[MP&C]

Thanks for checking out the progress Jim!



Well as normal, one change leads to one or more others. We thought we'd test fit to check out the clearance for the hood latch striker out in front of the AC condenser.








I missed getting a picture of our attempt, but here's a view of the original from the service manual.







No way the original latch striker will work with the AC condenser that far forward. So we filled in the rear bolt hole and bent the latch striker as close as we could to the latch hole, which gave us 1-1/2” more room.











The support structure would no longer have the rear bolt hole in the same location, and we needed to slim it down to the same width as the modified striker...











Next, the rear bolt for the striker will need to be horizontal now, so a stud is fabricated and welded in place, and the support bracket modified for this bolting arrangement as well.



















Media blasted....










test fit....







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5iE1T77WHQ



.......and on to the next hurdle