'69 hood latch and bolt question

[Jeffrey S.]

At what point during the '69 model year did the hood latch and bolt change from the smaller '68 size to the larger '70 and up size? My Oct '68 car has the smaller diameter type and a very late '69 being stored in my shop has the larger size. Anybody know when the change occurred?
Jeff

[Joe L.]

Re: '69 hood latch and bolt question

At what point during the '69 model year did the hood latch and bolt change from the smaller '68 size to the larger '70 and up size? My Oct '68 car has the smaller diameter type and a very late '69 being stored in my shop has the larger size. Anybody know when the change occurred?
Jeff

Jeff------


I don't know exactly when but it happened after mid-September, 1969. My 1969 small block built at that time has the early style latch and bolt. Actually, for the change to occur, the hood had to also change. So, it's possible that the change for big blocks and small blocks did not happen at the same time.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: '69 hood latch and bolt question

Joe,
Thanks for the response. Do you think that there is a correlation between the use of the larger bolt/latch and the change to the cross cable that changed from white to black and only 1 clip? If the hood was changed then this was an opportunity to change the threaded inserts from 2 to 1. If I did a survey would I find that every '69 with a single clip also had the larger latch?
Jeff

[Joe L.]

Re: '69 hood latch and bolt question

Joe,
Thanks for the response. Do you think that there is a correlation between the use of the larger bolt/latch and the change to the cross cable that changed from white to black and only 1 clip? If the hood was changed then this was an opportunity to change the threaded inserts from 2 to 1. If I did a survey would I find that every '69 with a single clip also had the larger latch?
Jeff

Jeff-----

There's a definite correlation between the cable/clip change and the latch/bolt change. The second design upper latches have to be used with the hood designed for them and those hoods have the single clip. The length of the cable between the latches also differs between the 1st and 2nd design upper latches. I strongly opine that if you did the survey you suggest, you would find that every 69 with the single clip hood would also use the 2nd design latches.

By the way, the 2nd design upper latches MUST be used with the 2nd design lock bolts (i.e. cone head). If the 2nd design upper latches are used with the 1st design lock bolts (i.e. "tulip" head), the hood will not be reliably retained in the locked position. If the 1st design upper latches are used with the 2nd design lock bolts, it may be extremely difficult or impossible to release the hood from the locked position.