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I went to check the fit of the hood and as I went to latch it (for the first time) I discovered that the rear bend on the rod that should engage with the bracket on the firewall is broken off! It was nicely primed and never caught my attention until now.
I have looked in the Master Parts Catalog and don't see this part (the rod that has the bends on both ends to latch the hood) as part separate from the whole assembly.
Any suggestions as to where one might find this item? I have not placed a "Part Wanted" ad yet because I wanted to ask if it was available only as the complete assembly or not.
Are the rods different between the left side and the right side? If they are the same, perhaps I could get someone to repair the one I have by copying the one from the left side.
Thoughts?
Thanks,
Nick
Nick Gurin
Taos, New Mexico
1940 KC 1/2 Ton Pickup
It should be fairly easy for a competent welder to weld a piece of round bar on to the end where it's broken. I'm not personally familiar with the 40 but my 38 bars are mirror opposites. R&Ring the hood to take to the welder will be the most difficult part of the operation by far and that's not difficult. Below are the hood sides on my 38 showing the latch bars.
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1938 Master Business Coupe
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Thanks, Tiny.
I am concerned that if I do have a welder add a piece to what is there, if he doesn't get the angle just right, the latch would be too loose or too tight.
Maybe I am over-thinking it, but it seems to me that without a jig, it would be very difficult to shape it just right. I would think that if the steel was bendable enough to adjust, it might loosen over time.
Nick
Nick Gurin
Taos, New Mexico
1940 KC 1/2 Ton Pickup
Close and latch the side that's not broken. Open the other side, you should be able to view the closed side when it's latched. Take pictures to refer to. Make the broken side match. I agree, I think you're over thinking it.
7046 old site posts
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet
1938 Master Business Coupe
1953 210 Sedan
Nick
I agree with Tiny. Splicing a welded piece, while seemingly daunting, will likely be much less hassle than removing and replacing the rod, given they are held in place with rivets.
Another option might be to search for that lower section of the hood that has that rod intact and replace it?
Good Luck!
I just looked at the rod on the other side and it looks only slightly off alignment with the center of the rest of the rod. So, I guess what I am saying is that if the center of the rod is basically straight through two 90degree bends at the aft end, then it shouldn't be too difficult to get someone to weld a piece onto the rod that will properly engage with the bracket on the firewall.
I don't know much about metallurgy, but if I need to anneal it and bend it a bit after welding, perhaps I could do that if needed to get it to clamp the hood down correctly.
Does anyone know if the correct alignment of the bends in the hood latch rods are basically aligned with the longitudinal center of the rod? (I don't think I have ever written or typed "longitudinal" before!)
Nick
Nick Gurin
Taos, New Mexico
1940 KC 1/2 Ton Pickup
It should mirror the good one on the other side of the hood.
7046 old site posts
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet
1938 Master Business Coupe
1953 210 Sedan
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