With Huckelberry's permission...This is how I install the hood latches; first draw a parallel line throught the inner high bracing on the inside of your hood-either corner will work. Then draw a 90' line from the parallel line in the bracing to where the hood bumper is going to hit. About three inches toward the center part of the hood corner. I used a 3/8's drill but you can use a little smaller one if you want but I fill all this in later anyway. Drill all the way through keeping the drill straight. Then on the ouside use a 13/16's drill
JUST to drill through the top layer of the hood. Use the gasket for a pattern and then cut out the slots for the hood latch.
Mount with 8/32's wood screws (chrome preferably) Now take a measurement from the top of the hood and the side and duplicate it to the other side. and repeat. Now your latches will come out the same.
Put you "wedge" on and adjust it to the proper height and dont forget to allow the hood to be flush when you have the bumpers in place!
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About this time WD is going to chime in saying this is different than what I told him
Yes it is, this is the new and improved way for guys that have the ability. WD you will find when you are done the "wedge" doesn't fit well under the built in latch-where the bumpers go. Answer:
Hood mechanism standing up in a vice, grabbing it fairly close to the bottom, get a 1/4" open wrench in one hand and a torch with a fine tip in the other. Heat up the shaft about a 1" down from the bell on the latch, put the wrench on the 1/4" streel shaft and twist it about half way. This will posistion it directly under the flange of the body. Now it may still be a little long so add about a 1/4" of Marglass under the lip about 6"s long. When hardened and you have the twist where you want it, and the bumpers in place holding the hood at the right height put your wedge on tighthen the allen screw, then by using a "cut-off" wheel/tool you can finish cutting off the extra lenght of the rod right where you want it.
Results; tight fitting hood latch and it really looks good.
DV-just 2 more cents.......