31 Hood latches

[Redbird]

I have had my A for about 6 weeks now and enjoy the tinkering with it. Although I am not into judging, I am a purist and like to repair/replace items as they came off the assembly line. The hood latches were scratched up and had a little surface rust. I soaked everything in EvapoRust, wire brushed, and painted. The pictures show what was done or taken off. What are the proper screws, washers, and nuts? Were there just lock washers under the nut and no flat washer under the head of the screw? Also, the little rubber covers on the left are what came off. The rectangular ones are okay to put back on, but the round ones were about shot. I purchased some that fit from the local hardware store. Does this look correct to you?

 

[Redbird]

Ttt.

 

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

You can buy ALL the rubbers, in a kit. They're CHEEP, buy 2 & make a friend happy!
Bill W.

 

[loowiloowi]

The nuts were square and the screws were raven finish. only a lock washer between the frame and the nut. Many people put the brackets on backwards, the original brackets were installed so that the latches would lye against the fender. this way when they are unlatched they do not interfere with the raising of the hood or putting it down.
Check with Brattons or Snyders for correct parts. there are several very good parts vendors but there are also some that don't care about providing the "correct" part and think that if it works it is just fine. You will find that rarely will the correct part cost more than a substitute part.....

 

[Ed in Maine]

Henry didn't spend any more than he had to when he made up the hood latches for a Model A. I also have a 32 Ford and the latches used on this year are nice to look at. I have often thought when I had some free time I would weld up the seams and round off the sharp edges on the Model A latches to clean them up a bit. Oh, another one of those modification ideas that is just a waste of time.

I am still waiting for the last of the snow to melt and the mud to dry up here in Downeast Maine. I haven't hear the sound of my cars in six months! Ed

 

[Mikeinnj]

If you are a "purist" it would do you well to order the Model A parts book, the Judging Standards book, and get a free catalog from a supplier like "www.Brattons.com" who has photos of most products as well as a detailed description of the products.
The black plastic caps are "accessories" and are not original equipment but do serve the purpose of preventing scratches to the painted surfaces.

 

[jw hash]

I can`t see clearly in the pictures, but the latches look to reproductions.

 

[Mike V. Florida]

I can`t see clearly in the pictures, but the latches look to reproductions.

Glad you said that first, they also look repro to me.

Do you have a closeup of the area at the base?

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

I couldn't tell for sure, but I also thought they looked like repro latches. I'll see if I can find my original and take a picture of it.

 

[Redbird]

They turned out pretty nice.

 

[Mike V. Florida]

They turned out pretty nice.

yes they did!