Dang! 53 to 57 hood adjustment

[Roy B.]

I wrote years ago as to how to adjust 53-57 hood with out enlarging the hinge holes or pop-up holes.

1. The hinges can be moved to aid in making the hinges go over center when closed
And the two bolts holding the hood can be moved to center the hood forward or back left or right.
2. The front two blocks set the hood line to the body by moving them up or down
3.The back hood male latches can be moved to center the male pins to meet the females and the stops are adjusted to line the back hood to the body line.
4.with the two pop-ups installed ( and they don't need the holes enlarged ) close the hood to see if the front hood line meets the body .
5. Now if the front hood line seats up from the body when closed it's not the pop-ups but the hinges ant going over center pulling the hood down on to the blocks and compressing the pop-ups.
6. The two hinge bolts at the front of the hood may need shimming but read no.(1) first// if you still need to get more over center you only shim the top bolt (both sides or one) and that will force the hinge to go over center (more) pulling the hood down on to the blocks and compressing the pop-ups.


If you followed this and everything works OK that's it. If you have problems with the pop-ups or back male latches using repro's your in for a hell of a time. (they suck) the spring are to strong and you may have to resort to cutting a coil off.

This is how the hood should work , when you pull the cable ( hard to see it happen ) the front and rear of the hood pops up at the same time, the reason the front pops-up is to clear the front hood from the body as you open the hood with (ONE) hand. And when you close the hood those last few inch's the front hinges go over center compressing the pop-ups.
If you see a person using (TWO) hands ,one under the front hood it's because the hood is not adjusted correct and he don't wont to chip his paint and when closing he'll push down on the front hood.

I hope I made it clear and you understand the physics of how the hinges and pop-ups work to gather.

[Steven B.]

Re: Dang! 53 to 57 hood adjustment

Thanks Roy! I have no experience with the repros but around '65 (19, not 18) I bought new males and females for the '57. They were relatively easy to adjust, like the originals. The main issue for me always seems to be adjusting the front of the hood in line with the body, not that it ever fit that well.

Steve

[Michael L.]

Re: Dang! 53 to 57 hood adjustment

Roy,I was just going to con you into doing mine at the Tahoe meet in May! Just kidding! You are right on the repro pop ups, I trimmed both of mine an equal amount to get the fit right. The passenger side needs even more of a coil cut off, so on a pair of them, both spring rates differ... Go figure.

Mike

[Roy B.]

Re: Dang! 53 to 57 hood adjustment

Roy,I was just going to con you into doing mine at the Tahoe meet in May! Just kidding! You are right on the repro pop ups, I trimmed both of mine an equal amount to get the fit right. The passenger side needs even more of a coil cut off, so on a pair of them, both spring rates differ... Go figure.

Mike

If you cut the spring on the pop-ups and male latches so they just contact the CUP with a little pressure they will work better but not perfect! Would always be nice to see you, did you find that PG kick down piece ?

[Michael L.]

Re: Dang! 53 to 57 hood adjustment

Yes, I got the kickdown lever! A nice guy from Iowa braved 9 degree weather and snow to take one off a '55 passenger car for me! I learned a trick from you: when you can't find it under "55 Corvette, find the same part on a passenger car. I posted a want ad on the TriFive Forum and had responses immediately. Hope all is well with you! See you soon, I'll be driving the '55 next time we meet up!

Mike

[Roy B.]

Re: Dang! 53 to 57 hood adjustment

Yes, I got the kickdown lever! A nice guy from Iowa braved 9 degree weather and snow to take one off a '55 passenger car for me! I learned a trick from you: when you can't find it under "55 Corvette, find the same part on a passenger car. I posted a want ad on the TriFive Forum and had responses immediately. Hope all is well with you! See you soon, I'll be driving the '55 next time we meet up!

Mike

I tell that to every one about going to a Chevy car 47 up but few listen. The trifive guys are great with helping out with parts , I found rare so called Corvette parts talking and e-mailing Chevy guys.

[Troy P.]

Re: Dang! 53 to 57 hood adjustment

I have hood issues as well and have read up on Roy's previous posts on this, which has just been brought alive again. I want to confirm that the thought to cut/weaken springs is addressing the coil springs in the front and rear pop ups and not the fireawall mounted latches. Is that correct?

My hood pull has difficulty in releasing the latches and I thought I read a suggestion in an old post that the springs in those latches be bent to make them easier to release. My concern about that is one of the big complaints 53-55 owners had was their hoods popped up as they drove. This lead to a TSB and replacement of the smooth locking pins with serrated pins (or various home brew efforts to Bubba the pins with a grinder). Seems to me with my NCRS correct smooth pins and weaker springs that I'd really be headed for the hood to pop up when I hit the first bump. Any thoughts on that?

[Roy B.]

Re: Dang! 53 to 57 hood adjustment

The serrated pins were a so so fix to help the female catch plate hold ,are they judged now?
1. The female catch latch plate is worn
2. The female spring is weak
3. The female latch can be shimmed
4. The male latch pin is mis-aligned
5. The male pin is bent
6. The male stops (rubber cap) is not adjusted correct allowing the hood to move

The males can be exchanged on ether side there is not a L or R.
The male pin are usably bent over time and can cause a problem

The number one problem causing the hood to pop up is the female locking plate (edge ) got rounded over time losing it's sharp edge and slipping on the male pin. If people would just file the plate to a sharper edge the problem goes away, Adding a shim at the top or bottom female bolts can help the female plate grab better.

But as in many cases stay away from repro's ( yes I know the original's may not be as pretty as the repro's ) but your life will be better.