51 Ford

[idrivejunk]

That's a happy face.

Her tail is wagging too.    Its good to know I am not alone in my pareidolia.

Much less glamorous today. Welded up a handful of through-pits left below the windshield after blasting-





Turned some screws into welds on one running board and slathered them-



Brought boss out to discuss priming cab and doors "in situ" this afternoon and to show off the hood latch function. But of course, right then my little vise grips were coming loose, resulting in the classic hey this worked perfect a minute ago scenario.  

My temporary arrangement there is now tacked.  

[idrivejunk]

Rough sanded that. Did other side also plus finished up this loose end from where I left off before-



Looked like this when I left



Made a pattern for the hood latch striker pocket in hood-

[idrivejunk]

O yea  







Best lookin truck on this thread thus far.

I say its good enough to blow apart with no more gap tuning. Boss doesn't want it all in pieces yet so I took just the the hood off and am doing the striker pocket thing-





Sandwich not included. I think I'll corner weld so no lip. And a strap of 1/8" would go on top. I'll go where it leads me.

Prefab tubs, 4 x 29 x 11" are being ordered. Heres a mockup of another mod in consideration. Looks like thirty feet of additional weld to me but I can appreciate the mild slickness upgrade-

[idrivejunk]

Ah, welding.  And grinding.







That plastic thing isn't a roller, its a bushing.

Not shown: Started brief filler work inside the hood sides where so much surgery was done. Nuthin fancy.

[kb426]

Does that latch have a safety catch? I couldn't tell from the pics I've seen of it. Woo! Color.

[idrivejunk]

Built-in. Its a bear claw door latch turned on it's side with L brackets.

https://triquemfg.com/products/altman-easy-hood-latch-1953-56-ford-f-100

Push lever up once to release but clicks twice upon closing.

[idrivejunk]

sigh

[kb426]

I see lots of hand work. Sore fingers ahead.

[idrivejunk]

You know.

Only stubbed a finger twice plus jabbed edge of hand once. I was indeed out of gas. Not unlike 3 then 4 hour sets on a barstool with a bass at a gig, I imagine. Kinda that motion. Lots of shoulder and wrist and changing hands though.

Only the round durablock worked for the side radii, and only with vertical strokes. Did not have that much stand and reach in me at this point in the week / project / career so I found I could use the barstool and have the hood side in my lap. So that part went OK but took three wipes both sides. For the rest... I mustered what wherewithall was available. Not much attention to detail overall.
But!!!



Randomly, I waltzed into the office and began a sentence with hey, about that time off...

That was all it took. Tubs will be delayed some for the truck and it just so happens that next week is the opportune time for me to get lost for a week. A freakin vacation! Wow, maaan! Freakadelic!  >

I ain't never had no real live vacation. Can't wait to find out what thats like. Won't be no store bought vacation in a jar, just me maybe trying to catch up on life, maybe just hiding under my air conditioner licking wounds. My fondest wish is for my left thumb to come back so boredom is something I'll strive to achieve if nothing else. Just wow. Vacation. wow...

I may finesse inside the hood tomorrow, or I may embark on a pre-planned but forgotten thing. But then wow, vacation! :0-0  :b-d:  :-}

[kb426]

You can mow the yard. LOL.

[idrivejunk]

You can mow the yard. LOL.

Of course thats first on the list.    Only the back is approaching rainforest status.

[idrivejunk]

Finessed what I seen fit there, then tagged on a tab for the vertical brace-



Then I refitted the long forsaken latch area brace. It is not installed in this picture from the release handle end, facing the driver's side-



It IS installed in this pic looking the other way. See the extra layer abive the latch? It has ears on the ends and bolts up to the fender sandwich there-



Pix of the latch out, for clarity. The threaded holes are unused. Only the sticky-outy L brackets connect the latch-

[kb426]

Are you impressed with the latch or is it something different??

[idrivejunk]

The first kind was too small and depended on a cone shaped striker to push a sprung horizontal plate aside. The second was the most hideous option known to man. This one works like a door.

I don't feel that its exceptionally secure or good looking but appreciate the smooth operation. Two 1/4 x 20 stainless button heads on outrigger brackets is the beefiest thing the aftermarket has to offer, it seems. This design actually relies on just one. I ain't the one doing the math on the physics of it but it seems like using hairspray to hold a hurricane still. To me.  But thats how it is, I guess. Like the hood hinges, the latch is for a 53-6 Ford truck. That makes it more relevant than the others tried.

[idrivejunk]

~:)