57 hood stuck shut... again!! HELP

[Ed M.]

I am going nuts trying to adjust the bowden cable hood release on my '57.
I have a brand new hood release cable but it doesn't release each side equally.
Should the brass "barrels" at the ends of the cable be more than tight on each side?
Thanks for your help.

[Joseph L.]

Re: "57 hood stuck shut... agian!! HELP1

Hi Ed
The important item is the male hood pin must enter the female hood lock assembly near the front of the hole. The stationary female latch hole is oval. The hood release that the hood release handle acts upon is round. The forward/ aft location of the hood pin must line up with the female hood release round hole (the part that moves when the lever is pulled), when it is in the "release" position (the handle has been pulled). That would be at the forward location of the oval stationary hole. Stand above the female hood lock assembly and retract the hood release. You will see it 'move' toward the front of the car.

You may need to move the male hood lock farther to the front of the car.
I hope this is obvious. I fought the hood release alignment for a while until I recognized this.

For your initial question, the barrels with the clutch head screws must me sitting against the release lever to get maximum action from the release handle

Joe

[Ed M.]

Re: "57 hood stuck shut... agian!! HELP1

Thanks Joseph!.... could the spring around the male pin be adjusted for less tension?

[Joseph L.]

Re: "57 hood stuck shut... agian!! HELP1

Hi Ed
The issue is the replacement springs. Original springs are 0.094" diameter wire. All the replacements that I have found are 0.125" diameter wire. These thick springs do not work. The hood will shake and move up during driving. The pop-ups are too powerful with these springs and the front edge does not move down as it should. I have an article that was in SoCal newsletter. I will have to find when that was.

Joe

[Ed M.]

Re: "57 hood stuck shut... agian!! HELP1

thanks for the info and would love to read your SoCal article...

[Ed M.]

Re: "57 hood stuck shut... agian!! HELP1

thanks for the info and would love to read your SoCal article...

Joe, I took a good look at the female latch hole and it is totally ROUND. I'm tempted to make the opening oval
by grinding out the round hole toward the front. Your thoughts appreciated....

[Joseph L.]

Re: "57 hood stuck shut... agian!! HELP1

Hi Ed

Look at the SoCal Website, Bonding Strip, Volume 41, Number 2, May 2021 for the hood adjustment article.

Do not grind the hole in the female latch. Notice how the hole in the latch is toward the front of the car when the latch is in the position when the handle is pulled. That is the location that allows the hood to jump up and clear the latch. Then when the latch retracts (let go of the hood release), the hole in the latch moves to the rear of the car and the tip of the male hood pin clears the latch.

Adjust the male hood lock assembly so that the hood pin is lined with the 'forward' (retracted) location of the female hood lock assembly. That is the photo with my finger on the latch. When you close the hood, the pin pushes the latch down and locks against the pin. If the pin does not line up with this hole, the pin is bent and will not release without pulling up on the hood. Operations judging requires the hood to be free when the release is pulled, and the handle must fully retract by latch spring pressure. These hoods are a lot of work.

Joe

[Richard M.]

Re: 57 hood stuck shut... again!! HELP

We also have a document in the Sticky which talks about some options for the hood latches. HERE

It may contain similar info in Joe's document but I don't have a copy of his.

As mentioned in the Sticky doc, you can cut a notch in the pins or use a tubing cutter or lathe to put circular grooves around the pin to help them stay latched. Later C1's used the pins with the circular grooves.

Rich

[Ed M.]

Re: 57 hood stuck shut... again!! HELP

Crystal clear now!!..........can never thank you both enough!!!!!!

[Paul Y.]

Re: 57 hood stuck shut... again!! HELP

Ed, on C2 And C3 hood pins, I have been known to use play doh clay to see how they line up. Paul

Crystal clear now!!..........can never thank you both enough!!!!!!

[Ed M.]

Re: 57 hood stuck shut... again!! HELP

As I finally got the hood release latch to work.. it was apparent that the closing of the hood is also important.
When ready to close the hood I now hold the hood in the center and up about a foot or more and let it drop.
That centers the pins as they should be.... previously I pushed each side down after contact with the locks... not good.
So, thanks for all the replies!!!