[dpoltzer]

Cant get the hood latch on my 1970 to catch/lock in the closed position. The latch will catch on the first step (Safety step) but not all the way in the locked position. I can manually lock and un-lock the lower mechanism with my hands but not by the hood. I tried another 2nd gen latch but still wont latch closed. The hood is not the original 1970 hood but a reproduction "70-76" hood from Dynacorn #1069N. Any ideas on the fix? Thanks.

[jwcfbd]

where there any differences between the hood latches from year to year? Most of the hoods for 67-69 require a latch from 68. Maybe the same in your case.

[jwcfbd]

never mind. Looking at Year One it looks like the latch was the same from 70-81

[dpoltzer]

I was reading thru some old posts and someone suggested lowering the Core support by adding another thicker washer on each side. If this might fix my problem, can I support the core support with a jack to add a washer with out having to remove the hood, fenders etc.?

[Norwood]

Post a picture of the backside of the Latch

[dpoltzer]

Here it is.

[Norwood]

Which main catch do you have Top or bottom? The one on the bottom is correct for 70, although it shouldn’t matter as they interchange. Hood hight is adjusted by the two outer stoppers on the core support. Have you tried turning them down to allow the hood to go deeper into the latch? There are no shims or other adjustments for the hight of the latch

[dpoltzer]

Hi Norwood, Both of my latches have just 3 teeth like the one on the top. Dave

[FrankieT/A]

Try lowering the bumpers on each side...Unless the teeth are worn off the latch mechanism.

[Norwood]

Originally Posted by dpoltzer

Hi Norwood, Both of my latches have just 3 teeth like the one on the top. Dave

Pm me if you would like to purchase a correct 1970 Restored 10 tooth latch. May solve the issue but like I said all 71-81 used the 3 tooth

[dpoltzer]

All 3 teeth on both of the latch mechanism are clean and sharp. I went so far as to remove the bumpers and the hood still wont latch.

[Norwood]

Next try and slide the latch as far as the bolt holes in the core support will allow toward the passenger side of the car.

[dpoltzer]

I do have the assembly as far as it can go to passenger side.

[Norwood]

Hard to say but I’m guessing it must be an issue with how the receiver is welded into the hood. Post up a picture of it and tomorrow I’ll post one of my original for comparison

[dpoltzer]

A few pics of latch to Hood latch opening and then another inserted to second detent.

[Norwood]

Hard to see how this couldn’t latch

[dpoltzer]

I might try thick washers between the latch mounting nuts and the bottom of the core support which should lower the latch to see if that does the trick? Would be easier than adding shims to core support.

[dpoltzer]

I have the passenger side grill removed so that I can watch the latch while the hood is being lowered. The hood does catch the "catch hook" (The one on the passenger side) of the latch mechanism but it looks like the hood cant get low enough to fully engage that "catch hook". The hood can not go any lower as it will be below the fenders. It seems like the latch should actually need to go higher but that is not possible. This one really has me stumped!!

[Scott Thelander]

I was just going to ask that you may think of pulling the grilles in case you have
an issue once it does latch... and not want to open...

good call

[Norwood]

Buy a real 70 latch from me or get ahold of one of the 50.00 reproduction latches. Like the 70 they also have The 10 tooth catch. Try PMing member Darrell Davidson of Supercar Creations fame. His name here is notime he has had this issue in the past.