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Hood latch stuck on 53 3100. Can not open hood after installing new chrome hood latch assembly. Anyone run into this, how did you get hood to release. Thanks for any help.

I replaced the hood latch assembly panel on my '47 when I rebuilt the chrome grille. The hood lock plate was re-used and left 'loose' when it was initially installed allowing it to be correctly positioned.

LOWER CATCH PLATE

Is the hood lock plate tight or loose? When I put mine together, I had to use my hand and gave the hood nose a good pop to allow the latch assembly to release. I kept working with lock plate until it seemed to be in the right place. If your lock plate is tight and without any wiggle room, you might have to loosen the hinges to get some travel in the latch. However, doing that may/will compromise the hood alignment which you will want to avoid at all costs.

RELATED THREAD

Let's give this thread a while to develop.............surely someone has solved this problem.

** I had the same thing happen during the restoration of my 53 Suburban. If you take a look at the lower filler panel between the radiator and the bumper I think you will fine a factory hole about the size of a silver dollar. I was able to unscrew the latching bolt from the hood with a long common screw driver. If the locking bolt nut is really tight you may not be able to unscrew the bolt. Good luck. **

Thanks for your suggestions, I was able to remove the gravel guard under the grill. This gave me good access , with two screwdrivers I was able to free the latch and hood opened.

It has always been interesting to me that while the Factory Manual warns against tightening the latch bolts before setting the final hood closure adjustment, it does not give any instructions as to how to open the hood if you should make that mistake.
It is as though Jerry "Hotrod Lincoln" wrote that section to use it as a hard lesson for us dumb students.
Carl