1969 female hood locks

[Keith G.]

Painting the under side of the hood, what color should the locks be, black or cad, my cross cable is white is that correct? Judging manual is still in the mail. Thanks. Did get the oil gauge out.

[Alan S.]

Re: 1969 female hood locks

Hi Keith,
I believe the hood latches mounted on the rear corners of the hood were originally 'phosphated' using either zinc phosphate which gives a medium gray finish, or manganese phosphate which gives the latches a darker gray, but not black, appearance.
The 68-69 TIM&JG describes the cable for 69 as having a white nylon cover.
Glad you were successful with the oil gauge!
Regards,
Alan

Here's a photo of a latch with the darker gray manganese phosphate on it. Note the fasteners had the same finish. Also, this is a 71 so the sheath on the cable isn't white anymore.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 female hood locks

Hi Keith,
I believe the hood latches mounted on the rear corners of the hood were originally 'phosphated' using either zinc phosphate which gives a medium gray finish, or manganese phosphate which gives the latches a darker gray, but not black, appearance.
The 68-69 TIM&JG describes the cable for 69 as having a white nylon cover.
Glad you were successful with the oil gauge!
Regards,
Alan

Here's a photo of a latch with the darker gray manganese phosphate on it. Note the fasteners had the same finish. Also, this is a 71 so the sheath on the cable isn't white anymore.

Alan and Keith------

All 1968-76 Corvette hood latches were phosphate finished. The 1968-E69 tend to be of the gray variety. L69-76 tend to be much darker, almost black.

1969 Corvettes used 2 different sets of hood latches and 2 different cross cables. The early style were used from start of production thru ABOUT September, 1969. The later style were used from ABOUT October, 1969 through the end of December.

The early style are used with "tulip" shaped lower latch lock bolts; the later style were used with cone shaped lock bolts.

The early style used a cross cable with a white sheath and 2 anchor points; the later style used a cross cable with a black sheath and 1 anchor point.

[Mark E.]

Re: 1969 female hood locks

Alan and Keith------

All 1968-76 Corvette hood latches were phosphate finished. The 1968-E69 tend to be of the gray variety. L69-76 tend to be much darker, almost black.

1969 Corvettes used 2 different sets of hood latches and 2 different cross cables. The early style were used from start of production thru ABOUT September, 1969. The later style were used from ABOUT October, 1969 through the end of December.

The early style are used with "tulip" shaped lower latch lock bolts; the later style were used with cone shaped lock bolts.

The early style used a cross cable with a white sheath and 2 anchor points; the later style used a cross cable with a black sheath and 1 anchor point.

Good stuff, Joe. How did you get to know this level of detail??