hood fitting questions

J

Jim in Wisconsin

Senior Member
I have a 33 2 door sedan that I "restored" a long time ago (45 years or so), when I was young and didn't know much. Now I'm old and don't know much. Lately I've noticed the hood, grill, and front fenders don't really line up very well and the hood is hard to get latched at the front and rear. I thought I would re-work some of this stuff, and replace the lacing that is riveted to the cowl and to the grill. It's all flattened down which makes the hood sit too low, besides being crooked. I had used the same material for both, but that don't mean it was right. Is the same material (lacing if that's what it's called) used for both the grill and cowl or are they different?
Thanks
Jim S.
 
Different, thinner (flatter) on grill and a thick (single round) on cowl. Look up Drake or Macs online catalog for more info.
 
I'm just a novice here BUT, if its a 1933 why are you latching the hood at the front and the rear? Shouldn't you just have a single handle in the middle of the hood sides??
 
So my thought is.....if you have hood latch points in the front and rear and your car is in fact a 1933, you have a 1934 hood!!!
 
The 33 and 34 hood tops are different because of the grille. If you have a 33 with a 33 grille and your hood sides have two handles per side, then you probably have 33 hood tops and 34 hood sides unless late 33s had 34 style double hood handles and straight louvers. Also not sure, but the latches for the hood sides at the grille and the cowl are also probably different between 33s and 34s? Hopefully an expert 33/34 guy will clarify.
.
 
I have a 33 and although it has a single handle in the middle, it does have a catch at the front and rear. Mine was difficult to get latched at both ends, I had to push one end in while pushing the other end with my knee. After a while now, things have settled in and it latches both front and rear without any extra gymnastics.

Just because there is only one handle does not mean there is only one latch.

Mart.
 
Thanks guys, yup Mart has it right. I have a 33 with the correct grill and hood. I also have had to do those same gymnastics to close it. I always wondered if that was why Ford switched to two handles in 34.
Now another question - how many brackets are there supposed to be on the sides of the radiator holding the grill in place? I only have the ones that also serve as the front hood latch, but there are holes for one above and one below that. I see Mac's has a kit for this, but it says 4 pieces - including the latch piece. Shouldn't there be 6 pieces?
This is turning out to be a big project, now I am also going to repaint the front fenders cause they're scratched up from my buddy's kids climbing around on them. I can't get mad at that kind of stuff, I did the same (and worse) when I was that age.
 
Paul- the doors fit real nice, latch tight, etc.
Johnboy - thanks - those pictures are good. It looks like there was only a bracket above the latch one, not another one below it even though there are holes in the grill and radiator sides for it.
Also, his lacing goes right over the holes, doesn't stop and start by each one.
I could probably make those brackets, maybe 1/8 inch x 3/4 inch hot roll steel?
Jim S.
 
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