69 Vette Hood Release Retainer

[Howard R.]

Restorring 69. Trying to find the original male hood release retainer bracket for both passenger & drivers side. I have exhausted the commercial parts places. Any ideas where I can get these?

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 Vette Hood Release Retainer

Restorring 69. Trying to find the original male hood release retainer bracket for both passenger & drivers side. I have exhausted the commercial parts places. Any ideas where I can get these?

Howard-----

I'm surprised that you can't find these brackets from used parts sources. The left (driver) side bracket was the same from 1968 to 1976. That represents a lot of donor cars out there and this is not an often-required part so I doubt they sell like hot-cakes.

While the right (passenger) side bracket was used for 1968-69, the 1970-76 bracket is very similar and completely interchangeable. So, there should be a lot of donors out there for this bracket, too. Much less, though, if you insist on the 68-69 bracket. Still, there should be plenty out there and not too much requirement for them.

There was a difference between the lock bolt used for 1968-E69 and the bolt used for L69-76. The early bolt is "tulip-shaped" and the later bolt is cone-shaped. However, the bolts are completely interchangeable and I believe that both types are available in reproduction.

[Howard R.]

Re: 69 Vette Hood Release Retainer

Joe: I appreciate your insight on this. I live outside Fairbanks, Alaska and sources for used parts are scarce. Can you recommend any sources?

Thx

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 Vette Hood Release Retainer

Joe: I appreciate your insight on this. I live outside Fairbanks, Alaska and sources for used parts are scarce. Can you recommend any sources?

Thx

Howard-----


Well, while there are a lot of donor cars out there, I don't expect that very many of them are near Fairbanks, AK. Until recently, a very excellent source for you would have been Pacific Corvette in Puyallup, Washington. However, we understand that they have recently retired and closed up shop.

So, I would suggest contacting Paragon Vintage in Michigan or Contemporary Corvette in Bristol, PA. Another good source if you have a little time might be eBay. I would think these brackets would come up for sale there and I really can't see too many folks needing them so the price should be right. You might be the only bidder.

One other thought: you might try e-mailing John Meissinger who frequents this board. You can contact him through the members list. John might have these.

[Jerry B.]

Re: 69 Vette Hood Release Retainer

Joe, would it be possible to post both types of these retainers? thanks

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 Vette Hood Release Retainer

Joe, would it be possible to post both types of these retainers? thanks

Jerry------


If you mean both types of the right side lower hood latch bracket (i.e. the 1968-69 and 1970-76) I have them both but they're in my cache of used parts and I don't want to get involved in trying to find them.

My recollection is that the only difference between the 2 brackets involves the shape of the extension which mounts the hood bumper.

Pictured below is the 68-69 style bracket as mounted on my 1969. If someone else can post a photo of the right side lower bracket on their 1970-76, that should illustrate the difference.

[Howard R.]

Re: 69 Vette Hood Release Retainer

Joe/Jerry:
This is my first time using discussion board. I am really impressed how both of you have embraced my issue. Joe, that bracket is exactly what I need. My car is at the body shop right now in the last throws of prep for paint. When I first got it, it was a 69 with a 75 front from the firewall forward. I've had to replace the entire front. Before my body guy will move forward he wants to get all the hood release brackets and bumpers in place, so he can see where any adjustments need to be made. I've bought new male latch pins, springs, etc. I just need the brackets. I started this 4 1/2 yrs ago__and I'm about 3 weeks out from getting it road worthy. So these brackets are my only hold up. So Joe if you can't get your stash, do you know some one else with a stash? Thanks again!

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 Vette Hood Release Retainer

Joe/Jerry:
This is my first time using discussion board. I am really impressed how both of you have embraced my issue. Joe, that bracket is exactly what I need. My car is at the body shop right now in the last throws of prep for paint. When I first got it, it was a 69 with a 75 front from the firewall forward. I've had to replace the entire front. Before my body guy will move forward he wants to get all the hood release brackets and bumpers in place, so he can see where any adjustments need to be made. I've bought new male latch pins, springs, etc. I just need the brackets. I started this 4 1/2 yrs ago__and I'm about 3 weeks out from getting it road worthy. So these brackets are my only hold up. So Joe if you can't get your stash, do you know some one else with a stash? Thanks again!

Howard------


Doesn't the 75 front end you have now have these lower brackets on it? Those brackets will work perfectly for the 69 front end. The driver side bracket is exactly the same for 1969 as 1975. The passenger side bracket is slightly different but completely interchangeable.

The only thing you have to be careful of is the type of lock BOLT you use. Early 1969, through at least mid-September, 1969 used the "tulip" shaped bolts and these must be used with the early style UPPER LATCHES. Later 1969 used the cone-shaped lock bolts and these have to be used with the later 1969 through 1976 UPPER LATCHES.

[Grant W.]

Re: 69 Vette Hood Release Retainer

Joe/Jerry:
This is my first time using discussion board. I am really impressed how both of you have embraced my issue. Joe, that bracket is exactly what I need. My car is at the body shop right now in the last throws of prep for paint. When I first got it, it was a 69 with a 75 front from the firewall forward. I've had to replace the entire front. Before my body guy will move forward he wants to get all the hood release brackets and bumpers in place, so he can see where any adjustments need to be made. I've bought new male latch pins, springs, etc. I just need the brackets. I started this 4 1/2 yrs ago__and I'm about 3 weeks out from getting it road worthy. So these brackets are my only hold up. So Joe if you can't get your stash, do you know some one else with a stash? Thanks again!

Hi Howard
Here is some latches from my stash if interested. These are restored. I did send you a pm. Let me know if I can help you out.
Thanks, grant

[Jerry B.]

Re: 69 Vette Hood Release Retainer

Hello Joe the picture I was referring to was posting a photo of the difference between the " tulip shaped" and the "cone shaped"

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 Vette Hood Release Retainer

Hello Joe the picture I was referring to was posting a photo of the difference between the " tulip shaped" and the "cone shaped"

Jerry------


The 1968-E69 "tulip" shaped bolts can be seen in my photo above as well as Grant Wong's photo.

The L69-76 cone-shaped bolts are seen below:

One MUST ALWAYS use the correct bolts with the corresponding upper lock plates. Failure to do this can cause the hood to pop open easily (L69-76 upper lock plates used with 1968-E69 "tulip"-shaped lock bolts) or cause the hood to be impossible to open (1968-E69 upper lock plates used with L69-76 cone shaped lock bolts).