Good morning,

I recently purchased a 1953 Ford C600 cab forward truck and am looking for any information on the hood latch mechanism. It is missing the latches that extend through the hood to latch and relase the hood as well as other parts. Does anyone know if there are diagrams for this in any of the manuals? Replacement parts are nonexistent and finding used ones appear to be nearly impossible. I would like to replicate the factory latching mechanism. Also, has anyone seen the type of side markers shown on the steps. Below is a photo.

Thank you for any assistance anyone can provide.

Conner
California

 

Welcome to the forum! This is the best place on the internet for these trucks!

First and foremost, your truck looks to have the honest to goodness real widowmaker rims - the dreaded Firestone RH-5º rims. Before sinking money/time into anything else like the engine and whatnot, be sure to look and the budget/effort required into replacing the true Firestone RH-5° Widowmaker rims to ensure you are still able and willing to make this truck road worthy.

More information on the RH-5° dangers: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post20745688

Now, getting to your hood latches... Don't expect to find them at Advance Auto. The original BHAA-16700-A and BHAA-16701-A were superseded by the ambidextrous B5TW-16700-A. Your best bet is to pick up a phone and call Chuck at Chucks Trucks LLC and see what he has in his inventory.

As for a diagram:

 

Thank you for the quick reply! I haven't started doing any work on the truck yet and will thoroughly investigate and budget for the updated wheels. Speaking of, is there anyone that makes aftermarket wheels or are there wheels from others makes/models/years of trucks that can be used? The link was helpful and in no way do I want to endanger myself or others.

That diagram is excellent! I will be sure to give Chuck a call.

Thanks again for the help and I look forward to chatting with other enthusiasts.

 

Conner, welcome to FTE the best Ford truck forum on the World wide Web!

About the size markers, they are not original. Are you saying they are side marker lights? The picture is too small on my phone to see .

Good luck with the build. Keep us posted with your progress.

 

As for "donor" trucks, older International Harvester, Studebaker, Dodge that have the 5 on 8 bolt pattern and use these serviceable multi-piece split rims. This could take some research effort and some convincing to sell just the wheels and not the whole vehicle.

If you want to go tubeless, there are 22.5 and 19.5 single piece rims out there from some vehicles in the 80's such as Dodge/Winnebago motor homes that use the 5 on 8 bolt pattern. Finally, there are those on the forum who have gotten new rims from "commercial" offerings. They have 19.5, 20, and 22.5 options with the 5 on 8 bolt patterns, but some of those have a different look to them. These include "Commercial" options for the RH-5º rims that are not exactly click and order, but a call knowing what you need size and cosmetic wise with a big checkbook and order (and shared quite regularly around here already):

*Wheels Now - https://www.wheelsnowinc.com
*American Wheel - https://www.amwheelspecialist.com/obsolete/ - They specifically advertise 19.5, 20, and 22.5 solutions
*OTR Wheel - https://www.otrwheel.com/ - their website doesn't list our applications. One would have to work with them further

The target specs are 5 on 8 bolt lug centric pattern in either 20" tubed on 6" wide rims or 22.5 tubeless on 6 to 6.75 max wide rims (but the wider you go, you increase chances of rubbing as it gets tight)

 

Thank you for the information abe and bmoran4! You guys know your stuff.

I thought the markers must have been added as I haven't seen them before. There are 3 total and they are not lit but could be wired to be so. They are pretty cool looking.

This project is behind a couple of others I have but will post my progess.

Thanks again!

 

Do you have a picture of what you are looking for? I have an old 54 mercury hood I could see what's on it.

 

A Mercury Cabover hood?
Conner. Years ago i parted out a 54 C800 sold the hood and other parts that I didn't need for my 53c600
For some reason im thinking i may have saved the latches out of the hood? When it warms up a bit and i move some things I will get up in the attic and see what I saved.

 

Is this what you are looking for? I don't think I have the bottom catch but that's not complicated to make.

 

It looks like you may have Signal Stat #18 lights. They were a popular add on back then. Replacement lenses are part number 9015 for red, and 9015A for amber. Blake Baughman had NOS USA made lenses for sale when i replaced mine. He's a member on here. I have a pair of the hood latches off my truck in a box somewhere in the garage. I'll try to get some pictures of them later today.

 

I missed the part about being on the steps. I can't answer that but if you need parts for the fender lights, my previous post might help. Nice truck.

 

these are upside down.

 

Lower latch on radiator support

 

Latching part