MTFCA Forum

On my 1927 Roadster, the hood center hinge rod pops out of the hood retainer clip on top of the radiator when I open the hood. Is something missing that would hold the rod in place?
Any suggestions for an easy solution? A cap or cover?
Thanks

No, there is nothing to hold the rod down in the front clip, it's just a pocket for the pivot rod to reset in.

It sounds like your middle hood hinge could use a good oiling. That will allow the hinge to move freely and prevent the hinge rod from popping up when you open the hood.

Mine did the same thing until I drilled a hole through the side if the retainer, through the rod and out the other side of the retainer. I then took a small slotted machine screw and, using it as a pin, pushed it through the hole and secured it with a nut. Not original to the T, but effective. Jim Patrick

The screw head and nut need to have small enough profile so as not to make contact with the hood hinge when the hood is closed.

I think you will find it is not attached at the front , this allows you to remove your hood . It will not flop around when you have the hood latched . My 12 is open like that at the rad and a hole in the hood former works great for the past 108 years. If the hood pops out place it back in and away you go .

I think the front edge of the hood is a little somewhat deformed. I’d remove the hood and very slightly bend both forward edges over my leg while sitting down. I had to do this once upon a time to keep the rod from popping up from the shell .

Jim, your hood is misshapen, or your hood is out of alignment with the radiator shell, or both.

Thank you, Jeff. You are correct. My hood is a reproduction I bought in 1972 during the first restoration to replace the original hood that was rusted through in places and the rod was frozen in place which cracked the hinges on both halves. My new hood did not quite conform to the curvature of my radiator, which caused the front of hinge rod to not seat all the way into the front retainer even when secured with the hood retainer clips. Instead of trying to bent the hood to conform to the radiator and possibly cause damage, I decided to secure it with a machine screw as I described. When held shut with the hood clips the hood holds tightly against the radiator shell. Whenever I need to remove the hood, which is very seldom, it is a very simple matter of unscrewing and removing the screw. Works for me. Jim Patrick

Thanks for the answers and suggestions. This is an unrestored T and it is very possible that the hood is bent. I will check it.
Thanks again for the replies
Dennis

When assembling my 1917 shooting brake, I used the same closed retainer on the firewall and the radiator shell. Silly move. The radiator shell end must be open. Original black era hoods have a bend about 1.5" out from the centre hinge. This allows the centre hinge to sit low in the keeper on the shell.This bend has to be made in the reproduction hood panels, as they are normally left straight. Without this bend the hinge will be high in the keeper and lifting the side panel only makes it easier for the hinge rod to pop out.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.