53 and early 54 hood pull survey

[Troy P.]

Miller 53 279 (Medium).jpgHall 54 330 (Medium).jpg

For fine tuning the NCRS Judging Guide I'm trying to find out if the mounting of the driver's side hood release pull cable changed sometime in late 53, not until the start of the 54 model year or sometime shortly thereafter.

Initially the hood pull cables were essentially the same as the passenger vent cables, including one on each side. But an extension bracket was installed under the dash to move the cable knob farther away from the driver for better access.

Typically in 53 the extension bracket was riveted to the under dash and painted along with the lower dash. This arrangement extended into early 54 until a single hood pull with two cables and a chrome bracket was used. But in early 54 the extension bracket was installed later in the assembly, not rivited and not painted lower dash color. It was satin or flat black and attached to the underdash with screws. (See attached photos from 53 and early 54 unrestored cars.)

What I need to know is when did the change take place. Did all 53's come with the riveted extension bracket or did the change occur sometime in late 53? I understand that 53 #275 still had a riveted bracket. How about #276 to #300? Did the change take place with the change in model year and now a St. Louis build or did some 54s come with the riveted bracket?

Any info you may have to share would be appreciated.

[Chris S.]

Re: 53 and early 54 hood pull survey

Give Brett Henderson a call
He has restored more 53's than anyone
He is an expert - he has touched and seen more than anyone has.....especially low VIN numbers
I will have #201 here soon and I can check the dash.

[Chris S.]

Re: 53 and early 54 hood pull survey

I also have good knowledge of 1954 car #150
It was a dual hood pull car
I can get you underhood shots of its pulls

[Troy P.]

Re: 53 and early 54 hood pull survey

Chris,
Brett was the first one I contacted. He provided the rivited extension info on 53 #275.

Trying to find info on later 53s and really early 54s. I do know that 54 #147 has dual hood pulls still and has the bolted on extension bracket, as seen in the photos in my first message.

[Jim P.]

Re: 53 and early 54 hood pull survey

Troy,

As long as you are striving to determine when the extension bracket was changed from riveted to screwed on, you might as well conduct a survey as to when the bracket was initialy changed from screwed on to riveted. My early '53 was screwed on with the same cross head bolts that bolt the cable bracket to the extension bracket. To quote the JM, "The first design (1953 through early-1954) left-hand hood release attaches to a metal extension plate secured to the lower instrument panel with rivets, except for early 1953 models whigh attach using nuts and bolts."

[Troy P.]

Re: 53 and early 54 hood pull survey

What number is your 53, Jim?

[Gary H.]

Re: 53 and early 54 hood pull survey

#298 RivetBracket.jpg

[Troy P.]

Re: 53 and early 54 hood pull survey

Great, Gary. Only two possible 53's left!
Troy

[Jim P.]

Re: 53 and early 54 hood pull survey

Troy, without going into the long story of my car right now, I believe the body to be #31.

[Chris S.]

Re: 53 and early 54 hood pull survey

I will look at 54 #150 for you
It is a dual hood pull car.

[Troy P.]

Re: 53 and early 54 hood pull survey

147 has a bolted on extension so I suspect that's what you'll find.

Anyone know owners of the first dozen or so 54s?

[John L.]

Re: 53 and early 54 hood pull survey

Hi Troy!
I am restoring 1954 #66 and thought I would take a snapshot of the bracket in question. I am still working on stipping the car and have not gotten to the dash yet so I cannot tell you what the finish is without taking the bracket off. Let me know if you need more information and I will check. Hope this helps!
John Lanning

hood pull bracket #66.jpg

[Chris S.]

Re: 53 and early 54 hood pull survey

It is bolted on - both sides....
Car number #150 1954

[Troy P.]

Re: 53 and early 54 hood pull survey

Thank you.

That is bolted on as I would suspect for a 54. This extension bracket is supposed to be semi-flat or satin black. Looks like someone repainted your dash and got white paint on it and the emergency brake support.

[Troy P.]

Re: 53 and early 54 hood pull survey

Thanks Chris. Haven't found a 54 that isn't. But until I get into car 1-12 I won't be 100% confident they were all bolted.