hood latch

[franklin40]

i have a 1972 fj40 that i took on a road trip this past weekend. while passing oncoming trucks my hood would float and feel like it was going to come up and smash my windshield if the side latches let go. i have a 1977 that has a latch under the bezel which holds the hood down and the side latches seem to be there as a back up. what year did this under bezel latch start? or is my 72 just missing it? i dont see an area that should have this latch so wondered if it was something only on later year trucks?

 

[ijonesinsp]

I'm not sure, but my '74 has it.

Belt AND suspenders!

 

[franklin40]

right!!! i want the belt!!

 

[charliemeyer007]

My 72 doesn't have it.

 

[franklin40]

ok so at least i know im not missing it!

i wonder if i can add one some how! ill have to go dream a little

 

[charliemeyer007]

I would bet that whatever the unit is that came on later models would likely bolt right in.
Maybe timmyisthewell will post the pic.

 

[Shark56]

I think 73 is the first for the under hood latch.
Style of the latch changed in 79?.

 

[timmyisinthewell]

Looks like that latch was used from 11/73 to 01/79.

 

[Shark56]

I just checked Spector Offroad. They list the change starting in 1/79. I know my 1/79 had a different latch than either of my 74's. I sure a 73 thru 78 latch would bolt on with maybe some drilling.
The Bib changed in 79 so there might be a difference in the mounts. Im not near my 79 latch to check.
My 6/69 hood does not have the latch as is very stable with the tight side latches.

 

[timmyisinthewell]

There was a p/n change for the latch in 01/79. I also don't know why a '72 couldn't be adapted with the latch in question.

 

[franklin40]

i like what you guys are thinking. now just gotta find the part!! not everyone is willing to ship parts to canada!!

 

[pb4ugo]

My original 72 didnt have the safety latch and I don't know when the latch started. My 1975 bib has a mounting tab for the safety latch to bolt on to.

 

[Living in the Past]

With the 72 model the hood was made of a single piece of stamped metal. The earlier two piece had a flange down the center running front to back. This made the heavier and less likely to fly up if the side latches were left undone. Because of the flange and chrome spear if it did fly was less likely to have damage to the hood. My guess Toyota started getting complaints about the hood flying open on the new one piece hood if the latches were forgot. Then late in 73 added a safety catch. Latches are always primary. If you just used the safety catch the hood would rattle around. The side latches.are.spring loaded to hood it tight. On you modern vehicles use the hood release and see what happens when your drive. It would be worse on an FJ40 since the safety.catch is not centered.
11/74-1/79 style.

1/79+ style.

Both style have a bracket spot welded it the bib to mount them.
While not in the US some markets had an interior hood release that worked by cable.

 

[franklin40]

yeah i wouldnt want to rely just on the single front latch but i think it’d give a little extra protection from the hood floating when oncoming large vehicles pass. i found a latch in a part out im hoping to seal the deal tomorrow. the extra protection just gives me piece of mind. i’ll have to fab a mounting bracket as the 72 bib doesn’t have one but it’s not a complicated piece.

 

[Green Bean]

Subscribed. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with for your mounting bracket.

 

[Living in the Past]

i have a 1972 fj40 that i took on a road trip this past weekend. while passing oncoming trucks my hood would float and feel like it was going to come up and smash my windshield if the side latches let go.

I would think about replacing your side latches if your hood can rise up from on coming traffic. Those are spring loaded and possible you springs are wearing out.

Today there would have been a safety recall on it. Toyota would have had come up with a fix and install it for free. Question is would that recall included the pre 72 model. Those are less likely to fly up. I noticed ones years ago my 68 hood loose and pulled over and latched it down. 72+ in wrecking yards were more likely to show the signs of a hood flying open.
It happened to my 73 prior to it coming off the road in 1988.

The blue bib I posted above was bought cheap from a wrecking yard because of the damage. It was bought solely for the safety latch to install on my 73.

 

[Green Bean]

I'd like to see what the OEM mounting bracket for the +79 latch looks like.

 

[FJ40Savvy]

Watching. I have a '73 and have a hood latch. Considering trying to mount it. Would like to see the blue bid without to the latch installed.

 

[Green Bean]

For those of us contemplating adding a safety hood catch to our early model 40's, I'm wondering if the 79+ latch hooked onto a rod on the hood?

 

[pb4ugo]

My 75 just latches to the lip of the hood, its nothing special. The hook isn't tight to the hood. I think It'll lift about a 1/2" or so. I can't imagine the later ones are any different.