Weighing in on the '67 hood latch/black-out topic

[Barbara S.]

My friend Joe Randolph asked me to weigh in on the discussion regarding whether the '67 A. O. Smith bodies had the hood latches installed before or after the black out process. I'd like to add what I can, based solely on my own car.

For starters, I own a survivor car from East Texas. It is currently undergoing a nut-and-bolt body off restoration. Thus far, I've been paying more attention to the chassis while the body has been sitting on a dolly in the corner of the shop. At Joe's request, I removed one of the original hood latches from my car tonight and after taking a damp cloth to the surface, there is no doubt that on my car, there is paint on the firewall behind the latch. There is no raw fiberglass. I'll take digital photos of it this weekend for my records. If anyone wants me to email them a photo of the black paint where the hood latch once was, I'll be happy to send you one.

Here are the details on my car:

Trim tag:
Built: J18 (May 18, 1967)
Style: 67 437 (1967 coupe)
Trim: STD. (black)
Body: A-1967 (A. O. Smith manufacturer)
Paint: 900 (black)

My car was assembled in the second week of June, 1967.

When I restore the engine compartment, I plan on painting the firewall before I re-install the hood latches. I'll keep my photos with me if/when a judge challenges me on my decision.

Hope this helps!
Tony

[Michael H.]

Re: Weighing in on the '67 hood latch/black-out to

Thanks Tony. That's exactly the kind of info we need to help come to some conclusion on this issue. Hopefuly, we'll get more and eventually settle this but it looks like at least some were painted before the latch was instaled.

Michael

[Gary C.]

Re: Weighing in on the '67 hood latch/black-out to

I have a one previous owner Bowtie 67 with an AO Smith body. March/April production.

There is no paint whatsoever on the latches or cables. They have never been off the car but IIRC there is a small hole in the latch mounting flange that allows one to see the black paint on the fiberglass beneath. During the Bowtie judging this was not an issue.

[Kent K.]

Re: Weighing in on the '67 hood latch/black-out to

Tony,

My '67 may also be considered an east Texas car (Pasadena), not that it has anything to do with the subject at hand. My car's trim tag reads G14 (assembly), Body A-1319 (A.O. Smith), Trim 450 and Paint 976. My '67 had the original paint, interior, carpeting, etcetera when I purchased it ... this was the major draw of interest to me. It was an original example! I have photos of the firewall after everything was removed and being readied for a trip to the paint shop. These photos show black-out paint where the hood latches were, not bare fiberglass. My records of paint, or lack therof, under the hood hinges is not so good

This car was very well preserved by the three previous owners prior to my ownership and its history of maintenance and repairs is well documented. The second owner was Jerry Bramlett who sent me photos of the car when he owned it. Two of these show the engine compartment and, as best my ol' tired eyes could discern, there was no overspray on the hood receiver catches.

Best regards,
Kent #6201

[Barbara S.]

Re: Weighing in on the '67 hood latch/black-out to

There certainly seems to be compelling evidence that at least some A. O. Smith '67 cars painted the firewalls with blackout before the hood latches were installed.

Thanks for your input.
Best regards,
Tony

[Michael H.]

Re: Weighing in on the '67 hood latch/black-out to

Tony,

I have to agree, several good examples are showing up which would suggest that at least some of the Smith bodies went through blackout without the latches in place. I have to wonder what percentage of the 67 cars were this way, or were they all this way. I also wonder, now, if some 64-66 Smith cars would show the same paint under the lock assy.

Isn't Corvette research fun? That's what I love about this board!!!

Michael

[Barbara S.]

Re: Weighing in on the '67 hood latch/black-out to

Michael: the research and the friends are what make this hobby so much fun for me.

Tony

[Michael H.]

Re: Weighing in on the '67 hood latch/black-out to

I've been around these cars for over 40 years and I still learn a lot from the people on this board. I really appreciate everyone's willingness to share info. It takes a volume of people and their knowledge to make this work and that's exactly what we have.

[Donald T.]

Re: Weighing in on the '67 hood latch/black-out to

I just pulled the latches on my Smith body 65. There was paint under the latches. Also, there is no evidence of paint overspray on the latches themselves. This is a pretty original numbers matching car. It had never had any extensive restoration work prior to my ownership. However, I can't discount the possibility that the latches were removed and paint applied at some point in the past. Just my two cents.

[Wayne W.]

Re: AOS Latch Photo

I took this one today. Its from a very original mid production `66 AOS Coupe.
You can see, it is blacked out under the latch and there is a little original silver paint showing though. As I said earlier, I have studied these very closely for years and I think that this was the AOS proceedure. Whether it was true in 64 I dont know , but it is definitely true for 66-67.

[Eugene B.]

Re: Weighing in on the '67 hood latch/black-out to

Don,
I'll add another $.02 to the pot. My original '65 AOS body car had black firewall paint under the hood latches when I removed them.

I thought we learned somewhere along the line that AO Smith bodies had the firewalls painted before they were shipped to St. Louis. Maybe old age is affecting my memory.

Best regards,
Gene

[Jack H.]

Now, do the same analysis for the hood catches.... *NM*

[Donald M.]

Re: Now, do the same analysis for the hood catches

So, I'm to believe that NO hood latches or latch cables from Smith came with overspray. I'm glad I have a large can of laquer thinner!
Don

[Donald T.]

Re: Now, do the same analysis for the hood catches

No evidence of blackout on my hood catches. I assume we are talking about the catches that are screwed in the hood. There is also paint under the catch. BTW, when I removed my latches, it looked identical to the pic that Wayne posted. 65 A.O. Smith body.

[John H.]

Re: Weighing in on the '67 hood latch/black-out to

A.O. Smith bodies were 100% completely painted, including blackout, before they were shipped from Ionia; no paint operations of any kind were necessary on them other than Final Paint Repair that was necessary as a result of in-transit damage or in-process damage at St. Louis.

The A.O. Smith station-by-station detail process sheets (600 of them in the package) show the hood latches and cross-cable being installed after the Paint Shop.