Hood latch base orientation

[Gumball]

Which way did you mount your hood latch base? The originals were round, not oval like those included with our kits, but the originals had only two screws, and they were to the sides of the latch arm, like the orientation on the left (what I'll call side-to-side). This appears to be the more "period-correct" way, but I'd be interested in seeing or hearing how others have mounted these.

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/HoodLatch2_zps284b9576.jpg

[edwardb]

I'm not sure there's a right or wrong way. I researched this a couple of years about when finishing up my Mk3, and found opinions on both sides (surprise). I decided they looked better side-to-side, so that's what I did. I know some think they look better front-to-back. Your car. Do what you think looks best.

Just a hint (or opinion) regarding the installation. They come with screws that tap into the fiberglass. Done properly, that's probably OK but I'm not a fan. The handles do get used to lift the hood, and depending on your installation the paddle on the underside may not contact the fiberglass. I glued 10-32 nut plates under the top layer of fiberglass and use chrome-plated 10-32 allen head flat head screws to hold the handles. Looks good and stronger than self-tapping screws into the fiberglass. Also can be taken on/off multiple times without wear.

This is my Mk3.

http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab234/edwardb123/Factory%20Five%20Mark%203%20Roadster%20Build/Misc%20Pics/6b4a180e-ec34-457d-a1d2-d02af3c331a2_zpsf71c3e2a.jpg

[skullandbones]

I would like to mention the approximate location of the latches for an MKIII (guess it's the same for the MKIV). I did a search (not much luck with searches here for me) and could not find it on this forum but Da Bat (on FFcars.com) suggested 8 inches in from the sides and app 2.5 inches from the back edge of the hood. Inspection of the underside puts that just about in the center of the rib on the bottom fiberglass panel. Since the rib runs from side to side, it looks to me like the installation of the latches should be side to side as well. If you want to do Edwardb's solution with the nut plates, it would fit easier. My observation is that the design would dictate putting them this way instead of fore and aft. IMO
WEK.

[Gumball]

A big public THANK YOU to CWood over at ffcars.com for the idea of using binding bolts to secure the hood latches. His post can be found at http://www.ffcars.com/forums/17-factory-five-roadsters/182513-cool-hood-latch-fasteners-w-pics.html

Here are photos of my finished product - I went with the side-to-side base orientation and installed them a few inches inboard of where FFR suggests. Just to finish-off the hole for the square shaft, I added a 1/2" o.d. grommet with a 3/8" i.d.

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/HoodLatchInstalled1_zpsf819eeb1.jpg

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/HoodLatchInstalled3_zps262ca7ea.jpg

[rponfick]

I did like CWood and love the solution. Not sure where I got the idea, but it may have been from Mr. Wood.

Ralph