prefer to lay hood all the way down, while standing on one side of the car. Then placing my hand flat & directly over the top of hood at latch/catch area and press down till you feel & hear it latch. Then walk around to the other side and do the same.
Now that I have a carbon hood, I have no choice but doing it in this manner.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,064
Likes: 1,166
From: N. Alabama
Actually, I prefer to drop it for positive engagement. I track this car and I like a nice tight engagement for track use. The only crack on this hood is from someone at the track closing it while I wasn't looking and they PUSHED on the very edge and DID crack it. To each his own.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 719
Likes: 2
From: Columbia South Carolina
No pushing, I have had more than one car with dented hoods because someone wants to push on it, just drop it........Push down hoods are for the old timers cars that had thick metal, and even those I just let drop.
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: Edgerton Wi
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
C/5 hoods will crack,or chip the paint at the pointed "wing" area, nearest the cowl. Take a real good look at that area of your hoods.
The only way that could happen is when dropping the hood to close.
The only way that could happen is when dropping the hood to close.
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