Last year the hood on my '47 started popping open without warning. At first it was only occasionally, but then got more frequent. I knew the latch was cracked and slightly bent, so thought I'd tweak it a bit. Now it won't latch at all! I wired the hood closed when I put it away for the winter. Today I brought it home and messed with it a little more. No matter how I bend it, or which way, it refuses to latch at all. What did I do wrong?
I have a post in the swap meet looking for a different latch. If I don't find one, I'm guessing I'll have to get a new one, unless someone has any ideas.
Rich - I'll second WICruisers note about showing us what your upper latch piece looks like. Your lower plate sure needs a replacement or repair, but the upper may have problems too to identify before being able to help you answer your question.
On the lower catch latch plate assembly, it's listed in both the 1954 and 1957 Chevy Master Parts Books as fitting 1947-53 Commercial and Utility Trucks (except COE's). See screenshots below.
So any 1947-53 Chevy or GMC truck (other than COE's) can be a donor to replace yours. I hope a fellow Bolter can help you out. Best of luck! *
* I posted this info in your Swap Meet ad in the hopes we can help you fix the problem.
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
As near as I can tell, the upper post piece looks to be in good shape. I don't have it apart, and it's hidden inside the spring, so it's hard to see it. I did compress the spring as much as possible to get a look, and it looks good. I was able to loosen it and turn it about a third of a turn so that the latch would catch it in a different spot, but it made no difference.
Hammer the bent metal back to where it belongs and weld up the cracks and grind it smooth. The latch pin in the hood is adjustable for length. It needs to be adjusted until the nose of the hood slightly compresses the rubber bumpers in the upper radiator baffle.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
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