Dzus on hotrods

3

3W Hank

Well-known member
Maybe not on all average street/hottod in late 40’s but it was war surplus and even if no one used them, some one could as they been out since 1932 ( idea is from 1925 )
Nice, well thats another way see it, but its shore is race.

But my question is, I saw it on Dick Wades 3W coupe.
To me it first feel 1980’s, but as allot of stuff nothing is new.
But if surplus ( one can still get vintage on eBay )
It might not fit all hotrods or streetrods ofcourse.
But a cool factor if a racy style.

I’been seraching the early 32 hooks but hard to find and a guy on eBay like 1.000 USD on set…
I told the Brockville guys at LARS and said what do you think one charge at eBay for them… I’mean they sell a Taiwan kit at 100 maybe less.
So I said price.
He reply, you guys are sick :- ))
I said, well most is damage or hard to find, so what should a set NOS cost 90 years later ?

I’m into something as I did not planned hood sides but now I bought a old home made sides late 40’s as McGee had on the roadster.
I really like them.
I guess copy of McGee but dont know when they was made but seller had a old 32 coupe from so-cal but he bought a 25 L sides so I bougt them.

Ok over to the Dzus.
Is this seen on so-cal hotrods back then ?
 
Hank, Hotrods are, by definition, built to suit the whim of the builder. F you got ‘em, use ‘em!
haven’t seen any street rods employing Dzus fasteners, but have seen them on a few show cars. I think they are cool, if used sparingly. Go for it!
 
I don’t think Dzus is nice on a traditionally street rod in old school or any other style more than race. It’s a classic thing use the Henrys, and on picture a nice set std Henry early style.
See my hood, so a set chromed would be nice.
But as always, it’s the cheap Taiwan or if try get Henry it is always complicated.
Often very expensive then the repairs.
-I just breath ideas.
I has not a ton of books with old hotrod pictures, or race scenes.
Right now I borrowed LA Roadster book.
Just asking if anyone seen the Dzus be used in old pictures.

In general I go by what was aviable in speed parts or surplus VV2 and Henry parts, so I’m not a slave on the era correct ( to answer your question )
But cool to see old pictures, if it was in use or just a mind idea, and no one used it.
 

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Note.
There are 2 movie on YT om Dick Wades 3W coupe.
They talk on Culver City and street racing back in the days.
And that area was the start ( what call dragracing )
On his car its allot of cool things all over and the Kennedy bros did good work on it but Dick was the master of details.
It’s a CSB in now ( but he has Ardun stuff ) so I’m very inspired on that coupe.
Dick should never installed Dzus if he did not see they was off.
I did try see him and I traced the area, got his phone number, told one of his buddy in a local shop ( in movie ) that I went over from Sweden Just to see his car and talk to him.
He never reply back.
I wanted to hear stories, se details live plus he is the living expert on Okie Adams axles.
But I guess he did not like see me.
But car is on YT.
 
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I’ve got one NOS early hood hook, and a whole pile of used ones. But I love em, so they wouldn’t be cheap.
 
I understand you.
This stuff is just nice to hang around at.
The NOS ones on eBay was at 1K.
But in my case it was just not the price, it's about the ideas of the car, the surplus can be cool.
-On a traditional hot/streetrod I was never to use Dzus.
 
32 frames flex a lot. The Dzus fasteners are a solid mount and would not let the hood move at all.
 
I have found correct 32 hood latches on 50’s forklifts and towing tractors. Also on old Jeeps.
 
Hot rodders in the 40/50s wouldn't have been concerned about using early hood hooks and other early esoterica. They might have used such parts if they came with the car, but would not have been a thing they sought out specifically.

The "I gotta use XYZ early '32 parts" is a modern thing in the hot rod realm.

For example, how many early K-members were hacked up to use non-original transmissions? Early firewalls cut for different engines? Early rear frame horn covers removed and tossed in the scrap pile? Not really something they concerned them self with saving.


Were Dzus fasteners in use at that time? Sure, there was probably some former aircraft mechanic who'd seen them in the field and decided they'd be slick to incorporate into his post-war hot rod or race car. Does being on one car fit the criteria for being "period correct"?
 
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Itslow,
Thanks on input.
Yes it must been non that swithed hooks from later to early… but all this is just cosmetics and the way I see it, even if one try to be in that era or just little era ’correct’’ it don’t mean it could not been done as the parts was aviable.
And on the Dzus, I guess it must happends, but that was the question if it was noted it was used.
-Will use them, I think so as my coupe is a racer.
 
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Alan,
It is wah more nice on a street rod to use thd std hooks ( early or later ) but the surplus parts is cool, the way I see it.
 
I decided to go the early 32 hooks and I found a early NOS set on eBay.
My 32 5W will has a Henry upper hood less louvers and I found a set of new made sides from the past like the McGee design.
 
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