long hood latch panel (back date)question
 

Looking for some information concerning the cutting of the front latch area for backdating my mid year to a long hood. I have not yet cut, but have both cars ready. It seems to be pretty straight forward, but thought I’d check to see if anybody has any advice or pics showing where they had done their cutting, before I do mine.

I’ve searched through many post, but could not find what I’m looking for.

Thanks.

~Chris

You know you can buy a fiberglass longhood from TRE that works with the shorthood latch, yes?

yes.

i am doing the same and would like to know as well.

so bumpity bump

ed

I am aware (perhaps I am speaking for ed here too) of the hood latch solution from TRE.

But I have a 70 chasis that I am cutting and would like to use the earlier hood latch panel.

So.....the original question. Does anybody have pictures or any solid advice/guidance for the cutting of both (the early and later short hood) cars for this procedure?

~Chris

Chris pls post pics of both cause there were several long hoods over gere converted to short hoods and if i ever buy a coverted long to short i'll convert it back

I will hopefully start cutting in the next few days. I will take pictures documenting the process.

~Chris

Place the long hood on the short hood chassis and center the latch pin. Map the location so that you can fit up the latch panel in the correct location. The long hood latch panel has little to do with any other function as the front fenders and bumper all bolt to the inner fender. You will have to modify the inner fender or your bumper brackets to mount the bumper.

If I had both cars, I would probably weld in a partial front clip going back behind the battery boxes whether I used the BB's or not. If you don't elect to do it that way, just drill out the spot welds and weld in the long hood panel where it fits. The slope and length of the front food seal should be the same right up to the face of the headlight buckets. Then it changes.

Of course you will need a new front seal and I'd have that on hand to see how it fits in there. There are a couple of little nuances at the corners by the horn grilles on the long hood that you need to understand before welding.

hello chrisf

i am doing the same thing i am back dating a 78 sc and bought a parts car to cut the panel out of for my conversion. take pics as i dont want to run a fiberglass hood and want it to look as stock as possible.

cheers ed

Milt

I have a complete car that i could weld in the battery boxes from. would you go back as far as the front control arm mounts or just to the lower part of the latch panel? I am still collecting parts and am a month from cutting and welding but will be dissasembling the donar car first to make room for the project. i was just going to cut it in front of the strut towers for now.

thanks for the advice.

cheers ed

I have a shortened longhood but I am wondering: does the front vertical chassis panel, that the latch panel attaches to, and which joins the two inner fenders, is it in a different location from long to short-hood. This is the piece which on my car has a TRE oil cooler duct in it. I guess what I mean is that are the longhood chassis actually longer or is it just where on the chassis that latch panel is mounted?

Neither really. It's a different shape. The short hood panel has provisions to bolt on the "smile." The long hood has provisions for the seal to follow the bumper top.

I don't think one is a lot longer than the other.

CT, I would stop at the base of the inner fender unless there was a reason to cut further. BB's are a matter of opinion, but I would leave them off for direct airflow to the oil cooler and brakes.

[/QUOTE]CT, I would stop at the base of the inner fender unless there was a reason to cut further. BB's are a matter of opinion, but I would leave them off for direct airflow to the oil cooler and brakes.[/QUOTE]

yea i was thinking of ditching the BBs as well as im gona run most of the sc wiring harness.

thanks

cheers ed