closing the bonnet/hood

Post some pics of both sides - your latch and hood.

Daniel,

Mine has been the same way (of course the car is down for restoration now). The long hood with fresh rubber strips did not help. The pin on the hood would bend making it even more difficult to latch.

In my restoration I bought an electric latch pull down used on modern trunk.

Hall Pantera has a catalog with a latch upgrade but I don't know anything about it.

Gary

Could you provide details on the electric latch? I have always wanted to do that.

I have not fabricated the mount for the latch yet. I am currently building a hood out of aluminum from scratch. When I get the hood done I will post some photos.

Gary

quote:

I am currently building a hood out of aluminum from scratch.

Gary, you're my idol!

Jeff, I am just not smart enough to know better!

Gary, I now have hood envy!

Raising up the hood latch just a little seemed to help my red car, and the hood is still in line with the body seams. On my black car it is difficult too even with adjustment, so in closing the hood I put down a towel and use a 6" long block of wood to press so I get more even pressure. I have heard some pressing too hard with just hands in that are tend to bend the metal slightly...true or not, don't know.

There is a lot of adjustment you can make. Mine used to be a two handed, high-pressure attack to close. But it's a lot smoother after a little work on the alignment and a little light oil on the latch.

I went through this earlier this summer since my hood also was a pain to shut. The biggest thing that I learned was that (at least on my car) the latch mechanism can pitch up and down some. Yes I know this sounds odd, but the latch's verticle orientation seems to be determined by how tight the two nuts are.

When I realised this I backed off on the nuts some, which angled the latch down slightly, and it made a huge difference.

Hood now shuts with very slight pressure, no more slamming or excessive amounts of pressure needed. (Although I did also have to adjust the hood hinges)

just a thought, Is the inside release lever in the "closed" position? I have found that if I try to close my hood and the lever is in the open position it won't latch. Just out of curiousity, do you have the emergency release installed? So that when you do get it latched it can be openeed if the factory mechanism fails?


Gary #06984