Hood fitment

[jvandyke]

I didn't see much on this so.
My hood doesn't fit quite right, to be specific the driver's side corner by the cowl sticks up a bit. I've tried several times to lower the "grab bar" but if I drop it even a tad it won't grab no matter how hard I push down. It's spongy, apparently resting on the rubber strip across the cowl but not sitting down on the side rubber rests.
It's not a big deal although at highway speed it flutters and is a bit annoying to see it doing that. Also I wanted to ensure a decent seal since I'm still fighting some sort of fume in the cabin. (could be hot oil burning off the block from my front seal leak, could be coolant sneaking out too somewhere, could be exhaust)
Maybe I'll just go Ron's route and put in pins....probably not.

[namba209]

You can move the hood forward or back by about 1/2" with the studs that attach to the hinge mechanism, could be the hooks aren't grabbing the bars?

[yellaopelgt]

Did you happen to recently replace all the under-hood rubber?? When I did that a few months ago I was never able to get the drivers side to latch down again. Also heard the same story from a few others.... was hoping over time the rubber would "give a bit" and things would fix themselves. Hasnt happened yet. I got it from OGTS and it was a perfect match to the original. And yes, I tried all sorts of hood adjustments to compensate to no avail. And when I take the rubber off it latches perfectly so its not me.
Joe

[jvandyke]

I didn't just replace but the PO did I'm sure since it's certainly new looking. Oh well. Seems odd as you'd think even the new rubber would compress enough to latch if you push hard (like I was last night).

[tomking]

I fully restored my 70 GT three years ago now and have the same hood fitment problem. With the correct seal I cant get my hood to latch anywher CLOSE to fitting good. So I am running a different seal but still one corner on ddrivers side by cowl is high. If I lower the latch to get the hood even then it is too low to catch. I havent figured it out either. Plus, I have never figured out just what those hooks on the hood will do. They dont catch under anything and so I dont see how they work. The only way they might catch would be if the hood moved backwards because it was loose. That is of course a different issue.

[jvandyke]

Somewhat common problem then it seems. I wondered about those hooks too, what are they for? I might just put a light and video camera under there to catch the hood latch elves at work.

[yellaopelgt]

I was so P#*%&D that I laid under the car and had my son put pressure on the hood to see what the problem was. I had a flashlight,safety glasses(because crud was falling in my face) I cut small notches in the rubber,you name it, I probly tried it. I finally gave up on it. Maybe someone out there knows what the deal is with this as it really drives me nuts!!!

[jvandyke]

Caught 'em. Notice the slop in the bar and also how slow the bar rotates to "catch" after I close it. I was pushing up and down on it you can see. Guess those hooks do catch the bar, eh?
http://homepage.mac.com/jvandyke/Car...heater131.html

[BobCGT]

I just replaced the rubber seals underhood on my GT a couple months ago.
The instructions that came with them from OGTS state that the side of the seal nearest the windshield can be trimmed so as to help with this fitment problem....allows the seal to "sit down" a little more.
HTH
Bob

[West Coast GT]

I replaced the seal on my 72 GT several months ago and had the same problem.

After adjusting the latching bar's height, and trimming the seal, the hood latches correctly and seals out the fumes nicely.

Another area to watch: make sure you've allowed enough room along the sides of the hood so your seal doesn't hinder the hood setting down onto the lip around the engine compartment.

[jvandyke]

My seal is a rubber "tube" on top of piece with a slot to slide over the metal ridge. What would you trim? I guess you could cut the top half of the tube off but can't imagine that'd gain you much, that thing compresses down to virtually nothing. Triming the slot side (underside) won't help. I just pulled mine off and it does sit better and I shot a video of the passenger side, trying to see where it's hanging up (if at all). Only thing I could see was that the big hooks on that side don't grab the bar. What is up with those things? Whatever.

PS how important is the seal across the radiator firewall? I don't have one. Are these seals universal at all or is OTGS the way to go?

[BobCGT]

The seal on the rad support helps to force the incoming cool air thru the radiator instead of over it.

[OriginalOpelGTOwner]

The hooks on the hood are there to hopefully prevent the rear edge of the hood from entering the passenger compartment during a front end crash. When the hood is pushed rearware during the crash the hooks on the hood inner panel grab onto the latching mechanism bar that goes across the cowl outer panel. The design intent is to prevent the hood from coming through the windshield during a front end crash.

[jvandyke]

Originally Posted by OriginalOpelGTOwner The hooks on the hood are there to hopefully prevent the rear edge of the hood from entering the passenger compartment during a front end crash. When the hood is pushed rearware during the crash the hooks on the hood inner panel grab onto the latching mechanism bar that goes across the cowl outer panel. The design intent is to prevent the hood from coming through the windshield during a front end crash.

