I've recently put my hood tops on and want to latch them from the outside. I'm looking for ideas on either small metal latches or SMALL leather straps and buckles.....don't want the big straps running all the way to the inner fender. Anyone using anything like this? Thanks..Tim
If you actully wish to have small belts,look in the ladys belts at like K-mart or something,remember to put one end of cut off belt on a spring of some type,the loop'd loop springs or zig zag are used a lot.
You could also look for dog collars in the pet store for small short leather belts with buckles. You could even use flea collars and keep bugs out of your engine.
look for member Chadillac...He has some cool chrome latches. I bought some for my carson top..Good stuff.....
custompainter: Thanks for the reference. I have sent him a message. However, his profile says he joined in 2004 and has no posts since then...can this be bad info? Tim
Something like this could work; https://www.google.com/shopping/pro....3&ei=V8TjU_TKHs2qyASvzoHYCw&ved=0CIACEKYrMAg
Dana: Thanks for all the info. I didn't expect anyone to go to so much trouble. The hood's off right now...broke a valve spring this morning going to have front wheels spin balanced. Thanks again..Tim
There was a thread on here a long time ago on lunch box latches for hoods. Mabe that will help.........................
no,, he's still around. , check the cl***ified... I actually bought 2 latches from Chadallac....nice latches
Look thru these threads for a couple ideas. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/slick-willy-gets-rolled-at-wicked-hotrod.452336/ http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/saturday-project-34-pu-hood-fab.590224/#post-6554148
Whatever you use, they must fit very well and not come loose over bumps or in the wind... or stretch when wet... or shrink when dry... or dry rot... and be easy to latch / unlatch... etc., etc. Gary
O.T.! And for those of us who need the big leather strap... This is a Tractor Supply lead strap, they have lots of straps there big ones and little ones. It's kept tight with springs on the end of the strap.
Yep this is the ticket. When I was in high school I used to see lunch box latches being used as well. But tool box latches are the way to go, small chrome and sturdy.
Porkn******: Thanks for the input. I saw a cover shot on a thread last night talking about a '29 roadster and its whereabouts. Also pictured was a '34 roadster. Both cars have the very latches we are talking about. I have a quarterly rod mag with the '34 inside one of the covers if I can only find it I may be able to identify what he used. Thanks again Tim
Another option to think about is inside slide latches such as a barrel latch. I have used them on a few cars at work you just need to be accurate on the placement of the hole as this sets where the hood will be unless you can make an adjustable striker plate. Jim
I am just telling things as I remember them and memory is selective at best. Got to chuckle about the belt thing. When the Ol' Man decided that he needed a hood on the roadster when I was a kid be belted it. He saw a Morgan parked somewhere and it had belts and he thought that was pretty slick. I guess everyone in every little corner of the world has something that really floats their boat. Jim also a good idea they can be almost invisible. Someplace I have a pair of very old br*** safety latches (as in ancient), for suicide doors that are barrel latches. I have been keeping them for the day that I own a model 40 ford. As if that will ever happen.
I'm watching this thread with interest. When my car was built, the hood was fastened with Dzus fasteners at all 4 corners. Somewhere along the line before I bought the car, the plates that held the hood down were removed and lost. I'm hoping that someone has used Dzus fasteners, and will post pics of how they installed them. My avatar pic shows the hood being held in place with pieces of tie down straps. Ugly as sin. The springs on my Dzus snaps were riveted to the inside of the hood corners, so the plates that held the hood down had to fit to the outside of the hood.
I've never seen dzus fasteners put on from the inside. A picture would help. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Here's the cover shot I was refering to. Both cars have the tool box looking latches but I would really like a better look at them. I'm sure there is a simple solution, I'll know it when I see it.Thanks for all the input guys, its been fun. I'll continue looking Tim
The car was ***embled by Rod Tech in California. I've sent them a message, hoping that they remember the car, and can help with the needed parts, or at least can furnish some drawings. At least I hope Rod Tech did the hood parts. It seems that the car bounced back and forth between Rod Tech and Blundell Speed & Machine over a period of 2 or 3 years, while it was being built to the previous owners specs. The build sheets read like a who's who of Southern California rod builders, so at this point I'm only guessing that the hood fasteners were done by Rod Tech.
While looking at Rod Tech's web page I found this Pic. http://www.rodtechcars.com/#!Ground-Up-Restorations/zoom/mainPage/image1cu7 I'm wondering if the hood hold down could have been something as simple as a flat bar run between the cowl and radiator shell, with holes punched through for the Dzus fasteners. The pic of the black sedan shows such a bar, but doesn't appear to have holes for the fasteners.
Jake: Very well could be....may also be for a three piece hood. Can you send us some pics of your hood/body where the fasteners are mounted....maybe we can help. Tim
I was going to back it out of the garage for pics. Started pouring down rain. Just a 1 piece hood top. No side panels. The spring wires for the Dzus fasteners are attached to the inside of the hood near all 4 corners. That's why I think they used some sort of bar between the cowl and radiator shell with holes for the Dzus ****ons. Actually, I'm not Jake. I'm Don. Jake is my dog and best buddy.
I had a buddy with a 34 coupe and Dzus fastners on the hood corners. What a h***le. If some problem came up (other than say a routine thing like checking the oil) he'd walk around the car to loosen the fasteners and then try to figure out where to put the hood so it wouldn't get scratched, or stepped on, while working the problem. Then reverse the process when he thought he had it fixed. But of course it could take 2, or 3, or more times to figure it out. You can get sick of taking your hood off and on especially if the problem is on a road trip. Conversely, some hinges and latches work wonderfully (as in the OEM ones) no matter what you have to access the engine for or how many times it takes. And the hood doesn't get damaged. Just saying... Gary
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