Mid-Year Hood Catch

[Dale M.]

It seems like my passenger side hood fastener is not aligned correctly and while driving it sometimes pops open. I put some tape and marked where the pin from the hood hits the latching bracket and its off center.

As far as I can see there is no adjustment for the bracket or the pin in the hood.

What is my next step to determine my issue?

Thanks
Dale Maris (48325)

[Stephen L.]

Re: Mid-Year Hood Catch

Make sure the latch is moving to the "closed/lock" position as far as possible. The cable coming from the left latch should allow this if correctly adjusted. If you loosen the cable the latch should not move. Also look at the shoulder on the pin for excessive wear on the side that strikes the latch bar and the latch bar itself.

[Dale M.]

Re: Mid-Year Hood Catch

Stephen, Thanks for getting back to me. I believe I have checked all of your suggestions. I did put in a new pin and spring. The latch looks square offed and good to me. I will re-check the cable adjustment and not holding it from closing all the way. Someone mentioned checking for alignment, so I put some masking tape over the latch and noticed that the pin stricks off center toward the outside of the latch, which is away from the latcher bar.
When I close the hood, it seems to latch tightly and I push and hit on the hood and it stays latched. Driving I assume the body twist enough to have it pop open. Also, the hood is alignment with the fenders and body is OK.

[Richard G.]

Re: Mid-Year Hood Catch

Dale;
There is a floating plate on the back side of the inside hood skin.
If you loosen the pin you should be able to move the hood pin a small amount.
Sometimes on aftermarket hoods the captive plate gets glued in and will not move with our taping it around first.
If you can't move the pin pull the pin and confirm the nut on the back side moves as it should.
Best of Luck
Rick

[Edward D.]

Re: Mid-Year Hood Catch

C2 hood latches are adjustable. The latch mount holes are slotted, loosen the bolts and you should be able to move the latch inboard or outboard. Some repro latches don't fit that well and the slots need to be opened up to align. Move latch to where pin is centered over it.

[Bob R.]

Re: Mid-Year Hood Catch

I think there are a few adjustments you can make on the latch. As Stephen noted above make sure the release cable running across the front of the car is adjusted properly so the catch is moving to the limit of its intended position. Then I would check the hood alignment with the surround and make sure the hood is correctly centered in the opening. The male pins can be adjusted for length so make sure they are going far enough into the female catch to fully engage. There are three bolts holding the female catch in position and I think if you loosen the bolts they are designed to move right to left enough to get some additional adjustment.

[Dale M.]

Re: Mid-Year Hood Catch

Thanks, I will give this a try. Headding out of town for the Holiday weekend, so will update later.

[Dale M.]

Re: Mid-Year Hood Catch

Don't know much history, but my latch does not have solloted holes. I had a friend offered to mill them out if needed. I also got the post that the pin in the hood may move back and forth. I will look at that as well. Thanks