C3 Corvette Hood Adjustments and Alignment

This video will show you how to adjust the hood alignment on a C3 Corvette. The video will uses shims, washers and a hood alignment tool for the hood adjustment. The video is demonstrated by Corvette Hop.

[@vinnymusica7195]

Your hood adjustment and alignment video was great! No more hood-popping over slight bumps (or big bumps) in the road. So nice to drive without that annoyance! Kudos to you. Thanks so much.

[@geoffleroymarquis5902]

Instead of adjustment tool a lawnmower spark plug remover and put in bonnet release holes. Loosen striker bolts and lay bonnet down to move strikers in place. Open bonnet and tighten bolts. Perfect closing after this. Thanks for video, it gave me the idea.

[@davejalenderki]

Thank you for a very detailed and informative video. Beautiful car by the way.

[@cooperbeazley9358]

I think I have watched almost all of your videos, but this one is probably the best. I have struggled with the hood on my 72 since I took it off to replace the engine. I could get it to close but it was really hard to get open. I have an alignment tool like the one you showed except it was 3D printed. Your explanation of how the hood aligns was excellent and really shows this is a 3D problem. Even if you get the lines correct down the sides and front of the hood by getting the hinges in the correct position that is no guarantee that the hood latches are correct. My big question was the taller intake on the new engine impinging on the hood , was the new thicker weatherstripping on the hood holding it open or was there a problem with latch alignment. Your idea of removing the latches to see where the hood would be in a closed position really helped. I could easily push the hood down fully with the latches out of the way, therefore it had to be malalignment of the latches. Even using the alignment tool it “looked “ like everything was correct, but on further close inspection it turned out that the passenger side latch was off by less than an eighth of an inch. The cause was the mount for the electric windshield door motor I had previously installed to get rid of the vacuum system was not allowing the latch to come over completely. Grinding off less than an eighth of an inch on the hood latch solved the problem. Now the hood works perfectly. I have been driving around for the last two months trying to solve the problem, but with your help all is well. My big fear was that it took so much force to open the hood previously that I would break the release cable. After having the hood stick shut once and having to use the technique that Corvette Ben described to release it, I would rather get poked in the eye with a sharp stick than go through that again. Thanks again, your videos are well done and much appreciated.

[@kittypigeonclueless5566]

Absolutely magnificent video. I'll be watching this a few more times after the engine/transmission/interior rebuild retromod is done and it's time to work on the body. Thank you so much! It's because of great men like you that goofs like me can pretend to know what we're doing. I mean that great men comment too, there's no BS in that whatsoever.

[@davejalenderki]

Great video sir. Thank you for sharing your time and expertise.

[@perrymurdock7505]

Thanks for the tips, I really enjoy your Corvette video's

[@michaelkalman2597]

Great tip for this beginner. Got my 1969 Vette’s hood very well aligned...as you said, likely better than when it left the factory! Thanks much!

[@TheWhatisright]

You are welcome Corvette Friend. I am happy the video helped. "Keep those cars on the road". Hop

[@michaelkalman2597]

@@TheWhatisright How about some more C3 videos!!

[@TheWhatisright]

@@michaelkalman2597 Sure, what would you like to see?

[@michaelkalman2597]

@@TheWhatisright Anything someone who is restoring a 1969 (or just c3) Corvette would be helped by. I'm not a mechanic and am working on a car that was restored about 10 years ago to a "decent" level. I'm trying to "shine" it up (currently replacing carpets) and get ready for NCRS judging!

[@juancastillo59]

Thanks for the video god bless you 🙏

[@djmattplay]

Thanks a lot!

[@Vetteman372]

Thanks for the video i have 4 c3's and two have hood latching problem

[@TheWhatisright]

You are welcome. Hope the video helps.

[@petermatragrano8271]

WOW MY VETTE LOOKS PERFECT NOW U R A GOD WHAT TYPE OF PAINT DID YOU USE ON THE BOTTEM OF THE HOOD THAT BLACK LOOKS AMAZING THANKS PETE

[@damianjones8568]

Any videos on door gaps both sides at the top front. Doors line up perfectly with the Rear Clip but not the Front Clip

[@menakirolous681]

Hey how would you adjust the wiper flap too? The wiper flap and hood on mine are touching the fender on one side and on the other there's a 1/2 inch gap

[@TheWhatisright]

Do you mean the wiper door? If so, it can be adjusted slightly by the small mounting screws on top in the grill area. If Large adjustments are required (like yours) you will need to adjust the hinge mounts (under the grill area). It is possible your hinges are bent or the bushings beet to me replaced. Or the screws for the hinges are stripped out or came out. I Hope this helps. When I adjusted 1969 Corvette, I repainted the entire area under the grill to prevent rusting and made the adjustments. "Hop"

[@calebcaldwell4690]

Yeah my hood is stuck on the driver side of my 72 and I have no idea how to get it released!!!!

[@TEXAS_4U]

Do you think 69 and 81 vet would ajust the same? Got the same Gap you did. Thank you .

[@TheWhatisright]

The front end has different support but some is the same. I would loosen the front bumper support and give it a try.

[@TEXAS_4U]

@@TheWhatisright FIXED IT THANKS to you..... Great video 👍👍👌 I am a fan

[@TheWhatisright]

@@TEXAS_4U How did you fix it that fast? Thank you.

[@TEXAS_4U]

@@TheWhatisright the two bolts that you had unloosened is what did the trick. I had previously played around with those bolts with no success I can only assume I did not losing them enough. show again I thank you very much I had played around with all those boats everything and with no success no luck have any kind anyway and it was just the four bolts that you had loosened on your hood. I'm glad that's over with I will be watching more of your videos to learn more thank you very much 😊 a friend.. Terry

[@TheWhatisright]

@@TEXAS_4U You are welcome. Enjoy

[@johnvance41]

Only prob here is my 79 does not have that style of hood lock/ latch. So I don’t have the little screw to adjust to the grill. Also what about the whole shim thing the AIM talks about. Got a video for a 79?????

[@TheWhatisright]

Understand, I only have a video for the early C3 Corvette.

[@clnash3213]

very good, what type of paint for underhood and engine bay thanks HOP

[@TheWhatisright]

I used POR-15 paint. It is a very strong paint on the firewall and under carriage. I also did the frame of the car with POR 15 paint.

[@GJJC13]

@@TheWhatisright so that shiny under hood is just Por15? I thought it was some aftermarket cover..

[@TheWhatisright]

@@GJJC13 Correct, POR-15 gloss black.

[@mikejackson6965]

Where is hood latch