Topic: '65 Dearborn hood latch bracket

[C5ZZKGT]

My bracket has a very jagged/crude looking "slit" if you want to call it that in the back of it....it was pointed out to me as incorrect/out of place at the Jax national this past weekend:
I looked at other '65s and they all had a nice, clean stamped looking "slit" in this area while '66s had nothing there at all and were solid.........opinions?

[CharlesTurner]

Most '65 latch supports I have seen have the slit.  Remember that '65 and '66 hood latch supports are different and not interchangeable.

[C5ZZKGT]

OK, Thanks Charles! I didn't know that the '65s and 66s wern't interchangeable. I just have to wonder why mine has the slit so jagged and crude looking.......
BTW: What is the purpose of the slit?

[66GTCoupe]

maybe just a bad stamping or if its a late car maybe the tooling was on its last legs

[CharlesTurner]

The jagged edge may indicate a service replacement part.  Seen a few of those that were questionable quality.

[C5ZZKGT]

This is the top bracket...its sure ugly since it was pointed out to me-I'll try & post a picture...

[66GTCoupe]

I would consider it a neat piece if it show's no signs of major pitting, a possible ford stamping that wasn't exact

[C5ZZKGT]

This bracket is is pristine condition, was finished along with everything else during my car's restoration.
I honestly never noticed it before until the judges pointed it out to me at the Jax show and its litterally rightr in front of your nose every time you open the hood.....this is a July 1965 Dearborn car.....

[ajd350]

FWIW I just went out to look at mine, also a 7/65 Dearborn. The slot has an edge sticking up a bit at the ends, but is otherwise clean and straight. Maybe yours reflects a damaged tool when it was made?

[C5ZZKGT]

I've got to get off my butt and post a picture of this thing....

[C5ZZKGT]

Without further delay here is a picture of the slit in question, agai Late July 1965 from Dearborn:
-Just figured out how to post pictures-feel like a kid in a candy store now!!

[CharlesTurner]

I'm guessing that maybe that is a reproduction part?

Here's a pic of an original from a late May '65 Dearborn car:

[ChrisV289]

Without further delay here is a picture of the slit in question, agai Late July 1965 from Dearborn:
-Just figured out how to post pictures-feel like a kid in a candy store now!!

It kind of looks like someone made it...Like it didn't have the slit initially and then someone cut into it...

[C5ZZKGT]

It kind of looks like someone made it...Like it didn't have the slit initially and then someone cut into it...

I have to kind of agree, thats why I thought it might have started out as a '66 piece, but am told that the '65-'66 are not interchangeable......

In any case machine or man made slit I can't understand why this part was put on my car during restoration.

[CharlesTurner]

Maybe it is a reproduction piece?  Originals aren't that hard to find, would just need to strip/paint.  And yes, 65-66 are not interchangeable due to the grille differences.