RE: {Chrysler 300} 300C Hood Latching System

A lot of discussion on hood latches years ago. May be available on the forward look site.

I haven’t gone the way of John’s extra latch (yet) but I upgraded my C to the Chrysler “fix” for the D. Found a D “brace” that vertically supports the latch. See photo. I think that if you can’t find one, you could make one simply enough.

Hope this helps.

By the way, do NOT zinc plate your latch assembly. There is a spring (curled flat steel) that pops the pin up when you release the lever. It is not zinc plated like the rest of the latch but can’t be removed easily. When I went to the platers for a pile a zinc plating and asked whether the spring steel could be left in while re-plating, they said yeah – not a problem. Well, after installing and operating the latch about a dozen times, there was an almighty “twang” and the spring was in two pieces. DO NOT PLATE SPRING STEEL! The coil springs that operate the “fingers” are probably ruined as well.

That’s why I had to source another latch assembly and luckily one from a D with the extra brace. And just painted it with silver paint.

Henry

From: chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Nick Taylor
Sent: Monday, 18 November 2024 6:45 AM
To: Dyke Ridgley <ridgleyracing65@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Chrysler 300 Club International <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: {Chrysler 300} 300C Hood Latching System

I've seen those horror stories of the hood flying up and over. Those two stage catches never seem that secure and I wonder if even when they're working right that vibration could let them release. Just doesn't seem like an awful lot of engagement on that pin. I don't know if anyone has compared the weight of the 300C/D/E hood versus a New Yorker one. The additional hook that John makes is much like what the factory did on later cars. Good insurance for a hood that is worth as much as much as some cars.

On Sun, Nov 17, 2024 at 12:12 PM Dyke Ridgley <ridgleyracing65@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

This is a big thank you to Noel Hastalis, Andy Mikonis and John Grady. I was honored to host Noel and Andy last week for a visit to look at cars. When we were going over my 300C, Noel mentioned that these cars can have a problem with the hoods coming unlatched at speed and blowing up over the car, causing substantial damage. He told me he thought John Grady had produced a “safety catch” that could be added to the cars to prevent this situation.

I emailed John and he promptly replied that the safety catches we available on his website, and there was a Tech Article also available on the Club Tech Site. I found the item in John’s ForwardLook parts list and then searched out the tech article (written by John). In the article, John points out the factory latch design uses TWO catches (one below the other) to safely secure the hood. The first “catch” acts as a “safety” and the lower second catch, actually keeps the hood in the fully closed position. This didn’t sound like my car, as all I could recall was one “click” as I closed the hood.

So, off to the shop and look at the 300C. I carefully examined the hood closure mechanism and low and behold, there were TWO catches, one below the other. My car was only latching in the first catch! I did some more research and found an old forum post in which the owner was complaining there was not enough thread on the jam nut securing the Hood Pin to allow the pin to be lengthened enough to engage the second catch, and somebody pointed out his jam nut was installed on the wrong side of the upper pin mount! My car had the same problem!

I switched the jam nut to the lower side of the upper pin mount, screwed the “pin” out until it engaged the second catch of the latch when closed completely and everything now works perfect! I have a much better feeling of security that the hood is now safely closed when driving. I also know I can get one of John’s auxiliary catches if I ever decide to go that route for even more protection.

Thanks again Noel, Andy and John,

Dyke Ridgley
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