Barney Hixson
New member
I'm needing help with restoring hood latches for a 1930 A. Is there any articles that might be useful?
Hood Latches
- Thread starter Barney Hixson
- Start date
glenn in camino
Well-known member
I know the 28s are different but aren't good repos just like originals.
BRENT in 10-uh-C
Well-known member
Kevin in NJ
Well-known member
I am not near my pictures so you will have read some text.
Make up a copper insert that will allow you to weld up the wear point.
I used a dremel fiber cut off wheel to make a seam line.
While not critical, i also made a round 'anvil' that fits inside the tube. This allows me to hammer the tube to correct the shrinkage.
The original hole on the top was just the edge of the formed sheet metal. I was at an angle like the taper you put in for countersinking a screw. Most tubes are completely worn into a MUCH larger hole. I put a copper rod inside the tube, fit does not have to be perfect. The copper is just to keep the weld thickness thin. Then weld up the top. Drill the proper ID hole with a regular drill and then use a countersink drill to give the proper taper.
I also weld up the pivot hole at the base and redrill the usually well worn hole. I made a simple jig from a 1/2" pipe fitting to let me get the new holes in the right spots.
Check the magazine indexes. I believe there was an article on rebuilding them in the last few years
Make up a copper insert that will allow you to weld up the wear point.
I used a dremel fiber cut off wheel to make a seam line.
While not critical, i also made a round 'anvil' that fits inside the tube. This allows me to hammer the tube to correct the shrinkage.
The original hole on the top was just the edge of the formed sheet metal. I was at an angle like the taper you put in for countersinking a screw. Most tubes are completely worn into a MUCH larger hole. I put a copper rod inside the tube, fit does not have to be perfect. The copper is just to keep the weld thickness thin. Then weld up the top. Drill the proper ID hole with a regular drill and then use a countersink drill to give the proper taper.
I also weld up the pivot hole at the base and redrill the usually well worn hole. I made a simple jig from a 1/2" pipe fitting to let me get the new holes in the right spots.
Check the magazine indexes. I believe there was an article on rebuilding them in the last few years
If you have access to old issues of the Model "A" News, there is an excellent article with color pictures of a step by step procedure on how to restore original hood latches. The issue is November/December 2006. I have the article and am going to use it when I restore the latches for my four model A's. The article even states where to buy and the part numbers for replacement springs and rivets.
Rusty Nelson
Rusty Nelson
