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Bonnet/Hood Plunger

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jjbunn

jjbunn

Jedi Knight
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For some reason the spring-loaded plunger on the underside of Harold's hood isn't going far enough into its receptacle (the cup shaped thing that has a knife-like spring-loaded catch at the base, that is opened by the hood pull), no matter how far I push down on the hood.

It's as if the bolt thing inside the spring isn't long enough, but it's hard to see exactly what the problem is while the hood is down :smile:

Any ideas what this problem might be caused by? I can see how to adjust the left/right position of the cup, but I can't see how that would help matters.

Thanks!
 
Julian, the plunger, as you call it, is screwed into the base. It's locked there with a nut inside the spring. Loosen the nut and screw out the center plunger a ways and try to close the hood again. Some of the "plungers" have a slot in the bottom for a screwdriver. Also check that the rubber buffers on the side of the hood that they aren't set too high and not letting the hood come down far enough. If their set right, the edges of the hood will match the fenders perfectly.
 
Ah ha! Many thanks, Paul: I'll take a look for that adjustment.
 
It's a fine adjustment of too tight or too loose. Takes time but it will happen. I actually replaced mine with a better used one as it was still giving me trouble.
 
Yes, it was a bit ticklish, but I fixed it: now the hood stays nice and shut. I wish it lay flat, though. My repairs and efforts to bend it back to the correct curvature have not been very successful ... it rests a little too high along the left edge.

(vping: are you selling a hood, perchance?)

Thanks for the input.
 
Julian - check the square of your engine compartment & the height of your fender line - its possible the problem isn't the hood but the car itself from some earlier accident.
 
jjbunn said:
Yes, it was a bit ticklish, but I fixed it: now the hood stays nice and shut. I wish it lay flat, though. My repairs and efforts to bend it back to the correct curvature have not been very successful ... it rests a little too high along the left edge.

(vping: are you selling a hood, perchance?)

Thanks for the input.
Click to expand...
I've got a rusty hood and a not rusty hood. Also have an aluminum hood with s dent in the front. I could part the rusty or aluminum one but am on the fence about the good one. I might try and make a DD out of the '73 and that is the car with the good hood. I have a few latches plungers & springs too.
 
I had a similiar problem with my 78. Couldn't get it adjusted. Replaced it with one from an earlier car and all is fine.
 
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