Hood latch

[REDROCKER652002]

Well, just when I think I am doing something good, I screwed up. I bought my son a new hood latch and we put it in today. I knew it wasn't right as the hook part of the latch did not seem to be catching. He took it out for a ride, and sure enough the hood flew up and broke at the hinge mounting. So, now I need a new hood and hinges. Problem is, I checked and the latch lever does not have enough travel to before it hits the bottom of the grill assembly. I am stumped as this should be a replacement for a 69 setup. Would a different year grill assembly cause this to happen? Or am i just that damn unlucky?

Either way, any of my San Francisco Bay area peeps know a wrecking yard where I can get a hood?

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by REDROCKER652002

Well, just when I think I am doing something good, I screwed up. I bought my son a new hood latch and we put it in today. I knew it wasn't right as the hook part of the latch did not seem to be catching. He took it out for a ride, and sure enough the hood flew up and broke at the hinge mounting. So, now I need a new hood and hinges. Problem is, I checked and the latch lever does not have enough travel to before it hits the bottom of the grill assembly. I am stumped as this should be a replacement for a 69 setup. Would a different year grill assembly cause this to happen? Or am i just that damn unlucky?

Either way, any of my San Francisco Bay area peeps know a wrecking yard where I can get a hood?

There are 3 or 4 different latches. Look at this thread.

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=636973

LockDoc

[fishmunger]

dang man, that sucks, sorry this happened to you.

[Sheepdip]

No pic but only 80 mi from ya

https://modesto.craigslist.org/pts/d...075516184.html

Another only 60 mi
https://modesto.craigslist.org/pts/d...101469028.html

Heres another North of ya

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/pts...095327966.html

[REDROCKER652002]

If I read correctly I can only use 69 or 70 hoods. I have a line on a gmc hood for 100 bucks. Other than the emblems everything else is the same. Right?

I don't want to spend 500 bucks on a reproduction hood right now so this might work.

[REDROCKER652002]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

There are 3 or 4 different latches. Look at this thread.

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=636973

LockDoc

Thank you for the post. I know I have the right latch. But the handle to open the hood hits the bottom of the grill so it won't go all the way. I'm wondering if I have the wrong grill. It is pretty beat up. First off I need to get a hold. Then we will see from there.

Thanks for the reply.

[REDROCKER652002]

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/pts...103520405.html

Here is the one I am getting. It will hopefully do until my son is ready to do the bodywork.

[REDROCKER652002]

I'm sitting here having my coffee and thinking out loud, so please excuse my stupidity. On the hood itself, he ripped on of the bolts off the bracket, but the other three are still there. I am wondering if there is a way I can get a body bolt or two in and use a nut and bolt to put it back into place? Or is it a safety issue once the metal is compromised? Just thinking out loud.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by REDROCKER652002

I'm sitting here having my coffee and thinking out loud, so please excuse my stupidity. On the hood itself, he ripped on of the bolts off the bracket, but the other three are still there. I am wondering if there is a way I can get a body bolt or two in and use a nut and bolt to put it back into place? Or is it a safety issue once the metal is compromised? Just thinking out loud.

How about a couple of pictures of the hinge area in question.

As far as the hood latch, I think the latch has to match the grille and center grille support bracket. If the grille is bad that could affect it too.

LockDoc

[Boog]

Right Leon. If I remember right there are 3 different latches. 67-68, 69-70, 71-72. The 69-70 and 71-72 look real similar. I spent a lot of time refinishing the wrong one for my 69.

[REDROCKER652002]

Originally Posted by Boog

Right Leon. If I remember right there are 3 different latches. 67-68, 69-70, 71-72. The 69-70 and 71-72 look real similar. I spent a lot of time refinishing the wrong one for my 69.

Yes there are. According to Brothers, I have the 69 to 70 latch. Now, is it possible that the hood is not the right year? Yep. Is it possible the grill isn't right either? Yep. Seems that everything on this truck has been wrong. LOL.

Pictures to come. Stay tuned.

[REDROCKER652002]

Ok. The hood is setting on the truck and I have to wait for some help to move it. In the meantime here is a couple of the grill and lever. The second picture is where the lever hits the grill. I can't get the lever to go up enough to release the hook part of the latch. If that makes sense. I'm guessing I can heat the lever and try and bend it down a bit, but if it is supposed to fit, I should not have to do that, right? The kid is getting frustrated, but I told him he could still drive the truck. It kinda looks cool without a hood. LOL.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by REDROCKER652002

Yes there are. According to Brothers, I have the 69 to 70 latch. Now, is it possible that the hood is not the right year? Yep. Is it possible the grill isn't right either? Yep. Seems that everything on this truck has been wrong. LOL.

Pictures to come. Stay tuned.

69-72 hoods all fit the same and the lock bolts are in the same place, so that isn't the problem. It has to be the latch or the grille and (or) the grille support bracket.

LockDoc

[REDROCKER652002]

After further review and comparison, I found the handle part of the Brothers latch is about 1/2 inch shorter and not as steep an angle. I put both in and there was a noticeable difference. I am so pissed right now. Brothers said it was a direct replacement, so I did not even check. Now, I have to buy my son a new hood and he will either have to find the return spring for the hook part on his old latch or I am going to have to try and bend the brothers latch to give me enough throw to get it to work. I guess I should know better, but lesson learned.

And many thanks to LocDoc and others who posted. You guys were right yet again. RR

[REDROCKER652002]

Here is a photo of the damage to the hood. Might be worth it to just get the Hood for 100 bucks. The issue with the lever still doesn't solve why the hood latch safety failed, but I learned to make sure and double check and maybe hook that chain back up. LOL.

[REDROCKER652002]

I am going to pick up the hood on Thursday morning. For 100 bucks I think it is a good deal. According to the seller, it has no rust and the paint is just faded. If that is the case, my son can use it on his truck and then we can talk about painting it when we get to that point. Thanks to all who had input, like always, I appreciate it.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by REDROCKER652002

I am going to pick up the hood on Thursday morning. For 100 bucks I think it is a good deal. According to the seller, it has no rust and the paint is just faded. If that is the case, my son can use it on his truck and then we can talk about painting it when we get to that point. Thanks to all who had input, like always, I appreciate it.

Good deal. That sounds like the easiest thing to do.

LockDoc

[REDROCKER652002]

Hood is on. Not perfect, but not bad. Now, I just need to see what my son wants to do with the latch. My suggestion was to grind off the handle of the old latch, clean it up and put it on the new latch and see how that works. Then, we have the correct angle on the lever and a new latch to work with. We will see what he wants to do.