Alvin,
Thank you for the offer on the lower hood latch. Took my hood latch apart and found a local welder friend who was able to build up the material that had worn on my latch. Planning to clean it up good and reassemble it. If it doesn't work after the rebuild I will definitely take you up on that offer. From what I understand the lower latch assembly was the same for 1947-1953 Chevrolet trucks.
Thanks again!
Tim