hood latch keeps unlatching on freeway!!..

[mafosa]

hey fellas!.. need some help. i cant seem to figure out why my hood latch keeps unlatching itself on the freeway.

mostley when theres heavy winds. ive added spacers to the top assembly. thinking that its not leting the closing mechasim close all the way.

i can pull up on the hood and feel the added spacers freeplay. still comes unlatched!!

how the hell can a bigger circle get past the smaller circle???!!.

this ones beyond me.

any help!!.


larry

[PGSigns]

Could just be the latch plate and pin are worn. Adding the spacers may be a bad idea if it is letting the hood move more freely. Take a look at the latch and the pin to see what shape they are in.
Jimmy

[mafosa]

Thanks Jimmy! I think today. I'll take off all the pieces and see if I can recreate it unlatching on my vise.



Larry

[nxtruck]

You may want to try adjusting the striker pin up a little. I had this problem with my '65 and raising the striker pin just a small amount took care of it.

Sorry; reread your original post and it sounds like adding the spacers like you did would do the same thing as raising the striker pin. I would be looking for wear on the striker plate or pin as was already suggested.

[chevy_mike]

I think there is a spring that is supposed to hold the catch plate closed. I have seen these break from old age and it won't prevent the plate from moving and with the wind pressure trying to open the hood, it will move enough to allow it to pop open.

[mafosa]

chevy mike, thanks for that info. i did pull it off and messed with it. i can see that i does close all the way. the catch has shiny markes on the back side.

i can see enough when closed the catch is in the complete closed position.
i pulled the spacers out. made sure all the parts are present and working.

only thing i did notice. it didnt take much pull to release the hood.

this just might be one of those " just bite the bullet" and buy a new one deals. lol!


larry

[vince1]

I don't have an answer to your problem, just that you are not the first this has happened to. Years ago (about 40+) I was riding with a couple guys in a panel truck. The hood flies up over the windshield and the passenger sticks his head out to guide the driver. Every time I think about that it gives me a chuckle.

[bsask80]

Can you buy a new latch? Or will a new pin do it ?

[stsalvage]

Most people like to Slam there hoods.Your suppose to listen to the 2 clicks if you only hear one That's not good.All the guys back in the 80's and 90's use to slam there hoods.I told one guy one day your hood will fly up and fold around your windshield.2 weeks later it did that.So ple3ase don't slam your hoods there not like 1977 Caddy doors.One last thing why dose ever one have to SLAM are DOOR's.Most of the people that ride in my trucks as a passenger when they get out they go for broke to bend my door.

The day i did it to a friend of mines Nissan Altama.He blow a head gasket.I told him what i shut your door like you shut the one on my truck.I guess people don't understand how easy it is to shut are doors.But they get a running start to see if they can brake are Glass