'39 hood latching problem

[raj4851]

I have a '39 Standard that I just bought a new Bob Drake hood orn/handle assembly for. The ornament doesn't stay tight against the stop when latched. I haven't driven it yet but I'm guessing this should rest tightly against the stop. I don't know if it's slack in the cam or a spring problem. Has anyone on here had the same problem? Any advice appreciated. Thanks in advance, Rod

[Clem Clement]

my 39 pickup stays a bit off center. I checked to make sure the safety was working properly. No problems.

Back in the day after a hard day flogging my 40 Merc and down hill toward home at 75 mph, the hood let go! I guided by the small view to the side and paralleled the curb. The hood went back to the top of the windshield and the bent over 1" from my head. The next day I went to a local junk yard and swapped hoods for $15.

[raj4851]

Wow, that's scary!! I'm thinking on these '39s the latch should be much more stable & stay firmly latched. I was hoping to find someone on here that had experienced the same problem & had a good fix for it. $15 for a hood, the good old days.

[Phil Gillespie]

Originally Posted by raj4851

Wow, that's scary!! I'm thinking on these '39s the latch should be much more stable & stay firmly latched. I was hoping to find someone on here that had experienced the same problem & had a good fix for it. $15 for a hood, the good old days.

39 Hood Latch, is it a Standard or Deluxe as understand they are different.
I have a 39 Standard.
Phil NZ

[raj4851]

Hi Phil, and thank you much for the reply. The top part of the latch doesn't stay "tight". I can move it an inch or two & I think it should stay tightly latched against the bottom part of the ornament. Do you know what's wrong? Thanks in advance, Rod

[Phil Gillespie]

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Originally Posted by raj4851

Hi Phil, and thank you much for the reply. The top part of the latch doesn't stay "tight". I can move it an inch or two & I think it should stay tightly latched against the bottom part of the ornament. Do you know what's wrong? Thanks in advance, Rod

Thats why I asked if yur car is a standard or deluxe model as hood latches are not the same.
Phil NZ

[TJ]

If you have the Early Ford V -8 Club's 38-39 Ford book you need to look at the following pages; page 2-8 and pages 4-41 through4-45. Those pages show the parts and diagrams of how the latch pieces go together. If you don't have the book it would be a wise purchase for anyone who owns a 38-39 Ford.

[raj4851]

Hi Phil & TJ, Phil, does your hood latch stay "locked" in place against the stop once you latch it? is it secure there?
Phil, thanks for the heads up on the Ford book. I think I'll probably need to purchase one of those. Thanks to you both, Rod

[Phil Gillespie]

Originally Posted by raj4851

Hi Phil & TJ, Phil, does your hood latch stay "locked" in place against the stop once you latch it? is it secure there?
Phil, thanks for the heads up on the Ford book. I think I'll probably need to purchase one of those. Thanks to you both, Rod

As previously asked it would help if you say what model you have.
A standard model or deluxe model as the hood latch is not the same for these models.
Phil NZ

[fordv8j]

Originally Posted by Phil Gillespie

As previously asked it would help if you say what model you have.
A standard model or deluxe model as the hood latch is not the same for these models.
Phil NZ

He said it is a standard

[Phil Gillespie]

Originally Posted by fordv8j

He said it is a standard

I need an eye sight check. My mistake.


I tensioned mine up with a couple of turns of tape around the horizontal bar
where the hood clip meets. Then adjusted the securing nut with washer to give firm tension when the latch is closed. This has worked ok for me, a small bit of movement only. Yuou need to have a firm contact with the latch as it turns from open to closed postion. As mentioned a parts book or Restoraton Book shows the unit clearly to understand operation.
Phil NZ

[swoopNZ]

I remember seeing 39 standard hood handles at right angles on cars going down the road 50 years ago.
Usually fixed with a couple of layers of insulation or thread tape on the shaft as Phil did.
That's also what I did with mine then.

[raj4851]

Hi guys, Phil. you mentioned a hood clip meeting the horizontal rod. Hood clip?? I guess I'm missing something. Hopefully someone reproduces these hood clips. Can you tell me where it goes? Now I feel like a real dummy. I did see what looked like a clip in a drawing but I couldn't tell where it went. I may have to purchase one of those '39 Ford books for a schematic. Well, you've given me hope that there is a fix for this.
swoopNZ, thanks for your input also. Every little bit helps. Thanks again, Rod

[swoopNZ]

Might be a terminology thing.
Could mean the area where the shaft passes through the base plate.
91A 8218A" Hood top handle base plate "
The curved pot metal one that usually breaks near the rear.
A tip - if you're ever getting that piece re-plated, tie the ends together with wire.
I have had them come back with the radius curve distorted and they will no longer fit the curvature of the bonnet ( hood to you guys )