Another upgrade............hood latch!! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

mobileortho · 11-01-2008, 09:52 PM

Have you ever been driving down the highway and had your hood to fly open on you? I have and it's down right scary!

That's not something that I want to experience again so I decided to upgrade to something a bit more modern. The solution? I used the latch assembly from my son's '97 that I'm going to be parting out. I figured that I may as well see if there were anything I could salvage before I let it go. I still have a few bugs to work out but it looks very promising.

upper latch I'm working on different shims to get it to fit flush. That's a 1/2" plywood block but it's a tad too tall. I'll probably experiment with a 3/8 and 1/4 piece to mock it up.

lower latch
under dash opener
hood closed

55dude · 11-02-2008, 09:16 AM

nothing like bringing the truck into the 21st century! nice upgrade.

Atomsplitter · 11-03-2008, 01:05 PM

Have you seen this aftermarket latch?

http://www.thehoffmangroup.com/autol...so?itemid=BCTR

55dude · 11-03-2008, 05:55 PM

mmm! link won't work for me.

mobileortho · 11-03-2008, 10:15 PM

Wouldn't work for me ether.

Atomsplitter · 11-04-2008, 12:40 PM

Sorry, lets try that again.

http://www.thehoffmangroup.com/autol...so?itemid=BCTR

I've NOT tried this myself but I'm seriously thinking about it......

mobileortho · 11-10-2008, 11:59 PM

Worked on the assembly some more this weekend. Turns out that once everything was bolted in, there was no need to shim the upper plate.

dash mounted opener
lower plate
upper assembly

mr48chev · 11-11-2008, 12:32 AM

That idea is growing on me as I have had the hood blow open once in the big middle of Wyoming. 120 louvers saved the day by reducing the wind drag and allowing me to see through them.

The S-10 Blazer sitting out here may be a doner candidate if someone doesn't come along and haul off the front end first.

11-01-2008, 09:52 PM	#1
mobileortho Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 887	Another upgrade............hood latch!! Have you ever been driving down the highway and had your hood to fly open on you? I have and it's down right scary! That's not something that I want to experience again so I decided to upgrade to something a bit more modern. The solution? I used the latch assembly from my son's '97 that I'm going to be parting out. I figured that I may as well see if there were anything I could salvage before I let it go. I still have a few bugs to work out but it looks very promising. upper latch I'm working on different shims to get it to fit flush. That's a 1/2" plywood block but it's a tad too tall. I'll probably experiment with a 3/8 and 1/4 piece to mock it up. lower latch under dash opener hood closed __________________ Robert C. 1950 3600 3600 re-do, shortening it up If it's true what they say, "You learn from your mistakes," I'm a Genius in the making. Last edited by mobileortho; 11-12-2008 at 04:01 PM.

11-02-2008, 09:16 AM	#2
55dude Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: tacoma wa. Posts: 1,037	Re: Another upgrade............hood latch!! nothing like bringing the truck into the 21st century! nice upgrade.

11-03-2008, 01:05 PM	#3
Atomsplitter Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ontario Posts: 514	Re: Another upgrade............hood latch!! Have you seen this aftermarket latch? http://www.thehoffmangroup.com/autol...so?itemid=BCTR

11-03-2008, 05:55 PM	#4
55dude Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: tacoma wa. Posts: 1,037	Re: Another upgrade............hood latch!! mmm! link won't work for me.

11-03-2008, 10:15 PM	#5
mobileortho Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 887	Re: Another upgrade............hood latch!! Wouldn't work for me ether. __________________ Robert C. 1950 3600 3600 re-do, shortening it up If it's true what they say, "You learn from your mistakes," I'm a Genius in the making.

11-04-2008, 12:40 PM	#6
Atomsplitter Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ontario Posts: 514	Re: Another upgrade............hood latch!! Sorry, lets try that again. http://www.thehoffmangroup.com/autol...so?itemid=BCTR I've NOT tried this myself but I'm seriously thinking about it......

11-10-2008, 11:59 PM	#7
mobileortho Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 887	Re: Another upgrade............hood latch!! Worked on the assembly some more this weekend. Turns out that once everything was bolted in, there was no need to shim the upper plate. dash mounted opener lower plate upper assembly __________________ Robert C. 1950 3600 3600 re-do, shortening it up If it's true what they say, "You learn from your mistakes," I'm a Genius in the making.

11-11-2008, 12:32 AM	#8
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,345	Re: Another upgrade............hood latch!! That idea is growing on me as I have had the hood blow open once in the big middle of Wyoming. 120 louvers saved the day by reducing the wind drag and allowing me to see through them. The S-10 Blazer sitting out here may be a doner candidate if someone doesn't come along and haul off the front end first.



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