Body / Glass: 53 hood latch install question

[johnod]

As stated, I'm reinstalling my hood latch, the piece attached to the car, not the hood.
I can see how it's done, easy enough, but is there any secret to proper installation/ alignment, so hood remains closed?

Thanks

John

[Tom Bredehoft]

Install the lower piece in the appropriate holes, don't tighten it. install the upper {pointed} part longer than required and lower it into the lower part, but not through it. The lower part should shuffle around to be in the right place. Raise the hood and snug down (tighten) the lower part. Put a little white lithium grease on both the lower contact point and the upper piece. adjust the upper so that it just slips past the lower sprung piece and tighten the lock nut. Be certain the J hook, (the one that catches you on top of the head when the hood is up,) will engage and keep the hood from lifting before the main latch engages. If you are seriously concerned about the hood coming up at speed, wrap a chain with a snap hook around the whole mechanism. But I've had and driven a '53 coupe for years with out a problem.

[Deaf Mute]

Tom said it right!
I tried other methods... laying on my back and tying my arms in knots trying to adjust the hood on my '53 Starlight... then it dawned on me... LET THE HOOD DO THE ALIGNING!
I just wish mine would unlatch easier... my hands don't slide past that grill bar as easily as they did in the '60's.

[johnod]

Thanks, I'll give this a try.

[rockne10]

Duane,
I think the grill center bar can be adjusted so it's easier to get your fingers in there. Mine also seemed tighter than it did years ago. I just man-handled it a bit to give me some space. Push the other side to match.

I've also never had an issue with the hood coming unlatched or the safety hook failing. I suspect those that have failed have been subjected in the past to hoods being slammed shut. I don't think that was ever necessary in a Studebaker.

[johnod]

Ok I tried that, and it seems to have worked.

Naturally something else came up.

The pointy "pin" with the spring on it,attached to hood, is adjustable for height, this is most of the way out, so as to make it impossable to put the lock nut on.

Anybody esle have this problem?

I suppose I could weld an extension in the middle of it, any ideas?

Thanks