Hood Latch Adjustment

[surfdwn]

I finally took my '70 911T for a very quick ride down the street and back (after a year and a half). I just put in a new hood latch, as the P.O. had out in hold down pins (which I dislike).

Much to my chagrin, I could not get the hood open. Since the front bumper is still off, I was able to get to the top part of the latch and loosen it up to get into the trunk. I adjusted it three more times with identical results.

The cable is in decent shape and everything appears to be lining up....Is there a trick to adjusting these things?

David Nolen

1970 911T

[Zeke]

There really is. As you watch the plunger pin enter the latch, it should be in the center, right?

Not necessarily. Consider the arc and see that it really ends up slightly to the rear. I like to have the plunger go in a bit forward of center. Now, make sure your latch mechanism is working correctly. At rest, it should be half way, or so, from full open and fully closed. It will still appear to be closed. I don't know how else to describe that.

[Bench-Racing]

I will have to check your pin alignment suggestion. I had a nagging problem of the hood releasing while driving. All of a sudden the flow through ventilation becomes really effective. Duh, cause the hood is open again. I fiddled with it for miles and still not sure if it isn't going to pop on me unexpectedly again. There must be a trick to getting it right so I can be done with this issue?

[Zeke]

Charles, the release mechanism can get worn to the point that no adjustment will help. ditto the plunger nose. You might take a close look at these and maybe put the plunger in a lathe and trim the "shelf" a bit. These cars shake, rattle and roll all down the line and that thing has to hang on thru all of it.

[KTL]

I agree with Milt's assessment of the latch mechanism. Just so we're clear, since I have a late-early 911 (87 model year) the short hood cars have a latch mechanism that is similar to the latch on the engine lid? My hood latch on my 87 is not a plunger type. It's a bar-hook type.

[cmcfaul]

Make sure the cable is adjusted correctly as well. too tight or too loose will cause the hood to open or get stuck closed. Just went through this a month ago. Problem truned out to be a dirty male portion of the hood mech.

Chirs
73911e

[cgarr]

Like Milt said, you need to make sure the dog dick looks like one....

[RWebb]

thx for the Jackson Browne ref., milt

[Zeke]

...a little paraphrase there.


"Honey you shake and I'll rattle and we'll roll on down the line
.....
Honey let me introduce you to my redneck friend"

Ouch.