Proper Hood Closing Procedure
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Hagaman New York
Proper Hood Closing Procedure
Is there a recommended or proper hood closing procedure? When closing the hood should the hood be held a certain height and then dropped to close it? Or should it be gently rested on its latches and then pressed on one side at a time to close it? Looking in the owners manual it says, "pull the hood down and close it firmly"
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,315
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From: McDonough, Georgia
Is there a recommended or proper hood closing procedure? When closing the hood should the hood be held a certain height and then dropped to close it? Or should it be gently rested on its latches and then pressed on one side at a time to close it? Looking in the owners manual it says, "pull the hood down and close it firmly"
Moderator emeritus
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From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
Yup, I let it drop also. 1 -2 feet and let it drop. Gently lowering it and then pushing on the corners to "latch" might break the hood.
Elmer
Elmer
Last edited by eboggs_jkvl; Oct 2, 2018 at 11:11 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2015
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From: SE WI
Same here. Very easy closing hood if you drop it from the correct height. My 2004 was a pain to close. Took just the right touch. This one is easy as long as it’s NOT dropped from 6 inches.
Last edited by Zjoe6; Oct 2, 2018 at 11:13 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: McDonough, Georgia
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Hagaman New York
I'm not really sure if pressing on the paint is really the issue. When closing a rear hinged hood most times you press the hood down to latch it. If concerned about finger prints keep a soft cloth handy for this purpose. I was asking the question because letting the hood drop I would think would hammer items such as the latches and the hood structure itself. But I'm not sure, that's why I wanted the input from members. When I owned my C6 I used to hold it and let it slam down. Then one day I had another Corvette owner tell me not to close it that way. He said to lower the hood onto the latches and then lightly take a soft cloth and press down on each side to latch it. Now that I have my new C7 I was showing the engine to some friend Vette owners and then closed the hood in this manner and they yelled at me and said don't close it that way and to hold it up and let it slam. I would think it either one of these two methods were incorrect it would state it in the owners manual. Is it just personal preference?
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,315
Likes: 230
From: McDonough, Georgia
I'm not really sure if pressing on the paint is really the issue. When closing a rear hinged hood most times you press the hood down to latch it. If concerned about finger prints keep a soft cloth handy for this purpose. I was asking the question because letting the hood drop I would think would hammer items such as the latches and the hood structure itself. But I'm not sure, that's why I wanted the input from members. When I owned my C6 I used to hold it and let it slam down. Then one day I had another Corvette owner tell me not to close it that way. He said to lower the hood onto the latches and then lightly take a soft cloth and press down on each side to latch it. Now that I have my new C7 I was showing the engine to some friend Vette owners and then closed the hood in this manner and they yelled at me and said don't close it that way and to hold it up and let it slam. I would think it either one of these two methods were incorrect it would state it in the owners manual. Is it just personal preference?
All my previous cars were rear hinged and metal. My current car--due to be sold today--is a 370Z and I have learned its sweet spot--about 6-8 inch drop). However, keeping a MF cloth around is a nice idea but then again, I read that post above about a chance of cracking or breaking the corner by pressing down.
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Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Rochester, NY
Same here usually works other times you have to press on it to get it latched. Fortunately or perhaps not I do not open the hood that often.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: voorhees nj
I don't think it really matters. I do it both ways depending on my mood, always have. don't have my c7 yet, but I have done this on an 85, 92, 99, and 05. I had a 71 that had to be pushed down on each side because the air cleaner used to barely touch the hood, didn't way to drop that one.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Hagaman New York
I don't think it really matters. I do it both ways depending on my mood, always have. don't have my c7 yet, but I have done this on an 85, 92, 99, and 05. I had a 71 that had to be pushed down on each side because the air cleaner used to barely touch the hood, didn't way to drop that one.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2018
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From: Washington State
Rubbing your fingerprints off a dirty car can do more damage than just leaving the fingerprints until you wash it. Especially depending on the quality of your microfiber cloth. The less you touch your paint, the better.
If you must clean the fingerprints off, always use a detail spray.
If you must clean the fingerprints off, always use a detail spray.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: McDonough, Georgia
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Fairfax VA
When I took Museum delivery, they had me stand in front of the car, fingers of both hands in the hood vent louvers (you can put a cloth over it if you have one handy) then lower the hood to about 1 ft above the latches, then one quick push of the hood to close. They had me practice a few times. Works almost all of the time for me. They discouraged the final left-right latching after lowering the hood to the latch which seems safer than the drop but could also crack the hood. YMMV.
Last edited by Co-Vette; Oct 2, 2018 at 12:04 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Castro Valley State of Insanity
Totally agree with that statement. My current 2016 hood closes easily with the two foot drop previously mentioned, unlike the hood of my 02 which could be problematic regardless of the procedure used.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 685
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From: Texas
When I took Museum delivery, they had me stand in front of the car, fingers of both hands in the hood vent louvers (you can put a cloth over it if you have one handy) then lower the hood to about 1 ft above the latches, then one quick push of the hood to close. They had me practice a few times. Works almost all of the time for me. They discouraged the final left-right latching after lowering the hood to the latch which seems safer than the drop but could also crack the hood. YMMV.
Last edited by KCV; Oct 2, 2018 at 12:26 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2014
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From: Central UT
Never thought about it. Whichever side of the car I'm on, I just grab the corner of the hood and 'throw' it down with the right amount of force. Closes great every time. I'm not going to worry about a finger print or two on the corner of the hood, and if that cf hood breaks from closing it I'd be totally shocked. 