Wow, good info! I was going to cut them off to save weight so I could crash faster.
Wonder if they thought of that BEFORE it happened to someone, hope so! Thanks for the info.

[jvandyke]

Originally Posted by BobCGT The seal on the rad support helps to force the incoming cool air thru the radiator instead of over it.

I just remembered I had a convertible top seal from a Corvair that I couldn't get to fit right back in '90. It fits perfect across the rad cross member. I need to go look for pics of how it supposed to be installed though, all the way across (except for where the hood edges are) or not where the under hood channels go.

Found this http://www.opelgt.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/1878
follows the angles and nothing in the notches.
http://www.opelgt.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/1860
this one goes straight on ends, not angled

[jvandyke]

I trimmed my seal and messed with latch. Better but not good enough. There's a lot of slop in the hood even after it latches. I have a lot of play between the latch bar and the brackets too. With no seal at all it sits down good but has a lot of play. I'm going to try a little secondary hook right behind the where the wiper blade mounts.

[wrangler]

[QUOTE=jvandyke;133233] Also I wanted to ensure a decent seal since I'm still fighting some sort of fume in the cabin. (could be hot oil burning off the block from my front seal leak, could be coolant sneaking out too somewhere, could be exhaust)
QUOTE]

The seal of your hood should have very little to do with fumes in the cabin... Have you already replaced the vent hoses from the fuel tank and/or checked around the tranny boot? If you drive it on the highway that much, I would be more concerned about the source of the fumes than fittment of the hood.. JMTCW.....
Brett

[jvandyke]

Originally Posted by wrangler The seal of your hood should have very little to do with fumes in the cabin... Have you already replaced the vent hoses from the fuel tank and/or checked around the tranny boot? If you drive it on the highway that much, I would be more concerned about the source of the fumes than fittment of the hood.. JMTCW..... Brett

I was told that seal keeps engine smells from getting sucked into the cowl, but I've got 95% of the fumes issue licked. I think my Parking Brake boot and shifter boot might let a little in yet. I suspect my slow oil leak from the front seal, that the fan spreads EVERYWHERE, gets on the block gets burned and those are the fumes I'm fighting, I'll try a redi-sleeve on the pulley soon.
Hood fitting is more of an annoyance, it sits high, looks wrong and flutters at any speed above 50. No, not a huge problem but one who's solution alludes me. I put a little j-hook coming up from right by the wiper motor mount. It works but it's too squirrely to slip on and off readily so now I'm think'n a plastic latch like we used to have on our kitchen cabinets to child proof 'em, you know little plastic wedge thingy.
http://www.kidsafeinc.com/stores/k/k...3C-closeup.jpg

[timemachine]

Originally Posted by jvandyke My hood doesn't fit quite right, to be specific the driver's side corner by the cowl sticks up a bit. I've tried several times to lower the "grab bar" but if I drop it even a tad it won't grab no matter how hard I push down. It's spongy, apparently resting on the rubber strip across the cowl but not sitting down on the side rubber rests.

In the old picture thread going around right now there's a shot of a gold GT with the same problem: Opel Period Photos of Summer - 1968 1973 Opel GT - 1920x1440 - Wallpaper

[jvandyke]

Originally Posted by timemachine In the old picture thread going around right now there's a shot of a gold GT with the same problem: Opel Period Photos of Summer - 1968 1973 Opel GT - 1920x1440 - Wallpaper

There's a car in that picture?

PS, child proof safety latch works, not my first choice but shouldn't flutter anymore, will test tomorrow.

[markandson]

Originally Posted by jvandyke I have a lot of play between the latch bar and the brackets too.

Do you have the plastic bushings in the brackets? You should have very little play between the brackets and the tube.

[jvandyke]

Nope, I don't and it sure seems it could use 'em! I wondered if I was missiing a piece. Maybe I can fab something.

[Lindsay]

Originally Posted by jvandyke I just remembered I had a convertible top seal from a Corvair that I couldn't get to fit right back in '90. It fits perfect across the rad cross member. I need to go look for pics of how it supposed to be installed though, all the way across (except for where the hood edges are) or not where the under hood channels go. Found this http://www.opelgt.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/1878 follows the angles and nothing in the notches. http://www.opelgt.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/1860 this one goes straight on ends, not angled

Don't think seal on that Pumpkin GT has round bulb seal at the firewall. Probably still does not have bulb seal! Hey, that is my GT. Engine compartment looks "clean" for bush-on paint. Radiator support beam and hood latch are powder coated, sun gold color.

[Lindsay]

Originally Posted by markandson Do you have the plastic bushings in the brackets? You should have very little play between the brackets and the tube.

I used rubber grommets to replace Opel GT nylon grommets after hood latch was painted.

[jvandyke]

Originally Posted by Lindsay I used rubber grommets to replace Opel GT nylon grommets after hood latch was painted.

Where'd ya get 'em?