The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Hood Lock for '54 Chev PU

Does anyone have a really clean way to lock up the engine compartment? I would like to be able to keep unwanted entry from outside of the vehicle. A lever of some sort under the dash would be fine. Also, a remote controlled device powered by the battery would also work. Have you come up with something that works on your show vehicle? I would appreciate any input you might have.

I'm toying with the idea of a cable popper connected into the existing latch. Then cut off the part that is accessible from the outside of the vehicle.

How about an in-cab-mounted, cable actuated lever that simply blocks the travel of the existing hood latch release? Pull the cable from inside the cab and the lever moves out of the way. Then the stock hood release works like normal from the outside of the truck. When the hood is closed again, push the cable back in from inside the cab, and the hood is locked.

This way, the only invasion into "stock" territory is a hole to mount the lever.

Craig

On my 59 gmc, I drilled a 5/16 inch hole in the latch mechanism to block the travel. I then simply put a Master lock through that hole. Not sure about the 54, but the 59 has plenty of room to reach up there and unlock it with a key, but not enough room to be able to snip it with a bolt cutter.

The cable system sounds interesting, but how do you route the cable so it can't be seen. Also a new hole might be needed in the dash and/or firewall. In a show vehicle this might add up to a points deduction.

As for a solenoid (battery opperated device), What happens if the battery dies, or the solenoid fails?

John
Remeber the KISS philosophy. Keep It Simple Stupid.

I mounted the locking mechanism, safety latch & cable from a donor vehicle to mine. I can now open the vehicle from the inside via the cable.

Sounds like what I was thinking of doing. Do you have any pictures?

Sure:
Latch assembly
Upper latch
Lever

cool, thanks

I like the idea of chevoldsmoyota above. The idea of having a cable going to a pin (of sorts) that merely blocks the travel of the actuator that exists in the original equipment. The trick will be to either run a cable from under the left dash or maybe along side of the left seat, through the frame to the latch area. Or, have a solenoid that is normally in the unlocked position so if the battery died it would release the latch. Hummm. . . thinking, thinking, thinking.

Even more cool would be to weld another arm on the stock emergency brake in the lower firewall so when the emergency brake is in the lock position the hood latch would be locked. You're right down by the inside of the frame area so it would be really clean. Then, all you would have to do is make certain the emergency brake isn't down when you open your hood. Would work . . .when you are driving your e brake is off (or should be off) and no unwanted person is going to be parting out your engine compartment unless it's someone like spiderman......................

I hadn't thought of the points system of judging a show truck. But for those of us that drive them... Really though, I kind of like the ideas here - there's some real possibilities with the parking brake idea. And the late model latch assembly looks nice too. Most of them involve a little bit of cutting or hole-drilling, but that's part of the fun - building and modifying our own stuff, right?

I think the sky (and your imagination) is the limit!

Craig

My 54 does not have the safety latch on it. so i put a bolt through the latch mounting with a length of chain hanging through the hole down below the latch apron and put a pad lock too big to fit through the hole. it all can be removed in seconds to be judged.